Updated List

1. Genetically modified foods and animal produce raised on GM feed must be labeled in European Union countries. Why not in the USA?

http://www.drgreene.com/blog/2003/07/25/genetically-modified-food-europe

2. The practice of adding antibiotics to animal feed in order to promote growth has been banned in European Union countries since 2006. Why is it still permissible in the United States?

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1687&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN

3. European nations and Canada have banned the use of genetically modified bovine growth hormone (rBGH) which stimulates the production of milk containing increased levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1). High concentrations of IGF-1 in human serum are associated with an increased risk of breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancers. Why is the use of rBGH not banned in the USA?

http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/general/milk.htm

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(02)00731-3/abstract

4. Chemical companies are now being required to prove that their products are safe before releasing them for commercial use in Europe. Why not in the USA?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/11/AR2008061103569.html

5. The inclusion of phthalates, industrial chemicals used as solvents, is banned in deodorants, hair sprays, nail polishes and perfumes in European Union countries. Why not in the USA?

http://environment.about.com/od/healthenvironment/a/phthalates.htm

6. Direct marketing of prescription drugs to consumers is banned in almost every country. Why not in the USA?

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Direct-to-consumer_advertising
http://www.clinicalcorrelations.org/?p=2867

Why are Americans not being protected? Ask the politicians in Washington D.C.

Genetic modification is radically different from using plant breeding techniques to select out particular traits such as disease resistance. In genetic modification, genes from bacteria and viruses are introduced into plant cells in the laboratory and this process can cause significant collateral damage to the plant’s biochemistry, so much so that some animals can detect the changes and refuse to eat the genetically modified (GM) produce (1).

Which Crops Are Genetically Modified?

There are presently nine crops grown in the U.S. where some of the produce is GM and these are soybeans, corn, cottonseed, canola, alfalfa, sugar beet, Hawaiian papaya, yellow crookneck squash and zucchini. Approximately 86% of all the corn and 93% of all the soybean, cottonseed and canola currently grown in the U.S. are now GM. Also, 95% of all the sugar beet planted is GM. Recently, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) deregulated genetically- engineered alfalfa, which is commonly used in cattle feed.

In approximately 68% of GM crops, bacterial genes are inserted that enable the plants to resist the weed killer Roundup. As a result, farmers can spray these crops heavily to destroy unwanted competition while the crop survives and thrives, albeit contaminated with herbicide.

Another 19% of GM crops have a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) inserted that results in the production of Bt toxin, an insecticide. So the modified crops now produce their own insecticide. The remaining 13% of GM crops produce both an insecticide and are also herbicide tolerant.

So How Can We Avoid GM Foods?

1) Buy produce that is certified 100% organic.
2) Purchase produce labeled “Non-GMO” or “Made without Genetically Modified Ingredients.”
3) Avoid the high-risk crops; soybeans, corn, cottonseed, canola and sugar beet and products derived from them unless they specifically state that they are organic or non-GMO.
4) Purchase from vendors such as Trader Joe’s who guarantee that produce bearing their label is non-GMO.
5) Download the free Non-GMO Shopping Guide.

Reference

1) Smith, J. M. (2009) Video: Everything You Have To Know About Dangerous Genetically Modified Foods. http://www.responsibletechnology.org/GMFree/Home/index.cfm

© Christopher J. Jones, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Updated Report

1. Genetically modified foods and animal produce raised on GM feed must be labeled in European Union countries. Why not in the USA?

http://www.drgreene.com/blog/2003/07/25/genetically-modified-food-europe

2. The practice of adding antibiotics to animal feed in order to promote the growth of livestock has been banned in European Union countries since 2006. Why is it still permissible in the United States?

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1687&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN

3. European nations and Canada have banned the use of genetically modified bovine growth hormone (rBGH) which stimulates the production of milk containing increased levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1). High concentrations of IGF-1 in human serum are associated with an increased risk of breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancers. Why is the use of rBGH not banned in the U.S.A.?

http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/general/milk.htm

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(02)00731-3/abstract

4. Chemical companies are now being required to prove that their products are safe before releasing them for commercial use in Europe. Why not in the USA?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/11/AR2008061103569.html

5. The inclusion of phthalates, industrial chemicals used as solvents, is banned in deodorants, hair sprays, nail polishes and perfumes in European Union countries. Why not in the USA?

http://environment.about.com/od/healthenvironment/a/phthalates.htm

6. Direct marketing of prescription drugs to consumers is banned in almost every country. Why not in the USA?

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Direct-to-consumer_advertising
http://www.clinicalcorrelations.org/?p=2867

Why are Americans not being protected? Ask the politicians in Washington D.C.

Introduction to the movie “The Future of Food”.

The movie “The Future of Food”, produced by Lily Films, explains how biodiversity has been sacrificed in the name of corporate profits, resulting in the cultivation of huge monocultures. It’s estimated that 97% of the varieties of vegetables grown at the beginning of the 20th Century are now extinct.

