Is GE Genetically Engineered, or Genetically
Modified Organism GMO food safe for humans?
Has the US been guinea pigs the last few decades? Could this be why obesity has risen across
the country? Or do we really believe
that so many of us have “just lost all of our willpower”? Could this be affecting the increase in
chronic disease too? Could what we don’t know really be harming us?
I often hear the argument that there are no
tests proving GMO’s are bad. Below are two excerpts from news reports that came
across my desk this month:
GMO News
found on Food Integrity Now:
“Pigs fed a GMO diet exhibited heavier uteri
and a higher rate of severe stomach inflammation than pigs fed a comparable
non-GMO diet. Given the widespread use of GMO
feed for livestock as well as humans this is a cause for concern… The results indicate that it would be
prudent for GM crops that are destined for human food and animal feed,
including stacked GM crops, to undergo long-term animal feeding studies
preferably before commercial planting, particularly for toxicological and
reproductive effects. Humans have a similar gastrointestinal tract to pigs, and
these GM crops are widely consumed by people, particularly in the USA, so it
would be be prudent to determine if the findings of this study are applicable
to humans.”
“Since
genetically modified (GM) food started to appear in shops in the early
nineties, large quantities have been sold for human consumption – without any
harmful effects, as far as we know. But is there a risk of along-term impact? An
international research project is exploring the effects of GM food, studying
the impact on rats, mice, pig and salmon. The wide-ranging study includes
researchers from Hungary, Austria, Ireland, Turkey, Australia and Norway.
Rats
fattening up
As
part of the project, a group of rats were fed corn which had been genetically
modified for pest resistance. Over a period of 90 days they became slightly
fatter than the control group of rats fed non-GM corn. The same effect occurred
where rats were fed fish which, in turn, had eaten GM corn.
“But
the ones who had fed on GM corn were slightly larger, they ate slightly more,
their intestines had a different microstructure, they were less able to digest
proteins, and there were some changes to their immune system. Blood samples
also showed some change in the blood.” These subtle changes were observed in a
wide range of organs, including the digestive organs, liver, kidneys, pancreas,
adrenal glands and reproductive organs.”
GM
genes transferring into tissue
However,
one important pro-GM argument has been disproved by the research.
“A
frequent claim has been that new genes introduced in GM food are harmless since
all genes are broken up in the intestines. But our findings show that genes can
be transferred through the intestinal wall into the blood; they have been found
in blood, muscle tissue and liver in sufficiently large segments to be identified,”
Krogdahl explains. “The biological
impact of this gene transfer is unknown.”
When
I hear that there is no clinical data proving that GMO foods are bad, my first
reaction is this. Why has the United
States taken the stance “innocent until proven guilty” with our food, health
and wellbeing?
Please see the chart below of companies that
are fighting for and against labeling of GMO that is up for vote in Washington
State. We can vote too, everyday with
our pocketbooks. Please support labeling
initiatives. We have a right to know.
