Watch out for genetically modified organisms (“GMO”). About a year ago, in early 2011, the FDA approved GMO alfalfa, claiming that Monsanto’s weed-resistant Roundup Ready alfalfa is “safe.” One of the main problems with this claim is that since alfalfa pollen is notorious for flying all over the place, the GMO alfalfa can easily spread to non-GMO fields without permission from farm owners. And therein lies the issue — GMO crops aren’t allowed in organic products. So if GMO alfalfa inadvertently ends up feeding cows bred to produce organic milk or beef, the organic label no longer applies.
The majority of American consumers erroneously believe that the FDA approves GMO foods through rigorous, in-depth, long-term studies. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is imperative to fully understand the severe ramifications of ingesting this laboratory created, if you will pardon the expression, “food.” Genetic engineering/modification of food involves the laboratory process of artificially inserting genes into the DNA of food crops or animals. The result is called a genetically modified organism, or GMO.
Click the thumbnail image below for an enlightening GMO graphic.
GMO’s can be engineered with genes from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals, or even humans. The primary reason the plants are engineered is to allow them to basically drink poison. They’re inserted with foreign genes that allow them to survive otherwise deadly doses of poisonous herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. The only “testing” for safety that is required is for the GMO producer to submit a self-authored report on the new GMO’s safety. This scam was devised by Michael Taylor, a former FDA lawyer who established the “no testing” policy by reasoning that GMO’s are “substantially equivalent” to food, and food has already been determined to be safe. Taylor (second cousin to Tipper Gore) is notorious for his “revolving door” employment within the US government and Monsanto and was chosen by Obama as the FDA Deputy Commissioner for foods (aka the “food safety czar”) in July 2009. While at Monsanto, Taylor’s main responsibility was gaining regulatory approval of the GMO cancer-causing bovine growth hormone (rBGH).
Effectively, in the area of American food safety, we now have the “fox” guarding the “henhouse.” You see, we have been given a false sense of security about the safety of our food supply. Ignorance is the key in this campaign of deception, as only about 20% of Americans even know if they’ve ever eaten GMO food in their lifetime! The five main GMO foods are soy, corn, cotton, canola, and sugar beets, but as I mentioned, alfalfa is also rapidly becoming GMO. The fact of the matter is that GMO’s have been linked to toxic and allergic reactions, sick, sterile, and dead livestock, and damage to virtually every organ studied in lab animals. Numerous studies of GMO corn and soy have shown that they cause STERILITY in hamsters by the 3rd generation!
Here’s a major area of concern: foods containing GMOs don’t have to be labeled in the USA! Monsanto has fought hard to prevent labeling laws. This is alarming, since approximately 75% of processed foods in the USA now contain GMO ingredients. Fifty countries, including France, Germany, and Italy have banned or restricted GMOs, while the EU, Japan, China, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and many other nations now require mandatory GMO labeling. However, the USA doesn’t even require GMO foods to be labled, despite the fact that recent polls indicate that more than 80% of Americans want GMO foods to be labeled.
How to identify ORGANIC fruits and vegetables: The PLU code (price lookup number), tells you the following: a 5-digit number, beginning with the #9 = organic; a 5-digit number, beginning with the #8 = GMO; a 4-digit number means grown by conventional means.
http://www.cancertruth.net/2012-june-newsletter/