In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court decided by a 5-4 majority to allow the first patenting of a living organism and this decision paved the way for companies to patent seeds. If a company controls the seeds, it controls the crops. You can see in the film what has been happening to farmers who have the misfortune to have Monsanto’s genetically modified seed blow onto their land and germinate.

Genetic uniformity leads to a greater vulnerability to crop pests and disease. If our biodiversity is not preserved and encouraged, we could face the nightmare scenario of losing the means to overcome a future blight.

Christopher J. Jones, M.Sc., Ph.D.

What is Genetic Modification?

Genetic modification of crops is quite different from classical plant breeding where new characteristics are introduced by crossing varieties of the same species in order to select desirable qualities such as vigor and resistance to disease. In genetic modification, genes are taken from the same or different species and inserted into the plant cells, either by bacterial vectors or by being fired into the cells on coated microbullets (1). In order for these genes to be switched on in their new environment, they are usually combined with a promoter gene from a virus. Soybean plants have been modified by the introduction of a gene conferring resistance to Monsanto’s herbicide RoundUp. This means that the soybean plants will survive spraying with the herbicide while it obliterates any competing crops and weeds. Corn has been modified by introducing a pesticide-producing gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The resulting pesticide is known as Bt toxin. The U.S. is the only country in the World where the genetic modification of its staple food, in this case corn, has been authorized.

Which Crops Are Genetically Modified (GM)?

There are presently eight crops commercially grown in the U.S. where some of the produce is GM and these are known as Genetically Modified Organisms or GMO’s. They are soybeans, corn, cottonseed, canola, sugar beet, Hawaiian papaya, yellow crookneck squash and zucchini. Over 90% of the U.S. soybean crop is now GM, resistant to the herbicide RoundUp, and contaminated with it as a result of the spraying. Approximately 68% of all GM crops are herbicide tolerant.
Another 19% of GM crops have the pesticide gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) inserted so that these crops now produce their own insecticide and in much higher concentrations than were previously used in spraying. The remaining 13% of GM crops produce both an insecticide and are herbicide tolerant.

The Dangers of Genetically Modified Crops

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that it is not aware of any information showing that GM crops differ “in any meaningful or uniform way” from non-GM crops and yet internal FDA documents made public by a lawsuit revealed this to be completely false. The FDA’s own scientists had warned that consumption of GM foods might result in unpredictable and hard-to-detect allergens, toxins, new diseases and nutritional problems. However, the scientists’ efforts to persuade their superiors to approve long-term studies were ignored. A 2002 report issued by the prestigious British Royal Society stated that genetic modification “could lead to unpredicted harmful changes in the nutritional state of foods,” and recommended that the potential health effects of GM foods be rigorously researched before they were offered to pregnant or breast-feeding women, babies and children, the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases. Animal studies published in peer-reviewed journals have shown that the consumption of GM produce can lead to the rapid development of precancerous lesions in the digestive tract, and also cause damage to the brain, liver, immune and reproductive systems (reviewed in references 2-4).

So How Can We Avoid GM Foods?

1) Buy produce that is certified 100% organic.

2) Purchase produce labeled “Non-GMO” or “Made without Genetically Modified Ingredients.” Be aware that such produce may still have been sprayed with herbicides, fungicides and pesticides unless otherwise stated.

3) Avoid the high-risk crops; soybeans, corn, cottonseed, canola and sugar beet, and products derived from them unless they specifically state that they are organic or non-GMO.

4) Purchase from vendors such as Trader Joe’s who guarantee that produce bearing their own label is non-GMO.

5) Download the free Non-GMO Shopping Guide from http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/SG/DownloadtheGuide/index.cfm

© Christopher J. Jones, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Adventist Health Ministry,
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677, USA

References

1) Lemaux, P. (2006) Introduction to Genetic Modification. ANR Publication 8178. http://ucanr.org/freepubs/docs/8178.pdf

2) Smith, J. M. (2009) Video: Everything You Have To Know About Dangerous Genetically Modified Foods. http://www.responsibletechnology.org/GMFree/Home/index.cfm

3) Smith, J. M. (2004) Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods You’re Eating. Yes! Books, 289 pp.

4) Smith, J. M. (2007) Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods. Chelsea Green Publishing, 312 pp.

Related Information

1) The Dangers of Genetically-Modified Foods.
Video: http://www.health360.info/?p=699

2) The Genetically-Modified Food the Rats Rejected…… Video: http://www.health360.info/?p=750

3) No GMO’s with Trader Joe’s Label http://www.health360.info/?p=778

4) Why Are We Not Being Protected in the USA? http://www.health360.info/?p=942

Genetically modified foods and animal produce raised on GM feed must be labeled in European Union countries. Why not in the USA?

http://www.drgreene.com/blog/2003/07/25/genetically-modified-food-europe

Chemical companies are now being required to prove that their products are safe before releasing them for commercial use in Europe. Why not in the USA?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/11/AR2008061103569.html

The inclusion of phthalates, industrial chemicals used as solvents, is banned in deodorants, hair sprays, nail polishes and perfumes in European Union countries. Why not in the USA?

http://environment.about.com/od/healthenvironment/a/phthalates.htm

Direct marketing of prescription drugs to consumers is banned in almost every Western country. Why not in the USA?

http://www.ngpharma.eu.com/article/Sales-and-marketing-strategies/

Why are Americans not being protected? Ask the politicians in Washington D.C.

