For The Rome Observer, November 29, 2010
By Elizabeth Szlek, LMHC
I suppose that many of you read that the FDA is now considering allowing Monsanto to start producing genetically modified sugar beets for widespread consumption in America, and probably elsewhere. A couple of months ago it was the salmon they were going to be tinkering with, and some reports say the FDA is “poised” to approve what some refer to as “Frankenfish”. This would be the first genetically engineered animal deemed safe for us all to eat.
Naturally (no pun intended), thousands, if not millions of Americans, and scores of ad hoc groups are springing up to protest this horrible idea, and I have written about some of the down side to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s). At this point in our history, I hope you all out there realize that our government is now on the side of Big Whatever (Business, Pharma, Food), and not on YOUR side. And, as proper little citizens, we are pretty much just sitting back and allowing this farcical “protection” agency to keep doing things in our worst interest. What is more basic than food that is nutritious? If we can’t get excited over protecting our food supply, what else can do it?
Or, are we thinking: Well, they don’t serve salmon at Mickey Dee’s anyway, so what’s the harm?
Because there is no rioting in the streets, I guess the FDA will let this one slide through, just as they did with the approval of aspartame. And we all will go on eating and drinking the stuff that will eventually kill us, or maybe just render everyone sterile.
Maybe it is the high percentage of those who have been numbed with psychotropic medication that keeps us so passive and controlled.
Other people in the world aren’t so passive, however. In August, Spanish citizens, in a sort of posse, attacked a whole vineyard planted with GMO grapevines, destroying them all. French citizens did the same, and it has also been done in Roanoke, VA. Some people are doing their research, and realize this means the end of food we can trust.
What’s the Big Deal?
If I may repeat some past warnings about the negative effects of GMO’s, what we can all look forward to is:
1. The appearance of more and more food allergies among our populations. Right now, I’ll bet you personally know someone who is deathly allergic to something. I know I do. This was not the case before GMO’s appeared on the scene. Now we have tots at death’s door because of peanut allergies. I met a woman last week who has to carry her epi pen in case someone has sneaked any one of about thirty ingredients into the food she may eat. Soy, corn and some other ubiquitous products are in the neighborhood of 90% GM at this time. Soy products are everywhere, especially where you least expect them. They are triggering lots of allergies, and things can only get worse from here. To think that we need MORE GM foods in our system is ludicrous, if it were not unethical and possibly criminal.
2. When foods are genetically modified in any way, it is a total mystery as to how the foods will change generation after generation. It is likely that even if the food is not overtly harmful at once, it can develop deadly toxic properties after several generations. This has been proven in scientific studies. Are you willing to take that chance with your life, or the life of your children? Remember, it is very, very difficult to trace these kinds of toxins to their sources, and the engineering companies and seed companies will probably get a free ride on the blame game.
3. GM foods are sometimes altered in a way to make them less nutritious. This means you can be consuming them, thinking that you are eating something nutritious, and actually, it is a nutritiously dead food. Have some GM salmon, feel virtuous, and find you have been eating the nutrition equivalent of a Pop Tart! Sounds great, no? And, if they keep making more of our superfoods like salmon into GM foods, will there be any superfoods left? What will we eat for our nutrition needs?
4. There is some speculation that GM foods are going to prove to be endocrine disrupters. That is, they will interfere with hormones in our bodies. Down the road, this spells infertility! Not to go all “conspiracy theory” on you, but trials were conducted on GM corn in Mexico which were actually intended to be endocrine disrupters. They worked! Those who consumed them became infertile! Is this what you want for your children?
Now, I’m Really Mad!!!!
There was an uproar in the past year about the GM sugar beet problem. Farmers were ordered to stop using the GM seeds for their sugar beets. After all, the sugar was going into the candy that kids would be devouring on Halloween! See the four points above and try and decide whether you want your Gummy Bears made with GM beets!
However, the jury is still out on this one, so the farmers were given the go-ahead to resume using the GM seeds until a final ruling is made. HUH??? Wouldn’t it make more sense to hold off on the GM junk until real scientists not in the employ of Big Food do some tests and definitively determine what the heck is going on? Not in America! No, just go ahead and create these possibly life-threatening foods. We all want to be your guinea pigs!
In fact, I LOVE BEETS!!!!!! And they are really GOOD for you – when they are in their non-GM state. They contain flavanoids that can protect you from cancer. But even if they didn’t they are among the very best vegetables to consume, especially raw, when they are simply loaded with beneficial enzymes. Now, I have to worry that my ton a year of beets is actually harming me? My ancestors in Poland are now spinning in their graves to think that the marvelous beet could cause harm.
I am writing in a light vein here, but I want to stress this: Your life and the lives of your children are in grave danger from those who would purposely contaminate the foods that give life. Please let your representative in Congress know that you don’t want to eat Frankenfoods!
Elizabeth Szlek is the Director of The Door Counseling Center of Yorkville, NY. Questions and comments can be directed to her at (315) 768-8900 or at info@thedoorcounseling.com.
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