What You Don't Want to Know About Your Food, But Really Should

So why should I be concerned about GM foods? Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs are when the genes of one plant or animal are physically transferred into a plant or animal of a different species, to modify its natural state for the purpose of sustainability. This is not an extension of natural breeding. In fact, there's nothing natural about these foods. There are many risks involved in manufacturing and consuming GM foods.

GMO foods are grown with a different biological component than their parent crop. According to the Institute for Responsible Technology, the most commercialized GM crops in the U.S. include: soy, cotton, canola, sugar beets, corn, Hawaiian papaya, zucchini and yellow neck squash. These "Frankenfoods" are now equipped at the cellular level to secrete pesticides. When bugs eat these crops, their stomachs explode, thus killing the bug but not the crop. Think about that for a moment. Pesticides are meant to kill things. Why would that be safe for human or animal consumption? Well, many studies have proven that they are not.

When you eat foods created to kill pests, those chemicals go into your digestive system as well. They don't discriminate. They can cause damage to the lining of your intestines which in turn causes "leaky gut syndrome". The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) cites several animal studies showing "organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility due to GMO foods. Human studies show how genetically modified food can leave chemicals behind inside our bodies, possibly causing long-term problems. For example, genes inserted into GM soy, can transfer into the DNA of bacteria living inside us, and the toxic insecticide produced by GM corn was found in the blood of pregnant women and their unborn fetuses."

Since GMOs were introduced in 1996, the percentage of Americans with three or more chronic illnesses jumped, food allergies skyrocketed, and autism, reproductive disorders and digestive problems have all been on the rise. Although it has not been proven that GM foods are the sole cause for the rise in health problems, it is also impossible to make these newly modified genes go away once they exist, and therefore likely to not be dismissed as a cause. They persist in the water, land and seeds blown miles away contaminate other environments, which make it difficult to pinpoint one particular strand. We do know that with the very process of blasting genes into crops and animals via a "gene gun," genetic engineering creates a veritable crapshoot of potential side-effects such as: new toxins, allergens, carcinogens, and nutritional deficiencies.

So how can I tell which ones foods are GM or have GM ingredients so I can avoid them? Well, that's the trick. You can't tell by looking at them. The food is technically edible, but the chemicals injected into their cells become innate parts of these foods that we cannot wash, boil or peel off. GM foods look identical to their organic counter-part. The differences are at the cellular level and you won't know until you eat the food and either have an allergic reaction, or develop other health issues somewhere down the line that can then be traced back to your food, as allergic reactions sometimes take time to develop. Everything we eat becomes our body on a cellular level. The human body is made up of trillions of replicating cells, so it's key that these cells be in their best possible shape and that starts with how you feed them.

A ballot initiative in California, known as Prop 37, was to require foods that are genetically modified or contain GM ingredients to be labeled. This would help consumers make informed choices. Unfortunately, the measure only received 48% of the vote, likely due to the millions of dollars spent by the companies who make GM foods to purposefully confuse voters with their ads. For the sake of others and with respect for the many past food, drug, chemical and lifestyle products that were once deemed safe and now banned due to severe health risk and even death, labelling GM foods is most helpful in determining food safety. Labels make it clear to consumers there is a possibility of risk should they choose to eat this food.

Non-profit organizations like www.nongmoproject.org provide valuable resources for your right to know. You simply have to look for their "verified" label on food produced by companies who are compliant and whom acknowledge their role and responsibility to the public. If people are expected to be responsible for their own well-being, it's important that they have all the information available to them and are educated about options. Buy organic whenever possible, and know that you do have a choice. Eating food should not be a gamble.

The conversation about GM foods can be controversial. It comes down to one's right to know that their food could cause them bodily harm, versus another's preference not to know about potential risk. The devil is in the details.

Hippocrates said, "Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine Be Thy Food". The food that sustains our livelihood should not do us harm. Visit my website at the above link for more information about how working with a health coach will support you to weed through the rhetoric and onto the path of clean eating and happy living!

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Whatever Happened to Genetically Modified Food?

Have you ever wondered what happened to genetically modified (GM) food? Does any of our food actually come from GM organisms, and does GM food have a future on the supermarket shelves?

Growing genetically modified crops which are hardier, pest-resistant or produce fruit with a longer shelf life was once thought to be the future of farming. However, the British public did not embrace the idea of eating GM food, and now it is hard to find GM food on the shelves, and no GM crops are grown commercially in the UK.

The first GM product seen in the UK was tomato puree, produced from GM tomatoes, which was introduced by Sainsbury's and Safeway in 1996. The puree was clearly labelled as coming from GM tomatoes, and this fact was well-publicised by the supermarkets. The puree was extremely popular, being slightly cheaper and having a better texture than its non-GM equivalent.

So why has GM tomato puree now vanished from the supermarkets? The British public turned against GM food in a big way, and this was probably triggered by a story in 1999 about rats suffering ill effects after eating GM potatoes. Although the study was extremely controversial and described as 'flawed' and 'misleading', it was scary enough to give anti-GM campaigners the upper hand. You may find genetically modified products in processed food

The first GM crops to be grown on a large scale were herbicide-resistant soya and pest-resistant maize. Growth of these crops is widespread in many countries including the USA.

Most processed foods contain products derived from soya or maize, and these foods were immediately labelled GM if there was a chance they contained anything derived from GM crops. However, this meant that customers rarely had the option to buy non-GM, and British food producers very quickly started to source from certified non-GM crops.

The European Union has not approved the sale of any fresh GM produce - the only GM foods you are likely to see in Europe are imported, processed foods. GM food is much more widespread in the USA and does not have to be labelled as GM. The justification there is that GM products used in food have been determined to be safe, and not substantially different from non-GM versions, therefore the mode of production is irrelevant.

In the EU, food must be clearly labelled if it 'intentionally' contains products from GM crops at any level. Food which 'accidentally' or 'unavoidably' contains GM-derived products at less than 1% does not need to be labelled. A lot of animal feed contains GM soya or maize-derived products, but animal products (meat, eggs etc) from animals fed on GM food do not need to labelled.

Food produced using 'GM technologies' does not need to labelled either. A good example of this is the enzyme chymosin. Chymosin is the active ingredient of rennet, normally extracted from the stomach lining of calves, and used in the production of many cheeses. Most cheeses are now made using chymosin isolated from genetically modified microorganisms, as this is cheaper and vegetarian-friendly. GM crops in the UK

Growing GM crops has not been banned in the UK, but is unlikely to occur for commercial purposes before 2009, if at all. GM crop trials are being tentatively re-introduced in the UK. In December 2006, permission was granted for a trial of blight-resistant potatoes.

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GM Crops - Boon Or Bane?

