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,
As consumers, we have a reasonable expectation that our food
(at the very least) will do us no harm.
Like me, I am sure that you’d like to know what exactly is in the food that
you and your family eat. Did you know
that companies like Monsanto have opposed every effort to have GMO’s labeled on
our food, in spite of the public’s desire for such labeling? They have even filed suit against companies
who have declared their own products to be “GMO free.” Their objection is that
since GMO’s are “safe,” labeling would falsely brand their products as
inferior, and would serve to confuse potential customers. My question in response to their concerns is,
if GMO’s are as good for us as the Agro-Biotech companies contend, then why do
they have a problem with proudly displaying this on a label? It makes one wonder what is really going on.



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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