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GMO Food
Transgenic Crops
Friend or Foe?
By Gwen Lattuca |
In the late 90's the big companies that were putting patents on crop seed horrified me. I was also concerned that in many cases the seed was made sterile where seed gleaming would not be possible. This seemed to be a recipe for disaster to every hard working gardener and farmer in the entire world. The images of famine and hunger immediately sprang to my mind. This was an unfolding story of biblical disaster right off the headlines of current newspapers. I could not help but ask, “what are they thinking?”. Of course the answer is simple - these big companies are thinking profit, profit and more profit and they do not have a soul that can feel and care. In writing this article I am keenly aware of the media silence. If you search for Transgenic Crops instead of GMO Crops you get two very diffrent pictures (give it a try). Most controversy ended in the mainstream media around 2004. So does that make GMO food safe for consumption or for the environment??
Lets take a look at who is still reporting on the good, bad and the ugly of GMO food.
What are GMOs?
According to usda.gov The term "genetically modified organism" (GMO) was originally used by the molecular biology scientific community to denote a living organism that had been genetically modified by inserting a gene from an unrelated species.
This technology has been used in over 40 species of plants including corn, cotton, tomatoes, potatoes, soybeans, tobacco, rice, cranberries, papayas, raspberries, chrysanthemums, gladioli, petunias, poplars, spruce, and walnuts.
GMOs can be engineered with genes from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans.
Genetically Modified Crops
The following is a list of what percent of crops are being grown in America today using genetic modification as of July 2007.
Soy (89%)
Cotton (83%)
Canola (75%)
Corn (61%)
Hawaiian papaya (more than 50%)
Alfalfa, zucchini and yellow squash (small amount)
Tobacco (Quest® brand)
Other Sources Of GMOs:
Dairy products from cows injected with rbGH, Food additives, enzymes, flavorings, and processing agents, including the sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet®) and rennet used to make hard cheeses…..Meat, eggs, and dairy products from animals that have eaten GM feed……Honey and bee pollen that may have GM sources of pollen….Contamination or pollination caused by GM seeds or pollen
It is easier to try to identify companies that try to sell non GMO food and ingredients than to identify all that contain GMO (scary isn't it)
Back To GMO Index
Non-Food Items That May Contain GM Ingredients: Cosmetics, Soaps, Detergents, Shampoo and Bubble bath.
Genetically Modified Foods: Are They A Risk to Human/Animal Health?
Learn more links
The Campaign
Cornell Cooperative Extension
The Ecological Impacts of GM Crops
Alliance for Bio Integrity
Archives of the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA
13 Myths About GE Foods
National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