Since the times mankind took to agriculture, we have been improving our crops in order to get more yield. The tools of crop improvement are selective breeding of crops with desired characters, cross pollinating two related plants for desired characters followed by controlled self breeding. But this method of breeding has one major drawback. Nature has provided all organisms with genetic inability to breed freely with other species. An organism can breed only among those of same type. Due to this genetic blockage one species is unable to cross breed with another species. A species can breed among relatives of the same species only thus limiting the scope of improvement. There are some exceptions in nature to this like a cross between a donkey and mare is possible and results in a hinny, similarly across between a horse and jackass results in a mule but both hinny and mule are sterile.

Advances in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology have provided us with tools to do away with this genetic blockage. Biotechnology has enabled us to produce organisms with desired characters crossing all limits of species except for religious, moral and ethical issues.

The result of advances in Biotechnology and Molecular biology is Genetically Modified crops or animals popularly called GM Crops or GM Animals. Various steps in producing GM Crops /Animals can be summarized as

1. Organism with desired character is identified.
2. The gene( a specific sequence of DNA nucleotides that code for a specific character) is identified and cut off from the main sequence.
3. This gene is attached to a carrier or vehicle called vector. Vector is either a virus or bacterium. The bacterial cells have an extra piece of DNA called plasmid. The gene is attached to plasmid and transferred back to the bacterium.
4. The bacterium multiplies and produces a large no. of copies of the desire gene.
5. These gene copies are then transferred to the target cells either by firing them at high velocity into the cell or through a soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumifaciens.
6. The cells are then cultured using tissue culture techniques to produce GM plants.GM plants are extensively tested to find the proper working of the gene. This is done with the help of certain marker.

Genes express themselves through proteins. This hypothesis is called central dogma

DNA(Gene) ------> mRNA ------> Protein

We may not inadvertently create a similar monster world full of interspecific plants and animals, lest the God once again has to wipe the slate clean to start all over again.

Central Dogma

The expression of gene is a complicated and controlled process through promoter and suppressor genes. These gene switch on or switch off a specific gene thus regulating its expression.

Using biotechnology it is possible to transfer non plant genes into plants.The best example of this is B.t or Bacillus thuringonsis, a naturally occurring bacterium that produces a crystalline protein lethal to insect larvae. This B.t gene has been transferred to many crops like Maize(Corn),Cotton, Brinjal etc. These are commonly called B.t Corn, B.t Cotton and B.t Brinjal respectively.

GM foods may be able to alleviate food supply to millions of the hungry people around the world. GM foods may also reduce dependence on pesticides and herbicides thus addressing the environmental issues. The GM crops will be disease resistant and will be able to tolerate increasing cold or drought or salinity. GM foods may provide us with cheap edible vaccines or specific medicines. They may also help us to clean up heavy metal contamination of the soil.

However, concerns have been raised by religious groups, environmentalists, Public interest groups, Scientists and others regarding the potential impact of GM crops on environment and health.

In the Bible there is a reference to times when mankind was able to interbreed with other organisms(Genetic isolation was absent), resulting in a world full of half human and half animals. God became angry and wiped the slate clean to start all over again.

Though GM foods have a great potential, we must proceed with utmost care to avoid unforetold damage to environment and health.

I belong to the community of teachers and I teach Life Sciences. Life Science is something what I consider 'Mother of all Sciences'. It is the way of human life. Life science encompasses practically all branches of knowledge,as life itself is dependent on all the physical and chemical parameters with in our knowledge. I write regularly write at http://myinferencesonlife.blogspot.com.

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Alternatives to GM Foods

In England, GM foods will always be associated with lies and deception. That's for a very good reason, because everything we have been told here about GM over the years is provably untrue. Take one example: we were told that GM crops were necessary for the good of the Third World. It would help eradicate hunger, it was said. Now we find out that the vast majority of GM crops in the world today are grown in North America. If GM type food is being developed for the benefit of the Third World, why is the First World deriving so much benefit from it first, before the others? Why on earth do the wheat growers of the US and Canadian prairies need seed that delivers higher yields? If GM is so important for Africa and Asia, why aren't they top priority instead? It beggars belief that GM is touted as the answer to world hunger but is busy being devoted mainly to feeding the fattest people on the planet, and not the needy and under-nourished.

Nobody is saying the scientists are lying. The men in white coats who invented the new way of growing crops no doubt had the best interests of humanity at heart. Unfortunately, their patents are in the hands of businessmen, people who struggle to produce a convincing picture of altruism. One example: GM seeds that are making it to Africa are being sold to the farmers there, sold in a market where farmers rarely deal in a cash economy, and, moreover, sold as First Generation hybrids, which means they are sterile. Local farmers are used to conserving seeds from one season to the next, to provide for the new crop. They are having to get used to a brand new system of selling all their harvest each year and saving money from the proceeds to buy next year's seed. It's a plan that ties the dirt poor farmer to the big seed companies - forever. There is no way the farmers can break out of the trap. Worse, they are being tempted to grow inappropriate crops: the rice farmers are not just being offered GM rice, but the whole range of GM plants. Farmers are switching to what might seem the most profitable product available, a short-term philosophy that ignores local need; local climate conditions; and local food supply.

Back in Britain, the GM bandwagon arrived in the 1990s. The population was told that GM crops would need to be 'tested' in our country. Why? Is the climate that different to the US, or the soil, or the agricultural methods? If GM foods are helping the hungry, why does prosperous England turn out to be the next area for colonisation on the list? Worse, the British public soon had to get used to the news that GM seeds were carried by the wind, and spread. We were promised that this wouldn't happen; we were told that these GM 'trial' beds would be isolated and protected. Rubbish. GM plants spread into areas where farmers didn't want them, and farmers who had consciously said they didn't want anything to do with the 'GM revolution' were finding their fields polluted by the new technology. It didn't end there. The GM companies then had the damn nerve to sue the victims for 'stealing' the GM crops, the invaders on their land, (which they hadn't asked for and didn't want) and were being awarded damages in the courts! In Canada, even more bizarrely, the GM companies were suing farmers for 'trespass' and said they were threatening their patents, and were being awarded not only the produce of their fields but their land as well. That was the last straw. If there's one thing that Englishmen hate, it's legalised robbery. It reminds them of the dust bowl of the 1930s in America, the tragedy that John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie chronicled so wonderfully, where farmers were swept off their land by caterpillar tractors, all perfectly legally and at the behest of rapacious banks and landlords.

There was more to come. The media got on the case and decided that GM crops represented 'Frankenstein foods'. No, it doesn't make any sense, but that didn't stop the campaign. The bogey of eating 'artificial' food was scary to the British public and they turned off the idea in droves. They stopped buying anything that even had a hint of GM about it. The GM industry hit back, and made sure that food labeling was no longer required to specify if packets of soya beans were GM or not. One week, labels might say, 'made from 50% GM crops', the next week they said nothing. The population was livid. Big Business had once again rigged the game, forcing politicians to kowtow to their call and outlaw information that might be detrimental to their sales. People weren't buying GM? The cynical response was not to tell people it was there. How's that for deception? Oh, did I mention it was all perfectly legal? That just made the angry people madder. They felt used, abused, and manipulated, and turned against GM companies.

