Genetically Modified Foods: From Test Tube to Table

Genetically modified foods are also called GMOs, an abbreviated form of genetically modified organisms. In short, these are foods that have had their DNA modified in the laboratory to enhance traits and characteristics that the scientific agricultural community deems desirable. Some of these traits are:

• Resistance to herbicides: This allows farmers to spray a wide spectrum herbicide over the field and kill every plant except the genetically modified crop.

• Improved nutritional content: Many plants are being genetically engineered to have high levels of things like Omega-3s and other nutritional supplements.

• Drought tolerance-Scientists can also take a water loving plant and cause it to be more drought tolerant which could help it to grow in a wider variety of locations.

• Having the ability to add certain vaccines to foods to easily, and cheaply, vaccinate a widespread population.

It isn't just plant genes that can be introduced into the GMOs. Bacillus thuringiensis is a natural bacterium that produces a substance that kills insect larvae. These genes have been successfully transferred into corn which allows the corn to produce, in effect, its own pesticide.

Obviously these strides forward in the ability to grow more food seem exciting. Some hail these technologies as the precursor to the end of world hunger. Is it?

Many people are not convinced of the safety of genetic modification of foods. Some believe that the GMOs pose potential risks to the environment, human health, and even the economy. Since the agri-business community does have rather a long history of pursuing the almighty dollar over the welfare of the nation it is hard to believe that they are pursuing GMOs out of a concern for humanity. It is also doubtful that the FDA has all of a sudden found enough funds to create an adequate system of regulatory oversight.

The concerns may well be justified. A laboratory study was published that showed that the pollen from the corn that was genetically modified with the Bacillus thuringiensis substance caused death in monarch butterfly caterpillars. Although the monarch larvae do not eat corn, but milkweed, the concern is that the pollen could be spread by the wind over other plants and ingested by them. Since the B.t. (Bacillus thuringiensis) toxins kill a wide variety of caterpillars and other insect larvae this could have a widespread effect on the environment. The honey bee population is all ready diminished for unknown reasons. Could GMOs eradicate the honey bee?

Another concern is that genetically engineered crops could cross breed with other plants and transfer the genetic alterations to other crops that were planted near by. This actually happened in Canada. Farmers found that the crops that they were saving seeds from resulted in plants that had the same altered genetic make-up as crops planted in a nearby Monsanto field. Monsanto actually filed a lawsuit against these farmers claiming that the farmers had obtained the Monsanto licensed GM seeds illegally, without paying Monsanto royalties. The farmers countered that they were stuck with genetically altered plants whether they wanted them or not and filed a counter suit against Monsanto. Apparently the pollen from the Monsanto fields blew over the other fields causing pollination.

Concerns for human health are many. By introducing a change to the DNA of a food a food that had not been allergenic previously could become a problem. If, for example, strawberries had a peanut protein added to them someone who was allergic to peanuts could get very ill or die as a result. Since genetically modified foods are not always labeled you would not necessarily know.

Another concern is that DNA is not always changed during digestion. If the gene was transferred into the human body during the digestive process it could cause a significant problem.

The movement of genes from GM plants to normal crops is termed outcrossing. This has all ready happened when traces of a type of corn which was only approved for animal feed was found in corn products that had been manufactured for human consumption. This is a huge problem because small farmers, who may want to save seeds, and who want to raise traditional crops may not be able to. Their crops, like the situation between the farmers and Monsanto in Canada, can become contaminated and the seed no longer what they wanted to grow.

Consider the fictional, small, organic farmer that has been making a small living for himself and his family for years. His fields are within a quarter mile or so of a large commercial farm. How can he protect his crops from Outcrossing from the GMOs? In truth, he cannot. He will be forced to either relocate or go out of business.

You are eating genetically modified foods every single day more than likely. First, consider that the milk you drink and the meat you eat comes from animals that are eating genetically modified feed. If that was not enough, foods are not required to label for genetic modifications. A partial list of popular brand items (in the United States) that are using genetically modified foods is:

Baby Formula:

• Carnation Infant formula

• Isomil

• Similac

• Enfamil

Other Foods

• Wonder Breads

• Old El Paso

• General Mills

• Bisquik

• Nabisco

• Duncan Hines

• Quaker

• Kellogs

• Carnation

• Pillsbury

• Bakers Chocolate

• Stouffers

• Coca Cola

• Hersheys

• Nestle

• Pace

• Helmann's

• Weight Watchers

• Dr. Pepper

• Mother's Cereals

• Post Cereals

• Cadbury

• Mars

• Pepperidge Farms

• Del Monte

• Hunts

• Keebler

• Tostitos

• Green Giant

In other words, nearly every large corporate food manufacturer uses genetically modified ingredients. Worse than that, they have been using them for nearly a decade without labeling or alerting the consumer. Remember, this is only a partial list.

By eating organics you can stay away from genetically engineered food. You can plant your own garden, buy produce from local, grower only farmer's markets and eat organic meats. You can buy organic milk, or if you have a little space consider a dairy goat. The move to eat locally, to eat fresh, organic foods, and to eschew the over processed foods from the corporations is the best way to ensure that you do not ingest these engineered foodstuffs.

The price is a bit more. In fact, with prices sky-rocketing it is hard to make ends meet. However the American diet is full of fillers, junk, and chemicals. The cost is far more than the price. The cost is in health. And that is too high of a price to pay.