The Rant: A Monday Morning View - Food Choice and GMO's

The Rant: A Monday Morning View - Food Choice and GMO's? What on earth is she talking about, GMO's? Okay, so it's about food again. Grin and bear it. This is important.

Actually it's about purchasing or growing food and making healthy, economical decisions. In our society today, there appears to be three classes of consumers - those that choose, those that deny, and those that remain in the middle. Let's talk about it.

As consumers, we do still have the freedom to choose what we eat. It may mean changing our shopping habits or starting a garden but for now, we do have the choice. If you want to limit the amount of chemical exposure or GMO's (genetically modified organisms) you're ingesting, then you have to make better choices than in the past. Growing your own food is the only way to guarantee the safety and quality of your food but, not everyone has the space or ability to do so. For those folks, it really is about choice. You have to choose the suppliers of your food carefully and after doing the research. Many of the products in our grocery stores today have been genetically modified and current laws do not require labeling of these foods. You are shopping blindly to say the least.

Clearly, some folks just can't handle the idea that consumers are being sold unhealthy, chemical-laden foods. They don't want to hear about the pesticides being used on commercially grown produce. They even think that because it's in a sealed can, it has to be safe. You can't explain to them that before it was canned, it was a fresh product growing in a field where layers of pesticide accumulated from repeated spraying to ensure higher volumes for the commercial grower. They simply don't want to hear it and, that's their right I suppose. Being in denial doesn't take away a person's right to choose.

Ah, this is the class that should bother us the most. They are smart enough to know what is happening to our food but unwilling to put forth the extra effort to be a more healthy consumer. For these folks, it's just too much trouble and besides, it hasn't killed them yet. These are the folks that will tell you that their parents are in their 80's and they ate the same food. When you explain that the chemicals were different 50 years ago, they shrug their shoulders and walk away. They are content right where they are and see no need to change.

So, why the rant? Because the information is out there for all of us to learn more about making safe and healthy choices for the food we eat. There is no reason for anyone to make bad choices, deny, or remain status quo when we have so much information at our fingertips.

Awareness is the key.

Many years ago, I was introduced to a documentary titled "Earthlings". Narrated by Joaquin Phoenix, It was a shocking introduction to how our food is produced. When presented with the documented animal cruelty, filth, and abuse of power in commercially produced food, I found it difficult to continue to be a consumer of these products. But, I am human and after a while, the shock and awe dissipated somewhat. I fell into the status quo class I suppose.

"Earthlings" is worth the 90 minutes it takes to watch and will open in a new window if you click here.

Technology is a wonderful thing when used properly and by responsible people. But technology can be dangerous or deadly when used for the wrong reasons (greed) or by the wrong people (power). Technology or science can begin with good intentions and become a global evil in the name of greed and power. Our evolution from a nation of simplicity to a nation of do it more, bigger, better is the culprit. As a nation, we are rarely satisfied with the status quo. Ironic, isn't it? As individuals, we are often satisfied with the status quo but collectively, it's never acceptable. There is power in numbers. Remember that!

Definition: So, GMO's. Genetically modified organics. The Non-GMO Project tells us that "GMO's, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This experimental technology merges DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.'

Virtually all commercial GMOs are engineered to withstand direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. Despite biotech industry promises, none of the GMO traits currently on the market offer increased yield, drought tolerance, enhanced nutrition, or any other consumer benefit."

Science: From a production viewpoint, being able to grow or raise food that can withstand extreme weather, disease, or predator sounds like a good thing. But at what cost? Are we willing to compromise our health to support such an industry? We know that when human DNA goes awry, the result is disastrous. The result is often a poor quality of life, discrimination, disease, or early death. Why would we think that tampering with the DNA of animals or plants would produce better results?

Regulation: Genetically modified food is loosely regulated at best and varies from country to country. In the words of an old Rolling Stones song - "you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need". Is that good enough?

The Results: GMO's are created by introducing foreign material into the DNA sequence of a natural substance to create a response. Einstein once said that "Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different outcome." So why would we think that introducing foreign substances (GMO foods) into our bodies would not cause a response? {Preliminary independent studies hint that GMO foods may produce toxins, allergies, and diminished nutritional value. Is it worth the risk?

Science Based Fear: Many GMO's are manufactured using Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide. With normal exposure (during application), Roundup is not considered highly toxic. GM Watch recently reported on a German university study that showed levels of glyphosate up to 20 times higher than normal in the urine of the test subjects. When one considers that practically all engineered commercial food is exposed to this herbicide, that it leaches into the ground and into our water supply, are we really getting a small exposure?

We do still have choices and the choices we make, from this point forward, will impact the quality of our lives and the quality of life for generations to come. There is an old adage that says something like "you are what you eat". What will you become? Will you become a chemically altered, herbicide infested warehouse of screwed up DNA that you will pass on to your children? Or, if you are past the point of interest in reproduction, will you choose to do all you can to ensure a quality and long life so that you will enjoy watching your children grow and have healthy children of their own? You do not have to be a victim of this do it faster, better, and bigger mentality. Here's what you can do:

• Buy local whenever possible and seek out organic or low spray farmers.
• Ask your grocer to point out GMO foods. He/she won't be able to but, you'll be putting them on notice.
• Educate yourself and become involved in the movement to have GMO foods identified with labeling regulations.
• Become an advocate. Talk to your friends and family about thinking, eating, and living healthier. Today's a good day to start. Will you choose, deny, or remain status quo?

© 2012 Linda Crist, All rights reserved.

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