Genetic modification is radically different from using plant breeding techniques to select out particular traits such as disease resistance. In genetic modification, genes from bacteria and viruses are introduced into plant cells in the laboratory and this process can cause significant collateral damage to the plant’s biochemistry, so much so that some animals can detect the changes and refuse to eat the genetically modified (GM) produce (1).

Which Crops Are Genetically Modified?

There are presently eight crops where some of the produce is GM and these are soybeans, corn, cottonseed, canola, sugar beet, Hawaiian papaya, yellow crookneck squash and zucchini. It is estimated that over 90% of the U.S. soybean crop is genetically modified. Bacterial genes are inserted that enable the soybeans to resist the weed killer Roundup. As a result, farmers can spray these crops heavily to destroy unwanted competition while the crop survives and thrives, albeit contaminated with herbicide. Approximately 68% of GM crops are herbicide tolerant.

Another 19% of GM crops have a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) inserted that results in the production of Bt toxin, an insecticide. So the modified crops now produce their own insecticide. The remaining 13% of GM crops produce both an insecticide and are also herbicide tolerant.

So How Can We Avoid GM Foods?

1) Buy produce that is certified 100% organic.
2) Purchase produce labeled “Non-GMO” or “Made without Genetically Modified Ingredients.”
3) Avoid the high-risk crops; soybeans, corn, cottonseed, canola and sugar beet and products derived from them unless they specifically state that they are organic or non-GMO.
4) Purchase from vendors such as Trader Joe’s who guarantee that produce bearing their label is non-GMO.
5) Download the free Non-GMO Shopping Guide from http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/SG/DownloadtheGuide/index.cfm

Reference

1) Smith, J. M. (2009) Video: Everything You Have To Know About Dangerous Genetically Modified Foods. http://www.responsibletechnology.org/GMFree/Home/index.cfm

© Christopher J. Jones, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Trader Joe’s is a popular chain of specialty grocery stores, privately-owned and with headquarters in Monrovia, California. It is a prosperous and growing company, currently operating around 355 stores, approximately half of which are in California and the rest are in 24 other states and in Washington D.C. The company has promised that any product bearing the Trader Joe’s label is free from artificial colors, flavors, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and transfats (1), and is not genetically modified (1,2).

The crops most likely to be genetically modified in the U.S.A. are soybeans, corn, cottonseed and canola (3,4) and it is estimated that over 90 % of the U.S. soybean crop is now of the Roundup Ready genetically modified variety (5). On a recent visit to Trader Joe’s, I looked at their soybean products and noted that they are being sourced from Southeast Asia. The frozen soybeans (Edamame) in pods were from Thailand and the shelled frozen soybeans were from Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia. The frozen Soycutash containing corn, soybeans and red bell pepper was from the U.S.A. and Thailand, so the soybean content is probably from the latter.

None of these products was certified organic at the time of my visit and, coming from tropical Southeast Asian countries, they may have been sprayed with pesticides and possibly also with fungicides and herbicides. Also, Trader Joe’s sells products other than its own brands, including meatless foods from Morningstar Farms, many of which contain genetically-modified ingredients (6). However, Trader Joe’s is to be commended for taking a stand against sourcing genetically modified foods for its own brand and for extending its range of organic products. Let’s hope other grocery chains in the U.S.A. will soon follow suit.

© Christopher J. Jones M.Sc., Ph.D.

References

1) http://www.traderjoes.com/products.asp
2) http://www.traderjoes.com/about/customer-updates.asp#4
3) Jones, C. J. (2010) The Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods. http://www.health360.info/?p=699
4) Jones, C. J. (2010) The Food the Rats Rejected…….. http://www.health360.info/?p=750
5) http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/04/29/gm-crops-runoff
6) http://morningstarfarms.com/faq.aspx

The genetically modified food the rats rejected and the mice, cows, elk, deer, pigs, geese and squirrels refused to eat…….has been offered to us. To learn more about this scandal, watch the video below, presented by Jeffrey M. Smith, Executive Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology and author of the best-selling books “Seeds of Deception” and ”Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods”. For more information on genetically-modified foods and how to avoid them, go to http://www.responsibletechnology.org

Everything You HAVE TO KNOW about Dangerous Genetically Modified Foods from Jeffrey Smith on Vimeo.

In the videos below, Jeffrey M. Smith, Executive Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology and author of the best-selling book “Seeds of Deception”, gives a lecture entitled “The Health Dangers of Genetically-Modified Foods and Their Cover-Up”. He has since written a further book entitled ”Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods”. His purpose is to alert consumers to the health and environmental dangers posed by genetically modified foods and, with public support, eventually succeed in eliminating them from our food supply.

I am grateful to Formatus’ YouTube channel for carrying these videos and providing them for public use.

Christopher J. Jones, M.Sc., Ph.D.