The GM industry had one last trick up its sleeve. It recognised that a huge publicity campaign had been mounted against its most vociferous advocate, Monsanto, so it simply collapsed the company, dropped the name and started up again under another title. Bad move. If anything, this just convinced the doubters they were right. If the company was so unsure about sales that it could re-invent itself overnight, then what else was invented, spurious and untrue? The move proved one thing. If you critisise the GM giants, they cry 'Foul' and talk about the free market and consumer choice. If consumers then actually go ahead and choose, well, like choosing something that isn't in the big companies' interest, like buying their food, then they'll change food packing; change company names; and outlaw information. What happened to the Free Market? Oh, that's only good when you, the people, buy what the company wants to sell you. If you won't buy it, they'll rig the market. It won't be so darn 'free' then, but at least sales will hold up. So much for capitalists; they believe in capitalism, when it suits them. If it doesn't suit, they'll choose Big Government, every time.

Mike Scantlebury is one Internet Author who fears Frankenstein farmers. He lives in Manchester, England, the big city, but manages to grow his own veggies in his back yard and a small allotment. He's never had time for GM foods and reads the labels, every time. Hear what he has to say on other topics, see him on YouTube and MySpace.

Try [http://www.mikescantlebury.com]

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Top 10 Reasons Not To Eat GMO Foods

Allergies - There are several cases of allergies associated with the consumption of GM food products. Due to lack of vitality in the products and unrecognized proteins produced by genetic modification may lead to various allergies.

Defects and increased mortality rate in animals - the rBGh in cows is a known issue and is caused by the feeding of genetically modified soy. Birth defects in calves always lead to sudden death of impotency among that breed of cows.

Biomagnifications - whenever a fertilizer is used to improve the GM crops, there is an increased chance of insecticide or the pesticide penetrating the food's cell which further increase along the food chain leading to biomagnifications. The increase of metal and inorganic farming methods often leads to diseases in plants. These plants when consumed by herbivores animals magnify the quantity of fertilizers. Due to consumption of herbivores by carnivores and omnivores animals there is further magnification leading to sudden deaths, extinction of certain species and imbalance in ecosystems.

Lower nutrition - the GMO foods usually are less nutritious than the normal foods. There is also an increase in the estrogen levels in human beings in some cases which has severe side effects on the health. The GMO foods are usually meant for the over production so as to meet the demands of the market and has less privilege towards the nutritional value.

Unpredictable health hazards - there are position defects when a new gene is inserted in the already existing organism. This can create an entirely new genome and an entirely new species of viruses which can give rise to new diseases.

Disruption of the original gene pool - by genetic implanting of one type to the other, there is a disruption of the gene pool and an entire species of crop or organism is lost. Various varieties of vegetative seeds become extinct because of lesser cultivation of such crops.

Animal fed GM products full of toxins - certain animal fed GM products are reasons for stunted growth, infant mortality, impotency, abnormal growth of cells, inflamed internal organs, enzymal variations etc.

Toxicity in soil - GMO products causes soil sterility which has a major effect on the land and agriculture. It also increases soil pollution. Some of the GM products kills fungi and other soil nutrients rendering the land barren and useless for further cultivation.

No longer organic farming - there is loss of purity among organic food products due to increased use of GMO products leading to their extinction. Bt cotton, brinjal and potatoes are some examples which have removed the original vegetables of their breed.

Safety and regulation - there is no security and safety regulation for the companies producing GMO to assure the better options of using GMOs. Most of the GMO foods are left to the market to fill in the gap of the supply and demand without checking the side effects of these products.

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Untold Dangers Of GM (Genetically Modified) Foods

In virtually all tests done on laboratory rats given GM foods, infant mortality and reproductive disorders have followed. This coincides with incidences of low birth weight, infertility, and infant mortality escalating in the United States as GM food becomes part of every American diet.

Food Is Now Registered As A Pesticide

It might surprise you to know that when insects get a mouthful of GM Bt (Bacillius thuringiensis) corn or cotton, they also get a mouthful of a built-in toxin, which is actually being produced by every cell of the genetically altered plant.

Engineers have figured out a way to insert genes into the very DNA of the plant so that the plant itself becomes an insect killing pesticide. When the insect takes a bite out of the genetically altered plant, the poison splits open their stomach and kills them. The GM plants themselves are registered as pesticides by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Engineers claim that this Bt-toxin is proven safe due to its extensive use among farmers for insect control. The difference is, however, that in the case of GMO's (genetically modified organisms) engineers insert genes from the bacteria into the very DNA of the corn or cotton so that the plants themselves become the killing machines.

Please understand that Bt-toxin produced in GM plants is thousands of times more concentrated than than that which is sprayed on plants to control bug infestation and is designed to be more toxic. Also the spray can be washed off of the plant unlike the GM food which cannot be washed off since it is actually now a part of the cellular structure of the plant. But even though the genetically altered food is many times more harmful than the spray, please keep in mind that even the less concentrated bacterial spray has been shown to be extremely harmful.

GM Crops Kill Animals

Bt cotton and corn plants are responsible for the deaths of thousands of sheep, buffalo, cows, horses, and chickens. Post mortems clearly show irritation and black patches in intestines and livers of the animals that grazed on these plants.

Is it possible that humans can ingest these plants without the same health issues? Do you want to be the next guinea pig in the engineer's experimental lab which is taking place on farm fields all over America?

If you do not desire to be an experimental rat, stand up and say NO to GMO's on the shelves of your local grocer. If the engineers are so sure of the safety of these genetically modified plants then let them come forward along with their families and become the test rats in their own experiments. If they prove that these killing plants are actually safe for human consumption let them reap the rewards of their engineering, but if not, let their post mortems show us all why scientists should not be genetically altering food in order to make them living insecticides, and why they should not be foisting them on society while telling us that eating these plants is actually quite safe after all.

Healthy Vegetarian Choices For Life
Dedicated to the advancement of informed choices that will benefit our health, our environment, and our animal friends. Please visit my website at http://www.ourhealthforlife.com and look around awhile. I would very much appreciate comments concerning your reaction to what I have written as well as any input that might aid me in the task of making my site more helpful. I thank you in advance for your consideration.

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Is The European Commission Acting Responsibly In Respect To GM Crops?

It has been recently reported that "The European Commission has denied it had decided to put on hold until 2014 the process of authorising genetically modified (GM) crops in the bloc". But neither have they made any commitments otherwise.

The commissary for health and consumer policy, also clarified that whilst a decision on the permitting process hadn't yet been taken it neither sought to suspend existing permits.

Which in effect means that with respect to this potentially highly dangerous or possibly perfectly safe new method of producing our foods, they are simply going to do nothing to protect consumers one way or the other.

