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GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms, is a label most often used to describe certain food crops, like corn and soy, that have been genetically modified to produce more, resist pests or disease, and/or enhance vitamin/mineral content. Possibly other goals could be achieved as well, but these are the ones I hear the most about. While most people seem unconcerned, there's an (apparent) minority that feels very strongly about keeping us safe from the dangers of GMOs.
Whats the big deal?
Institute for Responsible Technology - GMO Dangers
A lot of "ifs" and "we don't knows" and even "evidence hints at bad but we're not certain yet". The consequences, if these fears are well founded, could be severe, maybe... I suppose its the fact that the FDA has been so nonchalant about GMOs that's scary. Even still, I'd be skeptical about the skeptics, if it weren't for.....
Obamas perceived connection to and support of Monsanto -
California Prop 37 would have required all foods containing GMOs to say so on the label. those opposed raised approximately 5 times the funding as those for it (~9 mil vs ~46 mil) with Monsanto putting ~8.2 mil into the opposition. The defeat of the bill spawned the March Against Monsanto.
Now I'm a little worried. This is something with Obamas name on it, and the republicans seem to be uncharacteristically silent.
Could it be... politicians from all sides have a vested interest seeing GMO products sold, incognito, successfully in the US?
Is that why special rules were made for GMOs? Is a desire for profit outweighing realistic concerns for the health of consumers?
How do you personally feel about GMOs? Is this just a bunch of tree-huggers making noise?
Whats the big deal?
Before the FDA decided to allow GMOs into food without labeling, FDA scientists had repeatedly warned that GM foods can create unpredictable, hard-to-detect side effects, including allergies, toxins, new diseases, and nutritional problems. They urged long-term safety studies, but were ignored.
gmo danger
Since then, findings include:
Thousands of sheep, buffalo, and goats in India died after grazing on Bt cotton plants
Mice eating GM corn for the long term had fewer, and smaller, babies
More than half the babies of mother rats fed GM soy died within three weeks, and were smaller
Testicle cells of mice and rats on a GM soy change significantly
By the third generation, most GM soy-fed hamsters lost the ability to have babies
Rodents fed GM corn and soy showed immune system responses and signs of toxicity
Cooked GM soy contains as much as 7-times the amount of a known soy allergen
Soy allergies skyrocketed by 50% in the UK, soon after GM soy was introduced
The stomach lining of rats fed GM potatoes showed excessive cell growth, a condition that may lead to cancer.
Studies showed organ lesions, altered liver and pancreas cells, changed enzyme levels, etc.
Unlike safety evaluations for drugs, there are no human clinical trials of GM foods. The only published human feeding experiment revealed that the genetic material inserted into GM soy transfers into bacteria living inside our intestines and continues to function. This means that long after we stop eating GM foods, we may still have their GM proteins produced continuously inside us. This could mean:
If the antibiotic gene inserted into most GM crops were to transfer, it could create super diseases, resistant to antibiotics
If the gene that creates Bt-toxin in GM corn were to transfer, it might turn our intestinal bacteria into living pesticide factories.
Although no studies have evaluated if antibiotic or Bt-toxin genes transfer, that is one of the key problems. The safety assessments are too superficial to even identify most of the potential dangers from GMOs. See our Health Risks brochure and State of the Science report for more details and citations.
Institute for Responsible Technology - GMO Dangers
A lot of "ifs" and "we don't knows" and even "evidence hints at bad but we're not certain yet". The consequences, if these fears are well founded, could be severe, maybe... I suppose its the fact that the FDA has been so nonchalant about GMOs that's scary. Even still, I'd be skeptical about the skeptics, if it weren't for.....
Obamas perceived connection to and support of Monsanto -
California Prop 37 would have required all foods containing GMOs to say so on the label. those opposed raised approximately 5 times the funding as those for it (~9 mil vs ~46 mil) with Monsanto putting ~8.2 mil into the opposition. The defeat of the bill spawned the March Against Monsanto.
The protest was also motivated by President Barack Obama's signing, on March 26, 2013, of the Farmer Assurance Provision, which is Section 735 of US H.R. 933.[21] The section of the bill is called the "Monsanto Protection Act" by critics, and it authorizes the United States Department of Agriculture to allow the planting and cultivation of genetically modified food while environmental reviews are being completed, even if there is a legal ruling against their approval.[22] Independent US Senator Bernie Sanders attempted, unsuccessfully, to introduce Senate Amendment 965 to the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013, legislation that would require labeling of GM food products. Sanders criticized Monsanto for its opposition to his initiative, saying that Monsanto and other biotech companies "were able to gather a whole lot of support in the Senate".
Now I'm a little worried. This is something with Obamas name on it, and the republicans seem to be uncharacteristically silent.
Could it be... politicians from all sides have a vested interest seeing GMO products sold, incognito, successfully in the US?
Is that why special rules were made for GMOs? Is a desire for profit outweighing realistic concerns for the health of consumers?
How do you personally feel about GMOs? Is this just a bunch of tree-huggers making noise?