What is GMO?

GMO is a genetically modified organism.  To create a "GMO" genes from one species are forced into the DNA of another species to genetically modify a new organism that previously did not exist in nature.  These new organisms are not a part of the natural evolutionary process.  Within GMO products and experiments they often mix and match between various species (plant or animal) that have never normally mated.  Examples of this include taking taking spider genes and forcing them into goats with the goal of milking the goat to get spider web protein genes to to make bullet proof vests.  They have taken cow genes and put them into pigs so that the pigs have cow hides.  They have taken human genes and put them into corn to make spermicide. 

For the food we eat there are two main categories of GMO

• Herbicide Tolerant Crops - Crops which are genetically modified so they can be sprayed with pesticides and these pesticides will not kill the plant. More info http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Herbicide_Tolerant_Crops

• Pesticide Producing Crops or BT Crops - These crops are genetically modified to produce their own toxic pesticide so that if a bug bites the plants it will break open their stomach and kill them.  For more info http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Bt_Crops

The Dangers of GMO

Within the United States, illnesses that were once not considered epidemic are now clearly epidemic illnesses endangering the lives of a majority of our citizens.  These illnesses including Cancer, Gastritis, Heart Disease, Pancreatitis, Diabetes, Alzheimer's, Autism, Allergies, Parkinson's, and Obesity to name just a few.  One theory is that the major change in the US, as compared with the many other countries in the world not suffering from the same explosive increase in these types of illnesses is our diet.  Specifically, genetically engineered food.  Source: "Genetic Roulette ~ The Gamble of Our Lives" by Jeffery M. Smith

We've not only moved from sourcing a majority of our daily vitamins from whole foods to trying to take synthetic supplements as our main source of daily vitamins.  As a society we've also moved from eating whole foods as our main diet staple to eating synthetically produced foods.

• 88% of US corn is genetically modified

• 94% of US Soy is genetically modified

Note that corn and soy are staple ingredients in many products in the grocery store. As such these GMO ingredients are in many more products than it may appear at first glance.  Check out this list of hidden corn ingredients as an example.

http://www.glutenfreesociety.org/gluten-free-society-blog/hidden-corn-based-ingredients/

• 90% of canola is genetically modified

• 95% of sugar beets are genetically modified

• 90% of cotton is genetically modified

When talking about the dangers of GMO Air Force Lt. Col, Dr. Arden Anderson, Flight Surgeon, 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Grissom ARB, Indiana, says “From a bio-physics perspective, when we look at the signature now of that entire gene sequence, it’s foreign.  It does not exist anywhere in nature.” When we eat these products our body “looks at that material, that gene sequence, that’s supposed to be food, whether its soy, or corn....and says ‘I’ve never seen that sequence ever.  It does not exist in nature.  It’s foreign.’ It attacks.  It creates an inflammatory reaction and attacks that sequence.” 

In an "Open Letter from World Scientists to All Governments Concerning Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)" a growing group of scientists express their concern with the negative effects of GMO products.  Specifically,

• The scientists are extremely concerned about the hazards of GMOs to biodiversity, food safety, human and animal health, and demand a moratorium on environmental releases in accordance with the precautionary principle.

• They are opposed to GM crops that will intensify corporate monopoly, exacerbate inequality and prevent the essential shift to sustainable agriculture that can provide food security and health around the world.

• They call for a ban on patents of life-forms and living processes which threaten food security, sanction biopiracy of indigenous knowledge and genetic resources and violate basic human rights and dignity.

• They want more support on research and development of non-corporate, sustainable agriculture that can benefit family farmers all over the world.

Versions of this letter have been submitted to many governments and international forums including:

• World Trade Organization Conference in Seattle (November 30 – Dec. 2, 1999) )
• UN Biosafety Protocol Meeting in Montreal (24 – 28, Jan. 2000)
• UN Commission on Sustainable Development Conference on Sustainable Agriculture in New York (April 24-May 5, 2000)
• Source of Letter: http://www.i-sis.org.uk/list.php

  According to Dr. David Bronner with Dr. Bronners Magic Soaps, "Obama's USDA is owned by Biotec just as much as every previous administration and if we don't do anything within a decade every single major crop with any any significant market size is going to be genetically modified and we're not going to know it."

  How to Avoid GMO Produce?

  While avoiding GMO products altogether is a much more difficult task, given the many ingredients that contain corn or soy for example, avoiding raw fruits and vegetables that are GMO can be a much more simple task.  The stickers or labels attached to fruit and some vegetables actually contain a code that can tell you much more than you realize about that food.  The PLU code, or price lookup code printed on the sticker, tells you how the fruit was grown. By reading this short code, you can tell if the product was genetically modified, organically grown, or produced with chemical fertilizers, fungicides, or herbicides.

  • Conventional Produce ~ A four digit PLU code indicates that the produce was grown conventionally or “traditionally” likely with the use of pesticides. The last four letters of the PLU code simply indicate the kind of vegetable or fruit. For example, conventional bananas are labeled with the code 4011. 

  • Organic Produce ~ A five digit PLU code starting with the number “9″ indicates that the produce was grown organically and is not genetically modified.  For example, an organic banana would be labeled with the code 94011.

  • GMO Produce ~ A five digit PLU code starting with the number “8″ indicates that the item is a genetically modified fruit or vegetable. From a coding perspective, genetically modified fruits and vegetables trump being organic.  So, it is not possible to eat organic produce grown from genetically modified seeds.  For example, a genetically engineered banana would be labeled with the code 84011.

  More research on how to avoid GMO Foods ~ Link  

  Source: http://www.drfranklipman.com/what-do-those-codes-on-stickers-of-fruits-and-some-veggies-mean/

   

  General Sources of Information n : "Genetic Roulette ~ The Gamble of Our Lives" by Jeffery M. Smith

   http://geneticroulettemovie.com/

   http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/about-gmos.html

   http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Genetically_Modified_Organisms

   

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