It is not as if the EU governing body is starved of the necessary cash to have considered this matter in sufficient depth or that they haven't had enough time as to my certain knowledge the GM argument must already have passed its first decade of discussion.

This can only mean that the people in the driving seat of European food production and safety are either incapable of making a clear decision or are unable to gain a consensus of agreement due to the lobbying of differing national or financial interests.

Which then begs the question if consumer safety is not paramount in their decision making processes, then why are they there?

Throughout the media we hear how the EU power base are not slow in coming forward in demanding ever more of taxpayers hard earned money to increase their annual spending power but if protecting its citizens and food sustainability from potential harm isn't high on their priority list then what is?

GM foods may appear on paper a wonderful method of increasing output in a world frightened of food shortages of the future.
But equally GM crops could subtly change the balance of nature, exhaust essential nutrients from the land and cause problems never before considered.
Or GM produce may attract new insects, birds, bacteria, parasites or moulds thus changing our pollination and germination cycle, but for the better or ill?

If truth be told politicians of whatever hue probably have no better insight than a local man of the land as to whether GM crops are safe to be let loose or not. But the purpose of government is to lead, to set a course and see it run. If GM crops are to be given the green light then put control measure in place and get on with it. Or if they are to be banned then that decision should be made and cast in stone accordingly.

Hiding from the issue should not be a permitted option as a lack of direction can only result in problems compounding and it is the poor consumer who will ultimately suffer when supply dries up or toxic foods silently invade the marketplace.

So no in my view I don't believe the European Commission are acting responsibly in respect to GM crops.

But is anyone listening?

Hobson Tarrant

Food Hygiene Certificate Level 2 training online as coordinated by Hobson Tarrant is available at: http://www.foodsafetycertificate.co. As Project Development Manager for the e-learning industrial skills training specialist Torchlight Training2012 his extensive experience of the UK food industry and food handler training comes to the fore in the SafeFood Hygiene Certificate package at the highly competitive price of £15 per student.

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Genetically Modified Food - A Growing Concern

Like most people, I'm concerned about the quality of the food that my family consumes. I'm well educated about the nutritional value of one food over another, but I was astonishingly ignorant of the fact that my family has been consuming foods that are genetically modified on a daily basis. As I began to research this subject recently I discovered what seems to be a fast dance of political and corporate collusion that has manipulated the world's food supply for the profit of the few, at the peril of the many. Am I being over reactive? Read on and consider these facts, or do further research of your own. This is an important issue.

Genetically Modified foods have not been tested for safety.

Genetically Modified food has been in development for over 20 years and has been in widespread commercial use for about 15 years. Most Americans mistakenly believe that GM foods have gone through rigorous, in-depth, long-term, independent studies. In reality, the FDA has required absolutely no safety testing but instead relied upon research from companies like Monsanto, which produces the products. This is like Phillip Morris doing the research to decide if cigarette smoking is safe for your children!

The FDA's extremely lax policy on regulation of GM foods only makes sense when you notice the revolving door between agency regulators and the companies they regulate. The first George Bush mandated that GM food be actively promoted and put Michael Taylor, a former Monsanto attorney, in charge of developing the agency's policy. Taylor later returned to Monsanto as their vice president.

While the FDA has claimed it was unaware of any information showing that GM crops were different from non-GMO crops and therefore didn't require testing; 44,000 internal FDA documents made public by a lawsuit prove this to be a complete lie. The overwhelming consensus among the FDA's own scientists was that GM foods could lead to dangerous and hard-to-detect allergens, toxins, new diseases and nutritional problems. Unfortunately, the FDA scientists who urged their superiors to require long-term studies had their work discredited and the results suppressed.

GM foods are not needed to solve the food crisis

Since GM crops have been in wide spread use, there has been no evidence that they significantly increase crop yields. According to former US EPA and US FDA biotech specialist Dr Gurian-Sherman - when it comes to yield, "Traditional breeding outperforms genetic engineering hands down." Similarly, the claims that GM crops will produce plants with greater drought resistance, will reduce fertilizer use and pollution or save soil have also been proven utterly false. In fact, many studies have shown that GM yields are less than traditional and in drought or stressed growing conditions, organic farming methods had the highest production rates. If these companies were truly interested in providing

GM crops increase the use of toxic pesticides

It was widely publicized that GM crops would require fewer pesticides and herbicides because these ingredients were already being genetically added to the plant. But in fact, reducing pesticide and herbicide use when that is what your company makes is not good business. So, what they do provide is 'Round-up Ready' crops. High herbicide tolerance is found in over 80% of all GM crops planted worldwide. These crops are genetically designed to survive normally lethal doses of pesticides.

The increased use of pesticides is part of the package that farmers buy when they opt to cultivate GM seeds. In fact, GM crops have caused an epidemic of herbicide-resistant weeds and boosted sales of even more toxic pesticides - including ones banned in some European countries. GM plants therefore have extremely high pesticide residue which when ingested by humans can cause serious health problems.

Genetic Modification is not a well controlled science

There are eight GM food crops. The five major ones are: soy, corn, canola, cotton, and sugar beets. Bacterial genes are forcibly transferred across natural species barriers using imprecise laboratory techniques that bear no resemblance to natural breeding to allow the plants to survive an otherwise lethal dose of weed killer. The process creates massive collateral damage:

o Mutations are produced in hundreds or thousands of locations throughout the plant's DNA.

o Natural genes can be deleted or permanently turned on or off.

o Hundreds of genes may change their behavior.

o Even the inserted gene can be damaged or rearranged, and may create proteins that can trigger allergies or promote disease.

A second GM trait is a built-in pesticide, primarily used in GM corn and cotton. A gene from the soil bacterium called Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) is inserted into the plant's DNA, where it secretes the insect-killing Bt-toxin in every cell. There is evidence that these genes continue to be active in the human gut, reproducing and mutating the normal bacteria found there into a virtual pesticide factory. These altered genes have a tendency to migrate and have been found in virtually every organ system in lab animals who were fed the altered food with devastating and deadly effect. No human testing has been done but the evidence is that genetic migration is extensive and poses serious risks to our biosphere and human life.

GM foods are not safe

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been linked to toxic and allergic reactions, thousands of sick, sterile, and dead livestock, and damage to virtually every organ and system studied in lab animals. GM soy drastically reduces digestive enzymes in mice and people who are not allergic to regular soy are commonly allergic to GM soy and it's derivatives. GM products also seems to cause people to become allergic to a variety of non-GM foods. Animal tests have shown damage to the reproductive system causing infertility, mutations, damaged liver, decreased immunity, and toxic responses that resulted in the animals death.

