Genetically Modified Foods:
Healthy Or Hazardous?

Genetically modified foods (GM foods) have been on the shelves of North American grocery stores since 1996. GM foods are foods that contain genetically modified organisms (GMO's).

GMO's are created using a process called recombinant DNA technology. First, scientists take out selected parts of the DNA (genes) of an organism such as a virus, bacteria, or an animal.

Then they take that section of DNA and insert it into the DNA of another species.

The end result is a genetically modified organism that has new or altered traits.

Recombinant DNA technology is a very unnatural process. It is not something that would ever happen in nature on its own.

So, how can you tell genetically modified foods apart form non-GM foods?

Right now it's almost impossible because no laws exist (in North America) that require food producers to label foods that contain GMO's.

That is a major problem. Especially given the fact that there have been very few studies done on the safety of GM foods.

No long-term testing has been done either. We simply do not know what impact eating genetically modified foods will have on our health and well-being in the long run.

Any unintended side-effects that GM foods may cause may not show up for years to come. By then it may be too late to undo the damage.

Jeffrey M. Smith (author of the books Seeds of Deception and Genetic Roulette), has worked with more than 30 scientists.

Together they have researched and collected a long list of health risks associated with GM foods. Here are some of the results:

When animals were fed GM crops, they developed:

• Problems with blood cell formation
• Problems with liver cell formation
• Toxicity in the liver and kidneys
• False pregnancies and sterility
• Damage to the reproductive system with alteration of the DNA function
• Damage to every organ system

In addition to these problems, countless animals and their offspring died as a result of eating genetically modified crops!

Human beings exposed to GM crops have developed:

• Skin problems
• Allergic-like reactions and other respiratory reactions
• Intestinal reactions

According to Jeffrey Smith, there has been one human feeding study on genetically modified foods (Netherwood et al, "Assessing the survival of transgenic plant DNA in the human gastrointestinal tract," Nature Biotechnology 22 (2004): 2).

In this study, the volunteers were fed GM soybeans. Later, tests showed that the foreign genes (that had been put into the soybeans) got transferred into the DNA of the bacteria in the intestines of the human volunteers.

Is it possible that foreign DNA can get transferred into the DNA of human cells? Only time (or more intense scientific studies) will tell.

How Can You Avoid Genetically Modified Foods?

To date, there are 4 main crops that are genetically modified. They are canola, corn, cotton, and soy.

These crops are genetically engineered so that they can resist disease. They are designed to produce their own pesticide or to live despite being sprayed with some pretty powerful herbicides.

Other crops to watch out for are zucchini, Hawaiian papayas and crook neck squash. These crops are also engineered so that they can resist disease.

Some experts estimate that at least 70 percent of the foods you find in the average grocery stores are made from or contain genetically modified organisms (mostly from corn, soy, canola, and cotton-seed). Interestingly enough, most of these foods that contain GMO's are processed and refined foods.

Here's how you can avoid genetically modified foods:

1. Buy organic food. Organic foods are not allowed to be genetically modified nor can they contain GM ingredients.
2. Read all labels and avoid non-organic products that contain any ingredients made from canola, corn, cotton-seed, and soy (e.g. canola oil, corn oil, corn syrup, soy lecithin, soy protein, cottonseed oil, and others)
3. Stick to a simple, plant-based, whole foods diet of fruits, veggies, nuts, grains, legumes, and seeds.
4. Buy products that are labeled "non-GMO." You can find some of these products in some stores.
5. Download FREE copies of the Greenpeace GMO Guide (opens a new window), and Responsible Technology's GMFree/Non-GMO Shopping Guide (opens a new window). Take them with you each time you head to the grocery store.

Don't forget to spread the word to your family and friends!

The best way we as consumers can let food producers know that we don't want genetically modified foods is to stop buying them. When profits drop, they'll be sure to sit up and take notice!

If you eat animal products, keep in mind that the animals may have been fed GM crops or they may have been treated with GM hormones. It is wise to opt for a vegetarian plant-based diet instead. Click here if you'd like to find out more about vegetarianism.

Interested in learning more about genetically modified foods and your health? Here are some excellent resources:

Institute for Responsible Technology
This website exposes the dangers of GM foods and offers plenty of information, videos, resources and articles to help you make an informed choice.

Say No To GMO's
This website will provide you will a lot of information on how our food is being genetically manipulated. They provide lots of information on the controversy surrounding GM foods.

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