Food is Our Most Intimate Connection to the World

While most Americans are preoccupied with Presidential candidate debates and Superbowl Sunday, one of the most important global, human health and environmental issues concerning the future of our food is literally being decided and voted upon right now. ‘Flying very low under the radar’ with little or no coverage from the media and without the knowledge and consent of most American citizens, Genetically Modified Organisms or GMO’s are taking over.

A conservative estimate concludes that at least 75% of American foods and body products contain genetically modified organisms.

What is a GMO? Genetic modification of the seed involves the insertion or deletion of genes.  When genes are inserted, they usually come from a different species. Seeds are being engineered to resist a herbicide called glyphosate, an ingredient in RoundUp or are able to produce pesticidal proteins from within the plant itself. The trouble with RoundUp; it is very toxic. It's known to cause cancer, birth defects and infertility. It is the most widely used herbicide in the USA and is manufactured by Monsanto.  The Percentage of crops that are Genetically Modified in the U.S. today are: Soy (85%) Cotton (Cottonseed) (76%) Canola (75%) Corn (40%) Hawaiian papaya (more than 50%) Zucchini and Yellow Squash (small amount) and Quest brand tobacco (100%) The novelty of a plant making its own pesticide through genetic engineering is frightening to me, the consequences of humans eating GM food products is undocumented and unknown, we are the guinea pigs for this science experiment.  

This is my personal opinion: I believe that there is a link between the increased use of GMO’s and our declining health here in the United States.  Have you noticed all the new Hospitals and Medical Centers being built all around us?  Most of the commercials on T.V. and radio are about health care issues and prescription drugs?  Why are Americans so sick?  Did you know that in 1980 1 in 2000 children were diagnosed with autism? that number is currently around 1 in 110 children. Did you know that the United States has the highest rate of cancer in the world?  That 1 out of 2 men, and 1 out of 3 women in the United States are expected to get cancer in their lifetime? This is unacceptable to me and I’m trying to beat those odds, and I want you to too.  What's changing?                                                                                                                   The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) reported that “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. The AAEM asked physicians to advise patients to avoid GM foods. You may want to ask your own health care provider what they've heard.

What effect does this have on us? Regardless of dozens of scientific warnings, the FDA has approved widespread use of GMO ingredients in America’s foods and body products. The FDA does no testing of its own and does not require third-party testing.  GMO corporations, like Monsanto, are self regulating and there is no monitoring of GMO-related problems.                                                             The following countries have banned or restricted the import, distribution, sale, utilization, field trials and commercial planting of GMO’s: All 27 countries in the European Union, Algeria, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Japan, Phillipines, Brazil, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia and the number is growing.  What do the citizens of these countries know that we don’t?  The country of India has sued Monsanto for “bio-piracy” - stealing indigenous plants, and then trying to develop genetically modified versions of them.

Organic food is unadulterated (complete, absolute and pure) the way food has been since the beginning of time; up until the 1940's (some consider the 1940s and 1950s to have been the start of the "pesticide era", post World War II)[     

Some people ask: Are Organic Foods really better for you? From what I know, they have no additives, no preservatives, no artificial colors, no genetic engineering, nor sewage sludge added.  They have no antibiotics, added growth hormones and they're not sprayed with herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, nor is it irradiated.  Organic food is simply 'real food'; how could this not be better for you? Nutrition is the key to a healthy body;not prescriptions, 'you are what you eat'. Organic food constantly has the burden of proving itself by having to pay for expensive production,  handling & labeling requirements as well as constant testing, inspections and certification fees.…GMO's don't, there are no labels for GMO's; at least not yet.  Organic farmers do not receive farm subsidies, but guess what; the GMO’s do.

There are currently 2 bills being presented in favor of Labeling GMO foods, in the House - HB 2637, in the Senate SB 6298, If the future of food matters to you and you believe you have a right to know what's in your food, I urge each one of you to contact your elected County and State Representatives who will vote on this in your behalf.  Have your voice heard and be counted. This is our chance, right now, to save the integrity of our food supply and the quality of life for future generations. The food industry of today is shaped by the supposed efficiencies of production, distribution, and demand rather than care for the well being of people and the earth itself.

I’ve included several links for more information about Genetically Modified Organisms and encourage you to read more about it.  Please watch the new Music Video on GMO’s “Question What’s Inside” written and performed by Rob Herring http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu2qKI2Ju9s and Robyn O’Brien's video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rixyrCNVVGA&feature=shareThis  In my opinion these are an excellent source of information and a good place to start.

Read more:

http://truefoodnow.org/shoppers-guide/

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html

http://www.organicconsumers.org/

http://www.responsibletechnology.org/

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/roundup-weed-killer-is-t...

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1948842,00.html#ixzz1lLOoT7O1