I Believe - GM Food - Does it Harm Us?

The following is an unedited excerpt from a recent article posted by American Association for Health Freedom.

Genetically-Modified Food is Dangerous

World renowned biologist Pushpa M. Bhargava, after reviewing more than 600 scientific journals, has stated that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a major contributor to the sharply deteriorating health of Americans, and the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) has called for a moratorium on GM foods, along with long-term independent studies and labeling. They cite several animal studies that point to serious health problems associated with GM food, including immune system dysfunction, infertility, adverse changes in major organs, insulin regulation, and escalation of the aging process.

Many doctors are warning their patients against consuming genetically modified food, and some are prescribing GM-free diets. We are all at risk from GM foods, but babies, children, and pregnant women are even more susceptible to damage from consuming these products.

Warnings Ignored and Denied

This may sound like brand new news, but actually scientists at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had warned about all these problems in the early 1990s. According to recently released documents, the scientific consensus at the agency at that time was that GM foods were inherently dangerous, and might create hard-to-detect allergies, poisons, gene transfer to gut bacteria, new diseases, and nutritional problems. It was suggested that long-term rigorous tests be instigated before approval of GM food production.

However, the White House had ordered the agency to promote biotechnology and the FDA responded by recruiting Michael Taylor, The Monsanto Company's former attorney, to head up the formation of GMO policy. That policy, which is in effect today, denies knowledge of scientists' concerns and declares that no safety studies on GMOs are required. It is up to Monsanto and the other biotech companies to determine if their foods are safe. Mr. Taylor later became Monsanto's vice president. Monsanto, described by Wikipedia as a multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation, has a long history of disregard for public health and safety and the environment of the planet.

GMOs May Remain Inside of Us

The most dangerous problem from eating GM foods is that long after we stop eating GMOs, we may still have harmful GM proteins produced continuously inside us. For example, eating a corn chip made with GM corn has the possibility of transforming our intestinal bacteria into living pesticide factories, maybe for the rest of our lives. The gene inserted into GM soy transfers into the DNA of bacteria living inside our intestines and continues to function. The U.S. medical community is concerned about the huge increase of gastrointestinal problems over the last decade. The answer might be found in examining whether GM foods are colonizing the gut flora of our population.

GM foods may be contributing to the rise of autism, obesity, diabetes, asthma, cancer, heart disease, allergies, reproductive problems, and any other common health problem now plaguing Americans, but we may never know. What we do know is that large numbers of animals are dying after eating GM grains, and that these animals (which include cows, horses, sheep, buffalo, and chickens) had a wide variety of symptoms. It follows that susceptible people may react to GM food with multiple symptoms or maladies. And also, what we do know is that proper testing has not been conducted.

Famed Canadian geneticist David Suzuki states, "The experiments simply haven't been done and we now have become the guinea pigs." He adds, "Anyone that says, 'Oh, we know that this is perfectly safe,' I say is either unbelievably stupid or deliberately lying."

What You Can Do

Here are some guidelines that you can implement right now. Stay away from anything with soy or corn derivatives, cottonseed and canola oil, and sugar from GM sugar beets-unless it says organic or "non-GMO." There is a pocket Non-GMO Shopping Guide co-produced by the Institute for Responsible Technology and the Center for Food Safety, which is available as a download, as well as in natural food stores and in many doctors' offices.

Consumers sometimes don't realize the power they have over the food industry. If enough consumers boycott GM foods, there's a good chance they will disappear from the marketplace, because that's what happened in Europe. Anti-GMO countries include Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Greece, France, and Hungary.

Kind regards,
Tami Wahl,
Legislative Director
American Association for Health Freedom
office@healthfreedom.net