I don’t believe there is any greater insidious threat to our health than genetically modified foods (GE or GMO). Think about what it means. You are taking a gene that is in one species (say a lectin) and splicing it into species that may not even be in the same family. What will the body do with it? All one has to do is read about the immune systems response to oral antigens to know we are in for a potential catastrophic disaster.
This is not selective breeding. I hear pro GMO folks say well ‘we are just speeding up evolution.’ That statement is a fallacy as evolution is a process of slow change. Our immune systems and digestive systems are not changing and adapting along with the GMO foods
The danger of GMO foods trumps bisphenol-A (BPA) worries. It trumps chemical toxins accumulating in the fat of livestock. It is far more disastrous than aeriel spraying pesticides on crops. All of the aforementioned issues can somehow be contained, so they are not the threat that GMOs pose. Once GMO food gets loose in the environment it can cross pollinate into organic food (which it has already done). And once GMOs cross pollinate then food as our bodies know it can become an immunological nightmare. Physicians that deal with allergies, hypersensitivities and environmental illnesses are very concerned about GMOs. Click here for a study demonstrating GMOs inducing food hypersensitivities in mice (i.e. inflammatory mediator release and a loss of oral tolerance to common foods).
GMO crops have been banned in many countries and most EU countries require labeling. In addition Australia, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Brazil all require labeling. Closer to home Boulder Colorado just banned the planting of GMO foods in the county. Way to go Boulder! (I lived in Boulder when it was the first city in the US to ban smoking in bars. I remember how radical that idea was back then. Not so strange nowadays!). As usual California is leading the way as there is a strong push to require all GMO foods to be labeled.
So why is the Federal government putting lobbying profits and multinational corporation profits before the health of people? Why did Obama put a former Monsanto VP on the FDA? Why did Obama appoint a Monsanto lobbyist to an important agricultural position? What happened to Michelle’s White House organic garden? Do Michelle and Barack fight when it comes time to cook?
I guess Obama is just doing what Bush,Clinton, Bush,Reagan have all done. It is about $$ and lobbyi$t$. There are plethora of studies showing the deleterious effects of GMOs on animals. Why can’t we put a moratorium on the introduction of GMOs until further testing is done to prove safety? Peru just instituted a 10 year ban until further study. Instead our FDA that is supposed to protect our health is now speeding up the process of GMO approval! Amazing that they can ban my Chinese herbs that have a 2000 year written history of safety (when used correctly) but approve GMO alfalfa (oh right the FDA guy approving the alfalfa was the VP of Monsanto).
We absolutely need to take action unless you are a healthcare provider and want the job security of making sick people well. I really don’t know if these web petitions do a darn thing. But might as well fill in and hit ‘send’. Please tell the FDA to require labeling.
Yours In Health
George Mandler
Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist
Certified Nutrition Specialist
Licensed Acupuncturist
Boston,MA
Stow,MA