G.M.O Foods

"GMO" stands for "Genetically Modified Organisms," and in the case of food, it usually refers to foods that have been genetically engineered for reasons unrelated to health or nourishment. You may also see the term "GE foods" (which stands for "genetically engineered" foods) or terms like "genetically altered" or "genetically modified" or "genetically improved" to describe these foods.

 The sad part is if you want to avoid sugar, aspartame, trans-fats, MSG, or just about anything else, you read the label, but to avoid G.M.O.’s you’re out of luck. They’re not listed. You could, until now, simply buy organic foods, which by law can’t contain more than 5 percent G.M.O.’s, however, even that may not work. For that GMO’s should not be released into the environment since there is not an adequate scientific understanding of their impact on the environment and human health, or at least must be labeled.

 A lot of people, like me advocate immediate interim measures such as labeling of GE ingredients, and the segregation of genetically engineered crops and seeds from conventional ones. We also oppose all patents on plants, animals and humans, as well as patents on their genes. Life is not an industrial commodity. When we force life forms and our world's food supply to conform to human economic models rather than their natural ones, we do so at our own peril.

As a lot of voices start to call for labeling modified food, I don’t understand the opposition of some companies for our right to know what we eating. There are leased on a fact sheet that share many brands under a “corporate parent”, they even gave millions of dollars to fight against GM labeling. These brands include Larabar, Naked, Horizon Organics, Odwalla and other familiar brands. On the bright side, some of the companies that have given significant amounts to support Prop 37 are some of my favorites. This includes Nutiva, Lundberg, Eden, Nature’s Path, Dr. Bronner’s Magic “All-One,” and Straus Organics. I like many of their products, and i'am glad to know that by supporting them, I am also supporting a company that shares similar goals for labeling foods containing GMOs.

 We should stand, and speak our mind about this issue, I remember me and my boyfriend, we have written a few of these companies and told them expressly and in no uncertain terms that we have taken note of their stands and will no longer be buying their products. The Biological diversity must be protected and respected as the global heritage of humankind, and one of our world's fundamental keys to survival. Governments are attempting to address the threat of GE with international regulations such as the Biosafety Protocol. The saddest part is that I still don’t understand how they still not apply the labeling here in U.S.A even though many manifestations have been held for the last years.

Of course, we can’t deny the benefits of gene technology in terms of food production. The most common genetically engineered is the one that contain modifications that make the plants resistant to certain diseases and herbicides, or allow them to produce their own pesticides, thereby eliminating or reducing the need to spray.

But a huge risk and danger is around the G.M.O foods, environmental damage from GM crops can be caused through various channels. One of the main concerns has been the possibility of gene transfer to a non-target species, that is crops engineered for herbicide tolerance and weeds cross-breeding, resulting in the transfer of the herbicide resistance to create ‘super weeds’. In addition, environmentalists fear that transgenic plants may proliferate rapidly, pollinating natural plants in their surroundings eliminating existing species. Further environmental suspicions include those of unintended harm to other organisms (especially non-target insects) and of the reduced effectiveness of pesticides once insects become tolerant to a crop’s natural pesticide. Questions have also been raised on the human impact of genetically modified organisms. Critics of recombinant DNA fear that the pathogenic, or disease-producing organisms used in some recombinant DNA experiments might develop extremely infectious forms that could cause worldwide epidemics.

 Likewise, the unknown effect of foreign genes introduced into GM food crops in terms of human health also presents a controversial issue. Furthermore, there is a possibility that introducing a gene into a plant may create a new allergen or cause an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals. A proposal to incorporate a gene from Brazil nuts into soybeans in order to increase their nutritional value was abandoned when it was found that the genetically engineered soybeans caused an allergic reaction in people sensitive to Brazil nuts. For these reasons, extensive testing and labeling of GM foods must be required to avoid the possibility of harm to consumers with food allergies. 

Biotechnology has started to revolutionize food production, with fantastic results. With the world population of 6 billion expected to double in the next 50 years and an adequate food supply becoming a major challenge it will no doubt continue to do so in the future, but the consumer is the one who decide withier they buy it or not .