Risks of Genetically Modified Foods. By Marianne Tully

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1 Risks of Genetically Modified Foods By Marianne Tully

2 What is a GMO? A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism that has had its genomes changed in a way that does not happen naturally The process of creating GMOs is called genetic modification or genetic engineering When an organism s genome is changed, its characteristics are also changed To create a GMO, specific characteristics are changed by using lab techniques to delete or alter particular sections of DNA

3 What is a GMO? An organism s characteristics can also be changed by adding new pieces of DNA into their genomes. This could be: DNA taken from the same species DNA taken from a different species DNA made synthetically in the lab

4 Why are there GMOs? For farmers: Most of the GM crops grown around the world today address problems caused by insects or weeds When it comes to insects, there are genetically modified plants that can repel only the very particular type of insect that feeds on it. With some crops, this has significantly lowered the need to apply pesticides. Other GM plants have been developed to be resistant to certain herbicides thus making weed control more straightforward and less expensive GMOs also help reduce yield loss or crop damage from extreme weather

5 Why are there GMOs? For the environment: Reduces greenhouse gases Farmers have to make fewer passes on their fields to apply chemical insecticides and herbicides, which means they burn less fuel Farmers do not need to till the land (turning over soil in order to disrupt weeds growing before planting the seasons crops) Not as many tractors being ran, therefore less fuel is burned

6 Genetically Modified Grains and Vegetables According to the Non-GMO Project -- North America s only nonprofit, third-party verification and labeling organization for non-gmo food and products -- nine crops are considered high risk for being genetically modified: alfalfa, cotton, canola, corn, soy, papaya, sugar beets, zucchini and yellow summer squash. In the United States, each of these crops is around 90 percent genetically modified. Low-risk GMO vegetables include: chard, table beets, Siberian kale, bok choy, Chinese cabbage, turnips, acorn squash, delicata squash and patty pan There are no grain crops that are considered high-risk for being genetically modified

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8 Health Risks of Genetically Modified Grains and Vegetables In 1992, the FDA claimed they had no information showing that GM foods were substantially different from conventionally grown foods. Therefore they are safe to eat, and absolutely no safety studies were required. Later, internal memos made public by a lawsuit revealed that their position was staged by political appointees who were under orders from the White House to promote GMOs In reality, FDA scientists had repeatedly warned that GM foods can create unpredictable, hard-to-detect side effects, including allergies, toxins, new diseases, and nutritional problems. They urged long-term safety studies, but were ignored.

9 Health Risks of Genetically Modified Grains and Vegetables Continued GM soy and allergic reactions Soy allergies skyrocketed by 50% in the UK, soon after GM soy was introduced A skin prick allergy test shows that some people react to GM soy, but not to wild natural soy Cooked GM soy contains as much as 7-times the amount of a known soy allergen GM soy also contains a new unexpected allergen, not found in wild natural soy

10 Health Risks of Genetically Modified Grains and Vegetables Continued Bt corn and cotton linked to allergies The biotech industry claims that Bt-toxin is harmless to humans and mammals because the natural bacteria version has been used as a spray by farmers for years In reality, hundreds of people exposed to Bt spray had allergic-type symptoms, and mice fed Bt had powerful immune responses and damaged intestines The Bt in GM crops is designed to be more toxic than the natural spray and is thousands of times more concentrated Farm workers throughout India are getting the same allergic reactions from handling Bt cotton[15] as those who reacted to Bt spray. Mice and rats fed Bt corn also showed immune responses.

11 Health Risks of Genetically Modified Grains and Vegetables Continued GMOs and liver problems Rats fed GM potatoes had smaller, partially atrophied livers The livers of rats fed GM canola were 12-16% heavier GM soy altered mouse liver cells in ways that suggest a toxic insult. The changes reversed after they switched to non-gm soy

12 Health Risks of Genetically Modified Grains and Vegetables Continued GMOs, reproductive problems, and infant mortality More than half the babies of mother rats fed GM soy died within three weeks Male rats and mice fed GM soy had changed testicles, including altered young sperm cells in the mice The longer mice were fed GM corn, the less babies they had, and the smaller their babies were Babies of female rats fed GM soy were considerably smaller, and more than half died within three weeks (compared to 10% of the non-gm soy controls).[33] Female rats fed GM soy showed changes in their ovaries and uterus.

13 Health Risks of Genetically Modified Meats and Fish GM salmon could potentially cause more allergies than regular salmon Fish are engineered to have way more growth hormones than normal and this can create a hormone called IGF, which increases insulin formation Higher levels of IGF lead to higher levels of cancer Genetically modified fish have fewer omega-3s Omega-3s reduce inflammation

14 Environmental Risks of Genetically Modified Organisms The majority of GM crops are those which have been engineered to be herbicide resistant This might not harm the crop, but it creates residues and run off, making it disastrous for surrounding ecosystems It also encourages the development of superweeds which are resistant to glyphosate Contamination GM crops can cross pollinate with wild and non-gm plants Inadvertent spread of seed by farm machinery, as well as mixing seeds during storage can cause contamination Cross pollination will not only contaminate wild plants, affecting their natural genetic makeup, but will seriously compromise any organic or non GM farming system

15 What is being done to Improve/Remove GMOs? Non-GMO Project The Non-GMO Project is a mission-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to building and protecting a non-gmo food supply Provides marketing support provided to Non-GMO Project Verified brands

16 What is being done to Improve/Remove GMOs? Some Non-GMO Companies 365 Everyday Value, Activia, American Licorice, Angie s, Zico, Wonderful Halos, Quaker, Whole Foods Market, and Vita Coco

17 References