Wait, don't we already know what's in our food based on mandatory food labels? Not by a long shot. Yesterday, we Americans experienced a huge victory when the U.S. Senate defeated the DARK act-
Deny Americans the Right to Know. This devastating bill would have abolished states’ right to pass mandatory GMO labeling laws. This would have condemned consumers across the country to being in the “DARK” about whether the food they ate had genetically engineered ingredients in them. Right now, many states have bills pending or passed to protect us by simply requiring food companies to put on the labels if its ingredients contain GMOs. However, the DARK act is a Federal bill created, not to protect us consumers, but really to protect big agri-business. Think about it, if GMOs weren’t bad for us, why would agri-business giants such as Monsanto, be fighting to keep them OFF the food labels.
What are GMO foods anyway and why do they matter? GMO stands for
genetically modified organism and GE means
genetically engineered. Modern usage of GMO actually refers to genetically engineered crops where, in a laboratory, the
DNA from one organism
is spliced into the genes of another organism, or even another species,
to give it new or different traits. The resulting combinations are plants and animals that
do not naturally exist in our environment. For example, most GM crops grown today have been developed
to resist certain insect pests. They make them
"Round-Up Ready" which means they already have
harmful herbicides already in the seeds before they even go into the ground. While this and other Genetic Engineering may seem to make sense on the farmers' end producing
higher yields and reduced maturation times, it can
mean trouble for the consumers who get the transfer of
resistance of antibiotics and
allergens. The problem is that
genetically modified foods affect the human physiology. For example, there
is a reason why soy allergies have skyrocketed by 50% with most soy being genetically modified. As a result, there are many who believe that the
epidemic of allergies, asthma, skin problems, and chronic ailments are
due to GM foods. There have been 19 studies with animals that
link GMO with organ disruptions. There is also a reason why in the
European Union, if a GM product is .9 percent or more it must be labeled. In the US, labeling is amazingly not required. The bio-chemical industry is fiercely going after two crops,
corn and soy, because of their high demand for use throughout our processed goods and bio-fuel industries.Unfortunately, these 2 crops are in virtually all of our processed foods found in the
"center portion" of the supermarket. Therefore for
Corn and Soy in particular, only buy
USDA organic. Try to shop the
perimeter for
one-ingredient food and buy organic when you can. Also be sure to
fight for your right to know what's in the food you buy by demanding better food labels. Kudos to groups like Environmental Working Group (EWG.org) and FoodDemocracyNow.org that rallied American consumers to let their senators know that they want to know what’s in their food.
To learn more, visit ConsumersUnion.org/RightToKnow. All material in this newsletter is provided for information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this publication;instead readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information provided has not been approved the Food & Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or disease. |
"It is our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities."  Live well and love more, Jill Gordon CHHC, HHC, CNHP, Digestive Health Specialist |
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