Natural News released an article titled How to Avoid GMOs on Aug. 20, 2014. The article provides a comprehensive list of foods that are currently using genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The article begins by explaining the differences among heirloom, hybrid and GMO foods.
Heirloom foods are those that naturally developed over time. These foods have evolved through natural selection based upon the soil, weather conditions, and competing plants. They have often been replanted by humans based upon preferred characteristics.
Hybrid foods have been manipulated by cross-pollination to achieve specific characteristics. These manipulations are done within the species, e.g. two different strains of tomatoes. Hybrid seeds typically do not reproduce naturally the following year, which means saved hybrid seeds may not germinate.
Genetically modified foods have DNA inserted into the plant genome to produce new species of plants. Plant and animal genes are inserted into various plants to increase yield, make plants easier to harvest, or make them resistant to plant diseases or insects. The major effort of Monsanto is to produce seeds that can grow despite the seeds being sprayed with Monsanto's Roundup™ pesticide.
GMO crops are those modified to grow in the presence of pesticides, and those that have “built-in” pesticides that kill insects that eat them. Roundup Ready crops can withstand the pesticide glyphosate, which is the major chemical in Roundup. In the other approach, specific bacteria genes are inserted in plants to kill insects that eat the plants. The surviving seeds carry that gene into your digestive system.
This is a quote from Monsanto’s Roundup webpage.
Roundup Ready® Soybeans were commercialized in 1996, followed by alfalfa, corn, cotton, spring canola, sugarbeets and winter canola, which contain in-plant tolerance to Roundup® agricultural herbicides. This means you can spray Roundup agricultural herbicides in-crop from emergence through flowering for unsurpassed weed control, proven crop safety and maximum yield potential.
When Roundup is sprayed on any of the Roundup Ready crops, the Roundup Ready crops survive and every other plant is supposed to die. There are several major problems that have been created. There is residual glyphosate on the seeds, and there is run-off into the water supply and the soil. Pesticide run-off was a major factor in creating the algae bloom that shut down Toledo, Ohio's water supply for several days.
The soil cannot grow conventional non-Roundup Ready plants for an extended period after the Roundup is applied. Some plants have evolved to tolerate Roundup and “super weeds” are now appearing that can withstand Roundup, requiring either different or stronger pesticides to kill the weeds.
Conventional crops grown near fields of GMO crops can cross-pollinate the conventional crops to create a GMO hybrid. In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) upheld Monsanto’s right to sue farmers that sold their crops that had been polluted with Monsanto’s GMO crop pollen. Justice Clarence Thomas is a former Monsanto lawyer.
A Monsanto website, GMO Answers, explains that most Roundup is sprayed on corn before it germinates. The scientist states that the residual glyphosate at 1 part per million. A Japanese study found concentrations of 1 part per billion of glyphosate increased sensitivity to women with a breast cancer gene triggered by soy products. The European Union standards for glyphosate is approximately 1/7000 of the acceptable level stated for US consumption.
The website is titled Ask Us Anything About GMOs! The Monsanto scientist then describes the FDA’s process for determining how much glyphosate is considered safe for consumption.
This total consumption of glyphosate residues is then compared with the total acceptable daily intake (ADI) that has been established for glyphosate, based on toxicity studies that look at a variety of toxic effects, such as immediate or acute toxicity, effects on reproductive processes, cancer-causing and other long-term effects, etc.
This statement by Monsanto substantiates that there are potential toxic effects from Roundup that can cause serious health issues. The billion dollar questions are what are safe levels of residual Roundup in the foods and water we consume, and does the residual glyphosate accumulate in the body to produce long-term effects that will not be seen for years?
How to Avoid GMOs explains the most likely foods that are available that are GMO. The article advises consumers to buy organic foods from reputable suppliers. It also lists the ingredients that are most likely to use GMO components in processed foods. The summary statements of the article provide useful advice.
First and foremost, the easiest way to avoid genetically modified organisms is to eat whole, unprocessed foods that are labeled organic. When organic is not available, know the most likely offenders; these include soy, alfalfa, Hawaiian papaya, and occasionally sweet corn (GMO sweet corn is not yet common in grocery stores).
When buying packaged foods, such as snack foods, know your GMO ingredients. Without a GMO free guarantee, one should avoid corn, dairy, soy, canola oil, sugar (sugar beets), and any conventional meat. Conventional, factory farmed livestock are fed genetically modified grains, including GMO foods that aren't even trusted for human consumption.
The FDA charter says that this organization’s primary role is to protect the safety of foods and drugs offered to the public. This is not happening. Congress is constantly lobbied to prevent GMO labeling from being required. As in the case of many substantial issues, states are acting to attempt to pass laws on GMO labeling that Congress refuses to do. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent in several states to defeat attempts to require GMO labeling on processed foods.
There are now laws being pushed forward in Congress to keep states and local governments from requiring GMO labeling. If these laws are challenged and eventually end up in the Supreme Court, there is no assurance that the rights of the public will trump the bias of the court shown in prior Monsanto decisions.
Write your representative at the federal, state and local levels to insist that GMO labeling is mandated on all processed foods and commercially available produce. This labeling should extend to mega-farm produced meats.
Those in Congress will respond if there is a concerted effort made by us to let them know that we are watching their votes on GMO issues. Your grandchildren will thank you. You can read more articles about GMOs and the health effects of residual Roundup by subscribing at Examiner.com.