The European Union (EU) has banned genetically modified food, and the U.S. government has launched a formal legal challenge at the World Trade Organization to force the EU to sell GM seeds and food in Europe.
European public opinion polls show that the majority of Europeans oppose GM food. They are not only concerned with the potentially harmful environmental and health consequences of GM food, but also the consequences it could have on their culture, which is rooted in culinary traditions and local produce.
In contrast, Americans have long ago accepted a "corporate-driven fast food culture." International food companies, such as McDonald’s and Coca-Cola, have promised to keep products free of GM ingredients in order to continue business.
The White House alleges that the European ban is discouraging developing countries from growing GM crops for export and resulting in increased hunger and poverty in developing countries. However, 80 percent of undernourished children in developing countries live in areas with food surpluses and it’s likely that the food problem is based on the way land is utilized.
Additionally, the White House promotes GM crops for their potential to produce vaccines, drugs and even industrial chemicals. However, many of the products simply do not work.
For instance, "golden rice," a new strain of rice engineered to produce beta-carotene has been promoted as a way to alleviate vitamin A deficiency among poor children. However, articles in scientific journals state that the children would lack sufficient body protein and fat to convert the beta-carotene into vitamin A.
Some say the battle over GM food is helping to unite Europeans while further distancing them from the United States.
The Guardian June 2, 2003
Consuming genetically modified foods is like participating in a giant experiment. There is no telling what the consequences of using these genetically modified foods will be because these products have never existed before now.
It seems clear that these altered foods are capable of producing changes in humans. Already, investigators have found that rats fed genetically modified potatoes had an increased thickening in the lining of their stomach and intestine and a weakening of their immune system.
Further, some scientists want to put vaccines into plants without any real knowledge of what effects this unnatural addition will have on human health, or the health of our planet.
This is SHEER LUNACY.
What these scientists have failed to fully appreciate is that once these genetically modified plants are growing it is physically impossible to prevent them from pollinating other plants, thereby contaminating them with these new proteins, of which we do not know the long-term consequences.
The absurdity of the entire process is mind-boggling. These scientists are willing to sacrifice the country’s food supply by adding vaccines, which do not even work in the first place, to plants.
If this continues, our grandchildren may not have access to any non-genetically modified food, and the health of our society may continue to rapidly decline.
One of the keys to health is good food. Although most of us don't choose to do so, we can still purchase real, unaltered food in this country. Sadly, the future does not appear to provide this option.
Genetically modified foods did not exist prior to 1995. Ninety percent of the money Americans spend on food is spent on processed foods, and seventy percent of processed foods have genetically modified foods in them.
There have been NO STUDIES done with humans to show what happens when genetically modified foods are consumed. The FDA has ASSUMED that these modified foods are equivalent to the original foods and does not require any studies to have them approved, despite the fact that this technology has never before existed in the history of the world.
This is especially troubling in light of the United State’s federal track record on genetically engineered safety, which is terrible.
For example, last year genetically modified Starlink corn was approved for animal consumption, but NOT human consumption because of a concern that it could cause allergies in humans. However, Starlink corn would up directly in the human food supply, despite FDA precautions.
There are EIGHT different agencies in the United States regulating biotechnology under 12 different sets of laws. NONE of the laws had biotechnology in mind when they were passed, as they are 40 to 50 years old.
This lack of regulation and total irresponsibility in using genetically modified foods is a disaster waiting to happen.
Related Articles:
Prominent Scientists Form Group to Counter GM Food Europeans More Resistant to Genetically Modified Foods GMO Crops Are An Accident Waiting to Happen Drug Company Owns Monsanto and Their Weed Killer is What Funds GMO Crops Genetically Modified Foods, Inc.
Prominent Scientists Form Group to Counter GM Food
Europeans More Resistant to Genetically Modified Foods
GMO Crops Are An Accident Waiting to Happen
Drug Company Owns Monsanto and Their Weed Killer is What Funds GMO Crops
Genetically Modified Foods, Inc.