The Nightmare of GM Foods

Genetically Modified Foods

By Melanie Segala, 29 July 2009

articles-gm-foods"You have to know where your food is coming from." These words of warning were spoken by biologist and plant expert, Arpad Puszati at a gathering of concerned citizens in St. Catherine's, Ontario in early 2009.[1]

As far back as 1998, Dr. Puszati's research at the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen, Scotland showed that genetically modified potatoes caused weakened immune systems and abnormal growth in rats.

For blowing the whistle on "big agra", he was dismissed from his job.

GM Foods Gain a Sronghold

Eleven years later, as companies like Monsanto successfully silenced their critics, genetically modified organisms have gained a stronghold in taking over the world's food supply - in spite of the fact that a growing body of evidence shows the alarming health effects that are being seen in people and animals who are consuming GM foods.  But unlike years ago, concerned physicians and scientists are now banding together and advising their patients and the general public to avoid GM foods altogether.

The latest professional group to voice their warnings is the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) who is advising physicians to educate their patients and the medical community about the health risks of GM foods - including "infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system."2

Why are these medical professionals so sure that GM foods are to blame for the growing list of health problems? Because of the reason and method they were manufactured.  GM corn and cotton for example, are produced with a built-in pesticide called Bt.  When the insect bites the plant, the poison kills it.  The problem is that the Bt toxin in GM plants is thousands of times more concentrated and toxic than the spray version - and it cannot be washed off - it's part of the plant.

Studies Needed to Show GM Dangers

As health professionals for the AAEM have pointed out, there are precious few human studies to document the safety of GM foods.  The animal studies however, tell a frightening story.2 Here are just a few examples:

  • When GM soy was fed to female rats, most of their babies died within three weeks-compared to a 10% death rate among the control group fed natural soy.  When male rats were fed GM soy, their testicles turned from a natural pink to dark blue.
  • In India when grazing animals fed on the remainder of harvested GM cotton plants, all of them died including thousands of sheep.  Those that grazed on natural cotton plants remained healthy.
  • In the US, farmers have reported that thousands of pigs became sterile after eating GM corn.
  • In Germany, GM corn is thought to have caused the death of both cows and horses.

There is only one human study so far that demonstrates what GM foods might be doing to us - and it is chilling indeed.  The modified gene that is inserted into GM soy transfers into the DNA of our intestinal bacteria and is still functional.  This means our own gut flora could continue to produce the pesticide long after we have eaten the food - perhaps forever.[2]

Stay Away from GM Foods

If Big Agra has its way, any damning evidence that links GM foods to chronic diseases will be stifled and any immune and degenerative diseases that are due to the ingestion of GM foods will continue to rise.

What you can do is stay away from all processed food unless it clearly states on the package that it is organic or made from non-GMO ingredients. According to the Institute for Responsible Technology and the Center for Food Safety, you should also steer clear of soy or corn derivatives, cottonseed and canola oils, and GM sugar beets. These two organizations provide a downloadable Non-GMO Shopping Guide for consumers to refer to help with their food choices.

Let's not be lab rats for the benefit of Big Agra.  Together we can take a stand and just say no to the foods that are not fit for human or animal consumption.

References:

1. Scientist Issues Genetic Food Warning, January 19, 2009, The St. Catherines Standard (Canada).

2. Doctors Warn: Avoid Genetically Modified Food,

http://www.responsibletechnology.org/utility/showArticle/?objectID=2989