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 there. This means that long after we stop eating GM foods, we may still have their GM proteins reproducing inside us. 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 could turn our intestinal bacteria into living pesticide factories. Animal studies show that DNA in food can travel into organs throughout the body, even into a fetus. Further research into these risks has been suppressed but anecdotal evidence is growing that consuming GM foods or animal products from animals fed GM foods may well be hazardous not only to your health, but the health of your entire genetic line. Even if there were no risks involved in the forced genetic mutation of cells, the heavy pesticide residue is an established health risk, especially to children. As a parent, I don't want to give my children anything that is even remotely suspect, much less a food that has only been tested by the companies that profit from it's proliferation. It's time we all learned more about this and I encourage you to stay tuned as I explore this issue further.

Anna Lonsdale author of Living Well Blog, co-owner of Fresh Organics Inc. - http://www.freshorganicliving.com.

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Genetically Modified Foods and Their Effect on Reproduction

In a recent study conducted by the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Association for Gene Security, results are showing that there may be a connection between the consumption of genetically modified soybean and reproductive issues. The full results of the study will be published in July, 2010.

The gist of the findings show that hamsters fed diets of GM soybean show reduced reproductive rates with each new generation and that the offspring show reduced growth rates and higher mortality rates.

Now, I know many people will say, "These are hamsters, not humans, so what does that mean to me?" The fact is, for decades we have depended on animal testing to determine if something is safe for human use--whether it be medicines, cosmetics, foods, or a number of other products used or ingested by humans. We, as humans, depend on our animal friends to let us know what is safe and what is not. As sad as that reality is, it is the truth.

And now here we are, faced with proof that GM foods could be contributing to reproductive problems, growth rate, mortality rates, and even odd genetic mutations like hair growing inside the mouths of these animals being tested!

How can we ignore the evidence? The literal take-over of the agricultural industry by GM foods over the last three decades, and the fact that reproductive issues have been on a steady rise over the last three decades, are most likely related to each other.

In addition to these new findings, other studies have shown links between the high amounts of herbicides and pesticides used on GM crops and developmental disorders such as ADHD and Autism. Also, it is a pretty common piece of knowledge to know that these chemicals are also linked to cancer.

So here we are, eating foods that cause lower birth rates, higher mortality rates in newborn offspring, slower growth rates, developmental disorders, cancer, and simply offer us less nutrition, and we're just going to continue eating these foods?

Genetically modified foods are literally killing us; they are killing the human race, slowly and stealthily. And our government is just turning a blind eye to it all...because of money.

Read the article, educate yourself, and don't just stand by and watch as our government disregards our health for the sake of more money. GM Soy Linked to Sterility

http://www.growlikecrazy.com/

My number one focus is growing my own food. I don't think that really counts as a hobby. For some people it is, but for me, growing my own fruits and vegetables and saving my own seed is the key to survival. The only person you can count on is yourself, if you ask me. The government is trying to "help" us all with GMOs and welfare, but it's all a crock. We need to know how to survive on our own.

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Genetically Modified Foods - An Asset to the World

Despite the controversy surrounding genetically modified foods they are beneficial both to humans and the environment. Genetically modified plants can repel harmful insects while at the same time producing more fruit. They are better for the environment, are healthier, and are cheaper than organic foods. Nowadays, organic foods simply aren't efficient enough so they cost more and are more difficult to produce than GM foods. While this creates a new market for people that are against genetically modified foods, for the average person it is impractical. GM foods are the foods of the future and they are here to stay.

GM foods are classified as any species of plant or animal that has had its DNA altered. The alteration usually produces desirable traits found either rarely or not at all in the original species. The DNA can either be modified by either allowing a dormant gene to be expressed or by "splicing" which is a process that allows a DNA segment with desirable traits to be cut from its strand and inserted into the DNA strand of the organism to be genetically modified. Through this process many benefits can be gained.

One benefit is that GM crops take far less time to grow and become fertile. Another is that they can also be adjusted to better withstand the never-ending onslaught of pests such as bugs, as well undesirable weather. This means an increase in production which means that people can get what they want when they want it, a very good thing in today's fast paced world where many people are accustomed to instant gratification. Also, GM foods are arguably better tasting than some of their natural counterparts and also have a much higher chance of being an overall better product. Despite all these things there are still people with arguments against GM foods. However, it cannot be denied that genetically modified foods are a worldwide trend and carry with them many benefits.

Some arguments against GM foods are the potential for allergic reactions, the effect that GM foods can have on their environment, and lastly the ethics surrounding the science. Of these surely all the scientific arguments can surely be solved. One of the arguments in question is the fact that GM foods carry some risk of causing allergic reaction. The reason for this is that there is a very slim chance that the DNA segment that is cut during the splicing process contains code that produces proteins that people can be allergic to. So basically if someone who was allergic to peanuts ate a piece of bread that was made from GM wheat that that shared DNA with a peanut that person might have an allergic reaction (if he was extremely unlucky).

This problem can be solved by manufacturers listing possible allergens in their products on the can or box the product comes in. If the product in question happens to be some sort of produce or other product that does not come in a box, can, or other container that can be labeled other arrangements can surely be made. A second argument regarding GM foods is their impact on the environment. Genetically modified foods do have an impact on the environment but it is not decidedly negative. While genetically modified foods may negatively affect some parts of the ecosystem this is not known for sure. One thing that is for sure is that many forms of GM crops are poisonous to certain pests that would otherwise wreak their havoc not only in other crops but in nature too.

One of the last and most tricky arguments against GM foods is the question of morals. Is God really okay with us tampering with his creations? Well regardless of the answer to this question we have been doing exactly this for thousands of years. Originally corn when mature grew to be only about 3-4 inches in length. We have been using selective breeding to obtain desirable traits in both crops and livestock since ancient times by modifying DNA directly we are just speeding up this process. In the beginning, God said that all the plants and creatures of the earth were ours, and now we are just finally beginning to scratch the surface of what that truly means.

Though many people have expressed their dislike of GM foods it cannot be denied that all around the world these foods are making a difference. Farmers no longer need to use pesticides on their crops because they have been genetically altered to be resistant to a number of pests. Farmers also no longer need to worry about the effects of cold or freezing weather on some of their crops. Frost can destroy seedlings which can in turn ruin entire harvests. However, with the insertion of an antifreeze gene found in many species of cold water fish these plants are able to tolerate these harsh conditions.

Furthermore, since plants can also be modified to be both hardier and more fertile more crops can be produced using a significantly lower number of seeds. Another helpful modification found commonly in GM crops allows them to be resistant to Glyphosate more popularly known by its commercial name: Roundup. Glyphosate is an herbicide that kills all plant life with the exception of the GM foods that have been tailored to resist it. This resistance means that farmers only have to use one herbicide to wipe out any and all undesired plant life instead of using many that target only certain threats. But, genetically modified foods are not only helping farmers and the average person they are helping people out all around the world.

