The Balance Point Blog

Genetically Modified Foods: The Latest Findings

Genetically modified (GM) foods are an ongoing source of controversy.

Predictably, the companies making them (notably Monsanto), regularly espouse the opinion that these foods are safe and nutritious.

But are they? As it turns out, the happy-face reassurances coming from those who generate income selling GM foods are based on… nothing! In fact, the actual research being done shows huge problems with these foods.

In an outstanding article on the website, Responsible Technology, researcher Jeffery M. Smith presents hard data about the dangers of these products. This data comes from physicians who’ve reviewed the research and concluded that GM foods cause multiple health problems.

Here are a few highlights from Mr. Smith’s article, illustrating the dangers of these foods:

• Dangers to pregnant women and babies

  Because children’s growth & development are strongly affected by exposure to toxins and dietary deficiencies, pregnant women and babies should avoid GM foods like the plague.

  For example, in studies with pregnant rats, when GM soy was fed to the female rats, most of their babies died within 3 weeks, compared to only 10% dying in the control group fed conventionally raised soy. Even embryos of GM fed parent mice had significant changes in their DNA and babies that survived had low birth weights along with massive levels of infertility.

• Eating foods intentionally designed to produce deadly toxins

  Genetically modified corn includes genes that manufacture their own pesticides. The pesticide is called “Bt” and the argument for it’s production in GM plants is that it is a naturally occurring soil bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis) used by organic farmers.

  What isn’t mentioned is that the Bt in GM corn is thousands of times more concentrated than that used to protect organics. In addition, the toxin is contained inside the plant itself, not as an externally applied spray. Unlike a spray, it cannot be washed off.

• Negative effects on the immune system

  A group of doctors concluded that, “Multiple animal studies show significant immune dysregulation” [from GM food intake] including increase in cytokines, which are “associated with asthma, allergy, and inflammation.” All of these problems are on the rise in the U.S.

• Death

  In India, animals grazing on GM cotton plants died in the thousands. They were found to have severe irritation and black patches in their intestines and livers.

  In a follow-up study, all the sheep fed this GM cotton died within 30 days, while those eating natural cotton plants remained healthy.

• Unknown and untested long-term consequences to eating these foods

  Remember cyclamates? The FDA allowed foods to contain these as artificial sweeteners for 11 years from 1958 until 1969 when they were banned due to research showing they caused cancer. It’s telling that the ban came 3 years after that research. That means people ate foods containing these poisons far past the time when they were found to be dangerous.

You can find much more detailed information in James M. Smith’s article. If any doubts remain in your mind about eating GM foods, I recommend you read the whole thing.

How To Identify Non-GM, GM and Organically Grown Produce

75% of processed foods have GM content, most particularly if they contain soy or corn. That means you have a better than one in seven chance of eating GM food if you eat processed foods (those that come in a box, a jar, a bottle, a can or a package).

But you can’t tell if processed foods contain genetically modified ingredients because they don’t have to label where they came from. Fresh produce does. You’ll find the information on the PLU code (Price Lookup Code) stickers on each vegetable or piece of fruit you buy.

These stickers will tell you if the produce was conventionally grown, genetically modified, or organically grown. Here’s the key:

• The PLU code for conventional produce has only four numbers: For example, PLU: 1022 (the actual numbers may be different, it’s the number of digits that’s important).

• GM produce has five numbers preceded by the number 8: For example, PLU: 81022 (again the last 4 numbers may be different, but the first number will always be an “8″).

• Organically grown produce has five numbers, preceded by the number 9: For example, PLU: 91022 (again, it’s the first “9″ rather than the other numbers you need to be aware of).

Because organically grown produce will not be Genetically Modified or contain pesticides, look for the number 9 when you want to protect your health. It’s the best way to avoid becoming a human guinea pig…

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References:

James M Smith’s Responsible Technology Web Site Article

Wikipedia Article on Cyclamates

Pure Zing Website Article on GM Foods

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 11th, 2009 at 4:00 pm and is filed under Alternative Medicine, Foods & Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.