GMO Health Risks
As food producers in America become more reliant on the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, hormones and antibiotics, we have to wonder how they are impacting our health. New plant technologies call for an increase in the use of chemicals because GM crops are designed to require pesticides and herbicides. There are several animals studies that suggest GMOs could cause adverse health effects on human bodies but genetically modified foods have NEVER been human safety tested.
According to the AAEM, genetically modified foods pose massive health risks:
In 2009, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) stated that, “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with genetically modified (GM) food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. The AAEM has asked physicians to advise all patients to avoid GM foods. Click here to read more from the AAEM about GMOs or go to their website.
Furthermore scientists from around the world have conducted animal studies and advised governments and corporations not to allow GMOs onto the market without further testing. These concerns fell on deaf ears and often scientists who “blew the whistle” were threatened with lawsuits or fired. Here are some results from animals studies that should raise concerns:
- Mice fed GMO soy showed reduction of digestive enzymes making them susceptible to allergies and digestion issues.
- Rats fed GMO canola had livers that were 12-16% heavier then before eating GMO.
- Half the babies of rats fed GMO soy died within three weeks.
- Soy allergies increased by 50% after GMOs soy was introduced in the UK.
- The stomach lining of rats fed GMO potato showed excessive cell growth.
These are just a few of the health concerns related to genetically modified foods. Download this Health Risks Brochure to read more.
Herbicide and Pesticide Health Risks
Many animals studies show that GMOs are inherently bad for our DNA and can cause collateral damage. The health risks associated with herbicides (like RoundUp) and pesticides are very well documented and much more apparent. Now biotech companies are using 2,4-D a component of Agent Orange in their herbicide mixtures (read more here). We know Agent Orange causes cancer and malformations, so why are they spraying it on our food? RoundUp, Monsanto’s patented blend of herbicides that GMO crops are resistant to, is very toxic and the EPA sets limits to the residues of herbicides in our air, water, and food. When levels reach over the EPA limits they can cause cancer, endocrine disruption, and cell death.
Here is a list of health risks and studies associated with RoundUp (glyphosate).
Bt, a pesticide that is built into the DNA of some GMO crops, has been linked to thousands of animal deaths. And farmers in India complain of skin rashes and allergies when working in GMO Bt cotton fields.
Policies of Safety
One might ask, why not conduct human safety studies to determine the safety of GMOs? According to the FDA and biotech companies though, human health studies are not necessary. A policy was created in 1992 by Michael Taylor, a former Monsanto attorney who had since gone back to Monsanto and in 2010 was appointed by President Obama as head of the FDA. The policy is called substantial equivalence and states that there is no difference between foods derived from biotechnology and conventional foods, therefore requiring no human safety testing. This is also why genetically modified foods are not labeled. There is an obvious difference between conventional seed and seed that has been inserted with foreign DNA to obtain a certain trait like resistance to chemical herbicide or to have pesticides built into the DNA. The fact that these crops are patented challenges the notion of substantial equivalence since patent law requires something to be unique in order to be patented.
Here is the FDA statement of policy reguarding foods derived from new plant varieties.
The FDA also claims (in their policy) that it is the food producers job to ensure that their products are safe. Yet Monsanto the leading biotech company, claims that it’s the FDA job to ensure safety. Phil Angell, the Director of Corporate Communication at Monsanto also made a statement of safety in 1998 claiming, “Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech food, our interest is in selling as much of it as possible. Assuring its safety is the FDA’s job.”
We have both the FDA and biotech companies claiming GMOs are safe for human consumption WITHOUT conducting any human safety testing. In addition, there are countless animals studies that show adverse health effects from both GMOs and chemical herbicides and pesticides. This should be an indication to consumers to avoid GMOs at all costs.
-Last updated January 2, 2012