One of the most notable accomplishments of genetically modified foods has been the creation of "Golden Rice". This rice is a variation of Oryza sativa rice and has helped to address the issue of malnutrition in third world countries by boosting levels of both Vitamin A and iron. In Oryza sativa rice the edible part of the rice contains no Vitamin A or iron. However, Golden Rice addresses this problem by biosynthesizing iron and beta-Carotene, a red-orange pigment commonly found in plants and fruit. It is a form of Vitamin A and is what gives carrots and sweet potatoes their orange hue. The impact of this rice on third world countries has been astounding and has prevented the deaths of thousands or possibly even millions of children who could have died from malnourishment. With genetically modified foods the possibilities are seemingly endless and the potential to do good is astounding as the dream of a world without hunger or disease suddenly becomes more and more a reality.

Modifying rice to produce Vitamin A and iron is just the beginning. In the near future it will be possible to administer vaccines and other medications through GM foods as well as essential nutrients. These edible vaccinations hold the potential to wipe out malaria and other deadly diseases so commonly found throughout our world. Future GM foods could also make possible the elimination of naturally occurring allergens and non-nutritional compounds. This would mean that all foods would be healthier and that none of them would cause allergic reactions. Some future applications of genetically modified crops go beyond the kitchen with

GM crops making the production of biodegradable plastics, diesel fuel, and more durable cotton and linen products a possibility. Also in the near future game fish may be genetically modified to grow faster thus helping repopulate the sea with different species of overfished fish. All these benefits and more are not so far out of our reach. GM foods have the potential to change the world for the better, to make it a healthier place to live. And once we reach this future who knows where we will be able to go from there.

Genetically modified foods are an asset to the people of the world. GM crops dramatically increase production. They also ensure that no blight, whether it be drought or frost, should be detrimental to a harvest. This technology has already begun to save lives by fighting malnutrition and has the great potential in the medical field. Soon we will be able to send vaccinations and other medicines via seeds that will grow to produce fruit with the medication in them. These foods have the potential to make us healthier and thus lengthen our lives. And while controversy will for a long time surround genetically modified foods, we have been using them since 1994. The precursor to genetic modification, selective breeding, began thousands of years before this date and is the reason for many of the common species of plants and animals today.

Genetic modification is merely another scientific advance such as many others that will, as they did, change the world. Genetically modified foods are just one aspect of this advance but they are a big part of it because of the huge impact that have on both everyday life and the lives of others. GM foods are the foods of both today and of the future. Despite some opposition to this fact it cannot be denied that these foods have benefits both in the long and short term. In short, GM foods are extremely beneficial and are here to stay.

Genetically modified foods are a good thing. They have many benefits and GM crops themselves can have other applications besides food. The potential of genetic modification is just barley being tapped. So many things are possible now that the building blocks of life are able to be shifted, changed, and replaced. What is being done now will be remembered as the start of a global phenomenon that will have forever changed the world for the better. Genetically modified foods will make a future without hunger, disease, and malnourishment a real possibility. The technology itself will go even further than this because genetically modifying plants and animals for food is only one small part of the overall picture.

The use and production of medicine, fuel, plastics, metals, and countless other things will be forever changed by this technology. The benefits of GM foods are seemingly endless. They will continue grow in popularity and in the near will be even more common than they are now. These foods will be continually improved so that from the time they are planted to the time they are eaten they are as wholesome as they can be. These are some of the reasons why genetically modified foods are so beneficial and they will go on to change the world for the better.

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What are Genetically Modified Foods?

Should patents on plants, animals and humans, as well as patents on their genes be allowed? Our ability to alter the genetic blueprint of animals and plants is in the process of changing many aspects of science and medicine. Many people see this as beneficial others see this as tampering with nature.

But what about genetically-modified (GM) food? Do we want to eat such food? And is it really such a big deal?

Genetic engineering enables scientists to create plants, animals and micro-organisms by manipulating genes in a way that does not occur naturally.

A recent GM Nation report concluded that the general public is overwhelmingly against GM technology, with feelings ranging from suspicion and skepticism, to hostility and rejection; there are, it was said, many more people who are cautious, suspicious or out rightly hostile about GM crops than there are supportive towards them.

Anxiety in society over genetically modified food is understandable, fueled by a variety of causes - consumer unfamiliarity; lack of reliable information on the current safeguards in place; a steady stream of negative opinion in the media; opposition by activist groups; growing mistrust of industry; and a general lack of awareness of how our food is produced. The scientific community has not adequately addressed public concerns about GM foods, nor has it effectively communicated the value of the new technology.

The Royal Society, the UKs premier scientific body has pointed out the total lack of evidence that genetically modified crops cause harm to humans. But you'd never have guessed that from the often negative media coverage.

When considering genetic engineering, it should be remembered that almost every living thing that man exploits has been genetically-modified in some way. The crops we use for food, the animals we eat, our pets and the plants in our gardens are radically different from those that existed in the so-called natural state.

Thousands of years of selective breeding have improved the yields of crops, the milk production of cows, the quantity of meat on cattle and the sizes and colours of our flowers and dogs.

But because of commercial interests, the public is being denied the right to know about GE ingredients in the food chain, and therefore losing the right to avoid them despite the presence of labelling laws in certain countries. GMOs should not be released into the environment as there is not adequate scientific understanding of their impact on the environment and human health. Genetic pollution could be a major threat because GMOs cannot be recalled once released into the environment. Labelling of all products with GE ingredients doesn't appear to be happening at the moment which is important for those people that want to avoid them.

Now my final thoughts… few would deny the benefits of modern genetic engineering in medicine. The use of genetically-modified bacteria to produce drugs such as insulin has been a revolution in medicine and saved the lives of millions. GM crops have also been hailed as the saviors of developing countries as they can be modified to prosper in dry, arid countries where there is little rainfall. There seems to be both negatives and positives to GE and GM foods….ill let you decide which path you choose!

Find Organic GM Free Food in the Green Directory.

Davinos Greeno works for the organic directory. This green directory lists 100s of Organic Food and Drink Companies and Eco Jobs [http://www.jobs.guidemegreen.com] and Community Videos [http://www.videos.guidemegreen.com]

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Are Genetically Modified Foods Safe?

Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms (GMO), in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur in nature.

GM foods were first put on the US market in the early 1990s. Nowadays, the US alone plants over 50% of the world's GM crops, followed by Argentina and Brazil which take up another 30%.

The four most commonly found genetically modified (GM) crops in the US are:

1. Soy (91% of all crops)
2. Cotton (88%)
3. Canola (88%)
4. Corn (85%)

All these are common ingredients used in modern food manufacturing. Hence, if your diet consists of mainly processed foods, you will be eating about 75% GM foods.

So, are GM foods safe? According to the biotech industry and the US government, a GM food is deemed safe as long as its composition and nutritional characteristics are substantially equivalent to an existing food.

The truth is GM foods have never been properly tested for human consumption. Only feeding studies on animals have been done and the results have raised much alarm.

In the following, you will discover that there is much more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse effects on human health and the environment. Thus, unless you want to be a guinea pig in this "experiment", you should really think twice before buying GM foods.

