What do you think about the United States allowing foods to be genetically modif

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   Abby Campbellposted 11 years ago

   What do you think about the United States allowing foods to be genetically modified?
   
   A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. In the United States, nearly 100% of corn and wheat are GMOs. The alterations of these crops make them stronger. However, corn has become high inflammatory to the body with its continual change. Due to the changes in wheat, changed gluten properties are making more people prone to gluten intolerance. Several developed countries such as many in the European Union, Asia, and South America have banned imports of GMOs. Do you think the United States should stop GMOs?
   
   

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   alexsaez1983posted 11 years ago

   Genetic modification has been going on for thousands of years. The banana, for example, was originally nowhere near what we see today, small and full of seeds. Same with domestic animals, like cats, which were used to guard granaries in ancient Egypt. These days, obviously, it's not a matter of cross-breeding. Sure, there are advantages to GMO products, like improved resistance to weather, larger yields and pest control, but it can also pollute nearby crops if a stray seed manages to travel. It also puts small-time farmers out of business, because their non-GMO products can't compete with the seemingly better quality counterparts. Then, like you said, we have to worry about medical issues and reactions. Personally, I think we've done fine without GMO foods up until now, although I'm not exactly worried about dying every time I eat corn on the cob either.

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      Abby Campbellposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for answering, Alex. Yes, GM has been happening for a long time but differently and more naturally than what is happening today with chemicals, pesticides, and other ways. I also wish we could do without, but it seems our government won't...

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   lburmasterposted 11 years ago

   Not happy about it. We should definitely stop using GMOs. Makes me even more willed to have a bigger garden in the back.

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      Abby Campbellposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The garden has been on my mind a lot lately, Iburmaster. I've been trying to cut back on my daily schedule so I have more time for things like that. Now to research it! LOL.

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   Paul Kempposted 11 years ago

   I hate them. If it was a natural method of cross-breeding, I wouldn't have a problem with it. It is when you cross a corn plant with a shrimp or a moth gene that I -- and my body -- have a problem.
   
   It seems we, Americans in particular, must go to greater and greater lengths to find healthy food to eat, minus the GMOs(which don't have to be labeled), the MSG and other excitotoxins added to encourage us to eat until we're stuffed, and lots of HFCS sugar.
   
   Your complacent other commenter I think will find he was mistaken, maybe years down the road, but it will be too late.
   
   Monsanto and rest must be destroyed in the marketplace. They have uncaringly released a monstrosity on the world that will eventually contaminate our heritage crops. Then, we will have no choice but to eat their food crops. They already are ignoring FDA agreements on where to plant and how close to other non-GMO farmers.
   
   They don't play by the rules, so we must teach them a lesson. This is a fight for the freedom to choose what we shall eat. For myself, I want natural food, not GM food.

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      Abby Campbellposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for replying, Paul. I agree with you 100%. I had recently read that GM crops are too far spread in our country that they will cross contaminate. That's an unfortunate and sad! GMs, along with aspartame, will definitely be the death of society.

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      Paul Kempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, Abby. I am honored to have been chosen as offering the "Best Answer". Thanks for bringing about this important public discussion.

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      Abby Campbellposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well, thank you for providing a well educated answer, Paul. I appreciate your participation in my discussion.

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      CrescentSkiesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Out of curiosity you do realize the term "natural food" makes no sense. Define "natural". When you cook something is that "natural"? You're altering its molecular substructures.

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   bethperryposted 11 years ago

   There was a time that selective hybridization and modification was used, with common sense, in order to produce better food sources. But in this day and age, it seems to me, an average consumer, that foods are being deliberately altered in ways that jeopardize human health. I say this because the incidences of adverse reactions is too widespread, and the foods that produce these reactions are typically heralded as superior by those who 1. profit off their production, 2. profit off the medical expenses of treatment to the reactions, and 3. those in political position who benefit from the oiling of the wheels behind legislation that protects the patents and public distribution of these foods. As an old-fashioned thinker in regard to food, any time a corporation seeks the protection of the higher courts to protect and-or promote a monopoly on any fundamental human need source (water, food, air, ect.), then something is fundamentally corrupt and immoral going on.

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      Abby Campbellposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I completely agree, Beth. I love my country, but I swear that government and politics cares more about the $$$ than its own people. It's truly sad. Thank you for commenting.

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   Kathryn Stratfordposted 11 years ago

   I don't like that they allow it, and that they don't require food to be labeled as such. Many foods are increasingly becoming unhealthier, even those that used to be pretty nutritious and beneficial. If other countries are banning imports of GMOs, since they realize the dangers, I think the U.S. should follow.

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      Abby Campbellposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That irks me more than anything, Kathryn - our government not even requiring the labeling of GMs. It is becoming harder to find foods that are healthy.

