Genetically Modified Foods -- Could "What We DON'T Know" Quite Possibly Hurt Us?
, Sunday, July 05 2009, 07:57 PM
A genetically modified organism is a man-made, patented organism created in a laboratory when a gene from a totally unrelated species is introduced into the genetic material of another species.
Examples of this include:
1) Corn and potatoes modified with a gene that produces endotoxins which protect them against the corn-borer pest and the potato beetle.
2) Pigs that produce beneficial omega-3 fatty acids (healthy bacon!).
3) Goats that produce milk which could potentially help children ward off infections.
4) Cows that produce lactose-free milk.
5) Cattle and chickens that are resistant to organisms that lead to nasty food-borne illnesses.
Scientists worldwide now admit that the rush to sell genetically engineered seeds and products has put people's health and the environment at risk.
Food safety experts have identified several possible health problems that could develop thanks to engineering food crops:
1) The introduction of new toxins or allergens into previously safe foods.
2) An increase of dangerous levels of toxins in foods that formerly had harmless amounts.
3) Reduced nutritional value of food.
While no major human health problems have emerged in connection with genetically modified food crops as of yet, genetically modified foods are not labeled in the United States so it's impossible to know if they are responsible for the rampant cancers and other ailments in our population.
Within the last three or four years, GMO soybeans and corn have been planted on millions of acres of farmland in America and they've been used in infinite processed foods on our grocery shelves.
Conversely, 30 countries have banned, or have proposed to ban GMOs, including many European countries.
Are we the unwitting and unwilling guinea pigs in the largest experiment in human history, involving our entire planet's ecosystem, food supply, and the health and very genetic makeup of its inhabitants??
Does this issue concern you? Please share your thoughts below...
Linda Lucille
said on July 07, 2009
The latest is GM rice (altered with seven proteins from cedar trees) that is supposed to protect people against common allergies like hay fever. Japanese scientists are moving it into clinical human trials because monkeys ate it for 6 weeks straight without suffering side effects. That's all you need to give a GM food the seal of approval?? If cedar proteins were meant to be in rice, then they'd naturally be there without science tweaking them. The whole thing creeps me out...I think that it's a silent time bomb for humans.
Bob Kurz
said on July 15, 2009