Why GM Foods Are Produced --

The initial objective for developing plants based on GM organisms was to improve crop yield. As the world population is expected to grow from the current 6.8 billion to reach 9 billion by 2040, GM food manufacturers argued that this is the way to ensure an adequate food supply for the booming population. GM crops promised to meet this need by being:

• Pest resistant
• Disease resistant
• Herbicide tolerant
• Cold tolerant
• Drought tolerant
• Salt tolerant

The largest share of GMO crops planted globally is owned by a US company called Monsanto, which is also the manufacturer of the world's best selling herbicide called Roundup.

Monsanto produces these patented GMO seeds which are also Roundup-tolerant, known as Roundup Ready crops. Such crops allow farmers to use Roundup as a post-emergence herbicide against most weeds.

Current Roundup Ready crops grown in the US include soy, corn, canola, sugar beet, and cotton.

Is it safe to eat crops sprayed with Roundup? Monsanto claims so and it has consistently relied on industry-funded data to declare the safety of Roundup. However, objective research published in peer-reviewed journals tells another story.

• Various studies on rats and humans have challenged Roundup's alleged safety, ranging from hormonal disruption, impairment of liver and kidney function, to genetic damage.
• Environmentalists claim that Roundup is toxic to beneficial soil organisms and harmful to birds and small mammals by damaging their food supplies and habitat.
• Studies show that farmers use multiple times more Roundup on Roundup Ready crops than conventional ones, resulting in an epidemic of herbicide-resistant weeds and the use of even more toxic herbicides in developing countries, including those banned in the US and Europe.

Additionally, have you ever considered what may come to your health when you are eating a genetically engineered crop that has been made resistant to such a potentially toxic herbicide?

Lastly, the claim by the biotech industry that GM varieties of plants produce higher crop yields has not been substantiated. A 2009 report published by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) concludes that despite 20 years of research and 13 years of commercialization, genetic engineering has only increased US crop yields marginally and is unlikely to play a significant role in increasing food production in the foreseeable future.

Potential Dangers Of GM Foods --

The biotech industry says that millions have been eating GM foods without any ill effects. However, no one has ever monitored the human health aspects of GM foods. Besides, even if the foods were creating health problems, it may take decades before the cause can be identified.

A good example was the introduction of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (transfat) back in the 1960s. Manufacturers claimed that it was healthier than animal fats, and it took the US government decades to acknowledge that transfat was in fact, the culprit of an epidemic rise in heart disease, breast and prostate cancers in the US.

We are playing with technology that we do not fully understand. At this point, no one knows the full extent of what happens to the end product when you splice in new genes, and then eat that product for several generations. However, GM foods have already raised enough concern that they may be inherently unsafe for humans and the environment.

Allergies. Allergic reactions occur when the immune system interprets something as foreign, different, and offensive, and reacts accordingly. All GM foods, by definition, have something foreign and different. Soon after GM soy was introduced in the UK, soy allergies skyrocketed by 50% in a single year. Soy allergies in the US have also soared after GM soy came to the market.

Gene transfer. There is the possibility that genes from GM crops may transfer to the DNA of human gut bacteria. A particular concern is the antibiotic resistant genes used in creating GMOs. Scientists use them as marker genes to identify the genes that have been successfully altered. Eating GM foods with these marker genes may encourage gut bacteria to develop antiobiotic resistance. Further, this foreign DNA may continue to produce inside our body even after we stop eating GM food.

Animal studies. There is hardly any feeding study on humans but the ones on animals have resulted in potentially pre-cancerous cell growth, damaged immune systems, smaller brains, livers, and testicles, and higher death rates.

Environmental impact. Outcrossing is the movement of genes from GM plants into conventional crops and related species in the wild. Nobody knows about the longer-term ecological consequences of such unintended cross-pollination.

To date, there is no direct link between eating GM foods and health problems. However, there is enough circumstantial evidence to raise concern. Given a choice, do you still want to eat GM foods?

Ways To Avoid GM Foods --

There are 30 countries around the world including Japan, Australia, and the EU countries that require all food and animal feed products linked in any way to GM crops to be clearly labeled as "genetically modified".

In the US and Canada, there are yet regulations stipulating the labeling of GM foods.

Therefore, as individual consumers, you need to send the message that you do not want GM foods by voting with your dollar and shopping only at stores that endorse non-GMO. Here are two grocery chains that have embraced this standard:

Trader Joe's - all products in Trader Joe's private label are sourced from non-GMO ingredients.

Whole Foods - the two house brands, 365 Every Day Value and Whole Foods Market, are non-GMO.

There are many more that endorses non-GMO. Go to http://www.nongmoproject.org/consumers/search-retailer-endorsers/ to find one in your neighborhood.

If you want to avoid GM foods:

1. Buy organic
2. Buy products that carry a "Non-GMO" label
3. Avoid at-risk ingredients made from corn, soybeans, canola, and cottonseed, which are commonly used in processed foods.
4. Buy products listed in this Non-GMO Shopping Guide http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/SG/DownloadtheGuide/index.cfm

Carol Chuang is a Certified Nutrition Specialist and a Metabolic Typing Advisor. She has a Masters degree in Nutrition and is the founder of CC Health Counseling, LLC. Her passion in life is to stay healthy and to help others become healthy. She believes that a key ingredient to optimal health is to eat a diet that is right for one's specific body type. Eating organic or eating healthy is not enough to guarantee good health. The truth is that there is no one diet that is right for everyone. Our metabolisms are different, so should our diets. Carol specializes in Metabolic Typing, helping her clients find the right diet for their Metabolic Type. To learn more about Metabolic Typing, her nutrition counseling practice, and how to get a complimentary phone consultation, please go to http://cchealthcounseling.com/

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GM Foods - Could the Debate Get Any Louder?

It is absolutely amazing the animosity over GM crops, and it is incredible the level of conspiratorial debris out there online, as the coordinator for a think tank which happens to operate online, I am blown away by it all, literally. In fact, I should by a wind farm to harvest all this genetically modified hot air some day.

The other day, I was discussing Genetically Modified foods with an acquaintance, Mark is a seed specialist, and futurist thinker with many innovations, he stated that;

"GM foods are a complicated issue, they offer many solutions to modern day problems but they also come with their own complications. Growing a high yield crop of corn that can survive the harsh environment is undoubtedly progress. The downside to GM foods is that they can pass their modified genes on to the local plant varieties, given enough time the effects of this could be detrimental to the local ecosystem as a whole. With proper planning and segregation of these crops the idea could still work."

Well, it is an issue, terminator seeds do prevent some of this, but there are issues and a case study with sunflower seeds in the wild causing havoc. However, genetically modified crops can very much help us with things like the Ug99 fungus and such issues as producing drought resistant crops, just as soil bacteria root research is immensely wise. I mostly worry about crop species variations, and inadvertently reducing down to one type of rice, corn, wheat, or soybean. Diversification is important, and very wise, which is why I like projects such as the millennium seed vault idea - just in case.