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   Sue Adamsposted 11 years ago

   
   
   Watch the photos they don't want us to see.
   
   It is a scandal. It is criminal that we are forced into eating foods that cause cancer.
   Read this article and see for yourselves.
   http://www.naturalnews.com/040727_GMO_f … machs.html

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      Abby Campbellposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Excellent article, Sue! People always wonder why cancer/tumors have been on the rise over the last few decades in ecstatic increases. Autism and other psychological issues are also on the rise. Science has shown that gluten and wheat are culprits.

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   Abby Campbellposted 11 years ago

   I have to apologize to someone here who just left an answer in the last 12 hours as I deleted your AWESOME reply by accident. I thought I hit the reply button as I wanted to comment back to you.   I hope you will re-post your answer if you see this message.
   
   Regarding the seeds of all vegetables bought store-wide being mutated, that is definitely a scary thing. I have read many articles stating that GM crops will overtake all the natural crops eventually. Supposedly, within the next 10-20 years, all crops in America will be GMOs. It's a scary thought as we raise our children and grandchildren in a world where they can't even eat what is supposed to be considered health... foods that will cause intolerances, allergies, and disease.
   
   It's my personal hope that somehow we can overcome this, but it may definitely be too late. I've told my husband that maybe we should move to another country.

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      Sue Adamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I live in Europe where the same problem looms. People here are starting to grow their own food, or join local non-profit growing co-ops. The only way to stop GMO is to boycott it. Just don't eat the stuff - Let us all go on a GMO strike! 

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      Abby Campbellposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      So true, Sue! We do need to boycott... something I preach to my local and online groups all the time. I just wonder how many of them actually stop buying the GMO products.

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   CrescentSkiesposted 11 years ago

   Well think about it this way, it would cost farmers millions of dollars to switch to a non GMO form of growing crops. With this you would see a large price hike in all of your beautiful produce and it would rot more quickly on the shelves and in your pantry/fridge.
   
   Some GMOs are actually incredibly helpful, such as the inclusion of certain bug DNA into plants which allow the plant to make a natural pesticide that is not harmful to humans. I'd rather have that than poisons on the crops.

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      Abby Campbellposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That's an interesting take, CrescentSkies. Thank you for sharing your views. :-)

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      Paul Kempposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Farmers are big businessmen now, for the most part. When businesses make a costly mistake, they usually must pay to correct it. They have made a big mistake venturing into GMO crops, which are no more productive and cost more to produce. Let them pay

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      CrescentSkiesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Paul from what I've read and calculated, GMO crops cost farmers less in the long run than so called "organic" farming methods (which are actually far more dangerous because it can let many pests and natural poisons into the produce).

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    Borsiaposted 11 years ago

    I tend to be on the opposite side of many here.
    Everything we eat is modified and has been for centuries, basically for as long as man has been farming rather than being hunter gatherers.
    There is so much over the top hype about just what GMOs are and how things are being done.
    The real difference is that by directly juggling DNA we can do in 5 years what would have taken 50 years of traditional cross breeding.
    As a child I can remember working with my father in our greenhouses doing experiments with tomatoes. Growing different strains in isolation then using the pollen from one to fertilize another. When it gave good results we kept the strain when t didn't we dropped that one. But it took a lot of time and a lot of trial & error to get something that worked.
    There are countless terror / fear mongering sites out there on the subject making all kinds of wild claims.
    There is no way to cross plants with animals or insects or most of the other crazy stories for a start.
    The modifications aren't the same thing one might get by adding something like hormones, antibiotics or other things that can survive digestion and be absorbed by our bodies.
    If all the hype were true we would be seeing more intestinal diseases, cancers & such, but that isn't happening we are, in fact, seeing less.
    We are seeing a few sorted effects that may need further refinement, like higher gluten content, though I haven't researched that one.
    Most of the surge in diagnoses in the various diseases and conditions are a result of advances in the medical field that identify these conditions.
    The majority of GMOs are being consumed in the 3rd world. When your choice is between GMOs or starvation the lines are clear.
    The claims against GMOs are much like the claims against vaccinations, based entirely unfounded rumor rather than science.
    One of the big problems with the internet is that there is no moderation or fact checking. People can say anything they want and will rarely be challenged to show their sources or to include studies that contradict what they want to believe.
    So, in short, do I think that GMOs have crossed the line? No
    Could it happen at some point in the future? It is possible of course anything could be taken to an extreme.
    But foods are heavily tested and there isn't much financial gain to be had by making something bad.
    I urge everyone to do some research of their own on well known accredited institutions before believing anything good or bad.

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       Abby Campbellposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       The experiments you and your father shared are neat, Borsia, but I believe they are much different than what Monsanto and the like are doing with our crops. There is a TON of studies showing GMO crops are causing cancers and diseases... not all hype.

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