Over recent years, there has been much controversy over the
use of GMO's (Genetically Modified Organisms) in our plant crops, meat animals and
in textile crops like cotton. A GMO is
the result of the laboratory process of taking genes from one species and
inserting them into another in an attempt to obtain a desired trait or
characteristic; for example, a higher plant yield or drought resistance. Agro-Biotech conglomerates like Monsanto and
others claim their GMO's are a boon to mankind by increasing food supply,
reducing energy use, and are more nutritious than naturally bred crops. Opponents refute those claims, insisting that
Agro-Biotech companies are more interested in profits and their own bottom
line, than in the safety of the food we eat.
So, who is right? Caught in the
middle of this question are family farmers and consumers like you and me all
over the globe.
Honestly, I had a hard time trying to maintain objectivity
in writing this article after spending considerable time doing the
research. There are a myriad of issues
that revolve around not only the use of GMO’s in our food and cash crops, but
also in the way Agro-Biotech companies deal with farmers, in their politics,
with the international community, in their past behavior regarding a host of
serious environmental violations, and even in the way the conduct their own research,
I remember back in the 1960's, the Famous TV science fiction
show Star Trek ran an episode called "The Trouble with
Tribbles." It revolved around the
crew of the starship Enterprise protecting a supply of a genetically engineered
grain called "Quadro-triticale" earmarked for delivery to Sherman's
planet. Unbeknownst to everyone
involved, several Tribbles (small fuzzy creatures that reproduce every 12 hours
when a plentiful food source is accessible) found their way into the storage
silos on the space station, and began to eat the Quadro-triticale, multiplying
exponentially. It was eventually
discovered that this grain meant for human consumption had been poisoned, when
Science officer Spock declared, "This Tribble is dead. And so are these." Now I am not saying that GMO's are poison
like the tainted grain in Star Trek, however there remains a lot of unanswered
questions about GMO's effects on the human body which are not fully known. Up to this point due to a variety of factors,
those answers are slow in coming.
What complicates matters further is the fact that the
quality of our food supply is intimately connected with both political and
regulatory decisions, and there are even more questions revolving around the
potential conflict of interest regarding the ties between the Agro-Biotech industry, and those who approve
or deny needed legislation and regulation. Thanks to regulation, pharmaceutical companies must conduct animal trials with drugs intended for human use first, before those
products can be sold to consumers.
Imagine my dismay when I discovered that not only has there been little
to no in-house research done by Monsanto into the long term health effect of GM
products on animals and the environment, but that the industry giant has hampered, blocked
and discredited research done by independent scientists who have discovered “issues”
with their GM products, such as mutation in mice who have consumed them, or
allergic reactions in human subjects. Even
more disturbing is the fact that with little (90 day studies) or questionable
research done, Agro-Biotech giants have still been able to get their products
into the human food supply. How, you ask?
By having friends in high places.
At least seven people have held positions at both Monsanto
and in US government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (regulates
what can or cannot go in our food), the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (regulates environmental standards) and even the US Supreme Court (the
highest court of law in the US) at various points in their careers. A few have even rotated back and forth
between the two. We are talking about a
conflict of interests on a massive scale here!
A few years back, I had the privilege of meeting Pittsburgh
Steelers Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw. In the course of our conversation, he said to
me, “If it looks like a rat, smells like a rat, and produces a lot of little
rats, it’s a Rat!” With so many
accusations and unanswered questions revolving around the safety of GMO’s, and regarding the dubious company
practices surrounding them, my wife Terry and I have emphatically decided to avoid GMO's in our personal food supply, and in our Winter Goddess products as
well. We believe that there is power in
food, and it is better to be sure of what you eat, than to harbor uncertainty.
It is unfortunate that under current FDA regulations, products containing GMO’s can be legally labeled as “natural.” So how can you be sure of what you and your family are eating? While we are big advocates of taking the time to read that product label, the only way that you can know for sure that you are not ingesting GMO’s is to buy organic food products. By law, organic food cannot contain GMO’s.
There are many more issues regarding GMO’s than can be
reasonably addressed in this blog, including Monsanto’s use of litigation
against family farmers, international crop failures due to the use of their
seed, allegations of bribery to high level officials world wide in exchange for
favorable legislation or approval, as well as a host of other topics. We invite you to do your own research and
draw your own conclusions.
For an in depth look at the issues surrounding GMO's and their effects, please start with the links below :
For an in depth look at the issues surrounding GMO's and their effects, please start with the links below :
Here is a video that simplifies the argument against GMO's,
and Monsanto in particular:
How to avoid GMO’s in your food purchases:
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