By Renu Namjoshi
I am a mother of two children, and like all parents I am very concerned about what my children eat.
Did you know that in the United States we, as parents and consumers, are rapidly losing our power
to choose what we put on our dinner tables? For the past five years we have been unwitting subjects
in a vast experiment. Genetically engineered foods (also known as GMO, or genetically modified
organisms) have been sold in American supermarkets, without our consent or knowledge, unlabeled
and untested. Today, more than 75% of all the food in American supermarkets contains some GMO
ingredients. Genetically engineered foods are created by a technology that allows scientists
to edit the genetic code of the plants and animals we eat.
Through genetic engineering, scientists insert the gene of one organism into the genome of another,
often completely unrelated organism, in an effort to replicate characteristics in the receiving
organism. For example, a moth gene works as a built in pesticide in russet potatoes and bacteria
genes work as pesticides in soy, corn and canola sold in American supermarkets today. Experiments
are underway in which an "anti-freeze" gene from an Artic fish is inserted into strawberries to
make them resistant to frost, and human genes have been transferred into cows to make milk with
human proteins. Virtually all the plants and animals we eat are on their way to being designed
into tailor made commodities through genetic engineering.
Informed public discussion of the issues has been deliberately stifled in the United States.
Opposition to GMO's is fierce in other countries, especially in Europe, forcing major food
manufacturers from Kellogg's to McDonalds to make products for export without GMO's. The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has chosen a "don't look, don't see" policy. Under U.S.
law there is no significant difference between genetically engineered and non-genetically
engineered foods. Therefore, the market place is left to police itself in determining the
health and environmental impact of these novel foods and no special labeling is required.
The FDA has not only been grossly negligent; it has also taken away our freedom to decide
what we choose to feed our children. All we are left with are assurances from biotechnology
companies that GMO foods have been thoroughly tested and are safe. These are the same companies
that introduced us to some of the most environmentally hazardous poisons on earth, such as DDT,
Dioxin, PCB's and Agent Orange.
A key question we must ask is: where is the independent science to prove the safety of these
foods? Last June, the prestigious journal Science, reported a detailed database search, which
turned up a grand total of just eight refereed journal articles dealing with ANY aspect of the
safety of GMO foods worldwide. The eight included only four actual feeding trials, of which
three were from Monsanto, the company that is producing the vast majority of these foods. When
it comes to human and environmental safety there should be clear evidence of the absence of
risk; the mere absence of evidence is not enough. There are many scientists who believe that
this relatively new and poorly understood technology could produce unpredictable toxins,
allergens and new diseases and could potentially cause serious damage to our environment.
The public relations propaganda of the biotechnology firms is designed to convince the public
that genetically engineered food is necessary to feed the rapidly growing world population. We
must look at the reality, not the hype. Who is benefiting from the current GMO crops? It's not
the consumer, not the environment and not even the farmer; just the biotech companies. When the
so-called miracle products are created and are independently tested for long-term human health
and environmental safety, then we can reassess the importance of GMO's to humanity.
What is most alarming is that today ten corporations control 32 percent of the world's commercial
seed market and 100% of the market for genetically engineered seeds. Just five corporations control
the entire global trade in grain. These corporations are actively involved in manipulating
international trade agreements to their advantage, backed by the U.S government. Food security
will not increase for the world by holding farmers and consumers' hostage to a handful of
multinational enterprises.
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You can help raise awareness of genetically engineered food by forwarding this article to others.
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About the Author
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Renu Namjoshi, a long time consumer advocate and co-founder of Texas Consumers for Safe Food,
teaches "Conscious Eating" classes in Austin. To learn more, see this site
www.saynotogmos.org.
Copyright © Renu Namjoshi. All rights reserved. If you are interested in publishing this article, please email .
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