Now then, what about, and Mark and I talked about this also, the challenges in certain regions where they've obviously out-populated their food resources? We need to have a way for those regions with abundant food production to assist, that makes sense. Still, with the challenge of let's say starving Africans, Haitians, or Indians - the procreation rates are too high, and as we feed more people or "give" them more food, they continue to up-step their procreation rates.

What can we do to fix this problem, on that our very giving of food to feed the poor is currently exacerbating said problem?

I believe people should be able to choose if they wish to eat genetically modified crops in this case, as they can either take the free food and aid, or die of starvation, but there is a catch, if you take the food, that food aid will be fortified with supplements slowing down the chances or percentage of reproduction, thus, reducing the number of off-springs so that you do not exacerbate the problem by creating an environment where healthy humans have nothing better to do but reproduce because we made it possible by feeding them in the first place.

Many believe that procreation is a human right. Okay, sure one can say that, and I would submit to you that they have the choice, it just comes with serious ramifications, if you decide to take free food. This is such a contentious and heated argument, that I will merely leave you with this thought, and let you decide. Please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Future Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net

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Biodiversity and Genetic Engineering

Genetic Engineering is a process of artificially modifying plant or animal cells by cutting and splicing DNA from one cell into another for the purpose of transferring desirable qualities that will make a crop resistant to herbicides, insects, or to enhance food value. When genetic engineers insert a new gene into any organism, there are what are called position effects. These effects can lead to unpredictable changes in patterns of gene expressions and genetic functions. The protein product of the inserted gene may carry out unexpected reactions, producing potentially toxic products.Genetically modified foods in U.S. markets include tomatoes, squash, yeast, corn, potatoes, canola and soybeans (which are used in 60 % of all processed foods, such as bread, pasta, candies, ice cream, pies, biscuits, margarine, meat products and vegetarian meat and cheese substitutes). Genetically engineered foods not tested nor labeled as genetically altered could jeopardize our health.

Living organisms are highly complex, and genetic engineers cannot predict all the effects of introducing these new genes. Problems may develop from this process: new toxins and allergens, loss of bio-diversity in seed and crops, or damaging health effects from manipulated food crops. When new genetic information is introduced into plants, bacteria, insects, or animals, it can then be passed into related organisms through naturally occurring processes such as cross-pollination.

It is estimated that 70% of the current genetically modified (GM) harvest is made up of herbicide-resistant crops (HRCs) designed to tolerate high levels of exposure to broad-spectrum herbicides, enabling farmers to spray only one heavy dosage per year, but still this does not break the overall cycle of dependence upon chemical applications.

This process has already created some herbicide-resistant "super weeds" causing many farmers to have to spray even greater quantities of herbicides on their GM crops because the weed species have become even harder to control. Cross-species transfers between fish and tomatoes, or other unrelated species that would not have happened in nature may create new toxins, diseases, and weaknesses that can spread across species barriers. This new combination of host genes and introduced genes have unpredictable effects. These artificially induced characteristics can be passed on to subsequent generations and other related organisms. Transferring animal genes into plants also raises important ethical issues for vegetarians and religious groups.

Another form of genetic engineering is used to create BT crops by inserting a genetically modified gene into a plant gene from a soil organism called Bacillus Thuringiensis (a pest-specific powder used, only when it is needed, by organic farmers and gardeners). This inserted gene causes the plant to produce a substance that makes it toxic to certain insects - creating a built in pesticide - eliminating the need for chemical sprays. However, insects exposed to these transgenic crops over sustained periods of time may develop immunity to BT, and even harsher pesticides will be needed to control the problem.

Genetic engineering companies are carrying out a potentially dangerous global experiment by introducing large numbers of genetically engineered foods into agriculture and food supplies which may have unanticipated and harmful side effects leading to national and/or global food shortages.

More than 50% of the crops developed by biotech companies have been engineered to be resistant to herbicides. This could promote a rapid appearance of resistant insects, destroy the beneficial insects, or alter soil organisms and ecosystems. In addition, the pesticide produced by the plant may be harmful to the health of consumers.

There is no way of knowing the overall, long-term effects of genetically engineered foods on the health of those who eat them. Since most genetically modified foods are not be labeled, manufacturers have already introduced genetically modified ingredients into many of our foods. Labeling should be required for any food that contains a genetically engineered ingredient, or has been produced using GM organisms or enzymes. This would help scientists trace the source of health problems arising from eating these foods. Food scares and epidemics are increasingly commonplace, and in response, the demand for organic food is skyrocketing. Greenpeace has launched a new version of their popular Shopper's Guide, which is an online resource to help you find out whether the food in your shopping basket is GM free go online to Shoppers Guide to GM Foods there are hundreds of products are listed that are genetically modified or have genetically modified ingredients.

The Importance of Biodiversity includes social-cultural, economic, and environmental elements. Genetic biodiversity provides not only healthy crops, it also allows for new plant and seed varieties, maintains soil fertility and its microorganisms, and makes soil and water conservation a priority. Agricultural diversity maintains our bio-diverse plants, seeds, animal food sources, croplands, pastures, range lands and the microbial and fungal sources necessary for healthy soil. Another growing objection to genetic engineering is that we don't need to figure out how to grow more food.

According to the Institute for Food Development Policy, nearly one third of the worlds land area is used for food production and we already grow more than enough to feed everyone. If the vitality, biodiversity, and health of our soil and crops can be improved, plants would be naturally resistant to pests and disease. We need to educate our farmers about the benefits of bio-diversity, soil sustainability, plant and animal health, natural pesticides, composting, and companion planting.

It has been estimated that only 1% of pesticides applied to crops reach the insects they are designed to kill; the other 99% pollutes the air, soil, food, water, kills wildlife, ruining the vitality of the soil. In the past it has been acceptable for farmers and gardeners to buy and spread chemicals and pesticides over their crops instead of understanding the mechanisms of sustainable organic growing methods, and the importance of biodiversity. As consumers demand more organic foods and growing methods, governments, agribusinesses, giant chemical companies, farmers, and home gardeners will be motivated to eliminate the use of genetically altered seeds and plants, carcinogenic pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Hopefully, this will grow to include the livestock and fisheries industries currently using antibiotics, chemical food additives, growth regulators, and hormones.

"When the planes still swoop down and aerial spray a field in order to kill a predator insect with pesticides, we are in the Dark Ages of commerce. Maybe one thousandth of this aerial insecticide actually prevents the infestation. The balance goes to the leaves, into the soil, into the water, into all forms of wildlife, into our selves. What is good for the balance sheet is wasteful of resources and harmful to life."
-Paul Hawkin from The Ecology of Commerce

Frank and Vicky Giannangelo
Copyright (c) 2008 Giannangelo Farms Southwest

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Dangers of GM Crops/Food

Dangers of GM Foods and GM Crops

Best Books on Recombinant DNA Technology