Food for thought.

There was a recent article in the Bonney Lake Courier Herald about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) titled 'Food Initiative draws sparks from each side'.  This is a topic I am passionate about and believe we should all be talking about it.  I am writing today because I take exception with a comment made in the article by Don Brunell, President of the Association of Washington Business’s and want to set the record straight, he says: “Humans have modified crops for thousands of years, cross breeding varieties to make them tastier, bigger and more productive”.  We’ve been cross-pollinating plants for centuries, this is true.  Cross pollination also occurs naturally in nature, pollen from one plant has to be transferred to the flower of another variety (pollen + wind + bees) = a hybrid.  There’s no toxic byproduct created by the act of hybridization.

GMOs involve the combining of DNA molecules, in a laboratory, from different sources (plant, animal or microorganisms including e-coli) into a single molecule to form a new set of genes. The organism that receives this new DNA molecule gets modified.  Plants like corn that have the pesticide ‘bt’ (bacillus thuringiensis) engineered into its genetic makeup to make it resistant to certain pests are Genetically Modified.  Bt is a natural pesticide, but it would never naturally find its way into the corn seed.

Most of the corn used to manufacture 80% of the processed foods in the United States for you and I to buy on our grocer's shelves are made from Bt Corn and is fed to most of our livestock in the United States.  It has been classified as an ‘Insecticide’ because the Bt protein is expressed through the whole plant, from its roots, up the stalk, leaves, silk and to each individual kernel of corn.     When a target insect eats the Bt-containing plant, the protein is activated in the gut of the insect, where it forms a toxin that paralyzes the insect’s digestive system and forms holes in the guts walls.  This kind of sounds familiar with what’s going on in our own guts these days doesn’t it?

Our bodies can react to genetically modified organisms as a foreign invader, because it does not recognize the new DNA molecule and tries to protect itself by having an allergic reaction to it; rejecting it the best way it can.  

The top 5 genetically engineered crops in the United States are:  Corn, Soy, Sugar Beets, Canola and Cotton.  These ingredients can be ‘presumed’ GMO unless they’re certified Organic.

I believe we are experiencing a rapid decline in our health due to GMO’s. Cancer rates are skyrocketing, we’re suddenly allergic to all kinds of foods, intestinal/digestive disorders are all you hear about on TV and Radio commercials, haven’t you wondered why?  Could this be because of Genetically Modified Foods?  

I believe we need to take a precautious step back and determine if we are causing more harm than good.

A 2011 Canadian study looked at the presence of BT toxin in non-pregnant women, pregnant women and fetal blood. All groups had detectable levels of the protein in blood, including 93% of pregnant women and 80% of fetuses.

64 other countries on this planet already require labeling and refuse to accept our genetically engineered grains, which has and will have huge economical impacts especially here in Washington State unless we do something about it now.                                                                                                           I could go on all day how GMO mono crops are depleting the soil, using 3 times more herbicide than a decade ago, and are killing our pollinating insects and birds.  I know some of you will say ‘this hasn’t been proven,’ but something’s going on, shouldn’t we find out if GMO’s are safe FIRST instead of waiting for proof that they’re dangerous?

Whatever your opinion on GMO’s, shouldn’t they at least be labeled so we can choose what to put in our bodies and feed our families?  Did you know that manufacturer’s like Kelloggs already labels Genetically Modified Organisms in other countries that require labeling, they can do it here too, we just need to demand it.

“The Food you eat can be either the safest & most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison” Ann Wigmore