From Cream to Scream
By Julie Daniluk
Lynda:
Why are so many
people confused about GMOs, and the difference between them and hybrids?
Julie: People are told that GMO's are
equivalent to hybrids when in fact the technology carries potential
hazards. We need to think of whole systems instead of individual products
on the market.
My
great concern about GMOs is when people said, "Oh, we just moved a
gene from one plant into another plant."
But
when you insert a gene, you actually change the code that makes up
these plants.
Think
of it like spelling. If you take the word "cream" and insert the
letter "s" at the beginning, all of a sudden it becomes
"scream". The two words have entirely different meanings.
Genetic
codes are like the alphabet. We have all these chromosomes and the codes tell
them how to express themselves.
Sticking
in extra genetic material changes the plant on a fundamental level. The entire
protein changes, and so does the way that plant reacts in your body.
Lynda: What results have shown up so
far from genetically modified foods?
3
Growing Concerns about GMOs
Julie: My three biggest concerns are
allergies caused by changing the protein of the GMO, antibiotic
resistance, viruses that leave the plant vulnerable to molds and fungal
infections, and pesticide resistance.
1.
Allergies: There
is a real concern that genetically modified plants have a higher
potential of causing allergies because the protein itself has
been fundamentally changed. New proteins can be flagged by our immune
system as unsafe and an inflammatory response is launched as an attempt to
protect your body from a foreign invader.
And
we're wondering why we have allergies like never before. We have people with
compromised immune systems, with brand new auto-immune diseases, and
a record number of people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and
inflammatory bowel disease. One in five people now suffer from severe gut
problems, and we wonder why!
2.
The use of Antibiotics: If you hybridize a plant, you are simply crossing 2 varieties of
the same species to create a unique new trait.
With
GMO creation, the insertion of the genes are done forcibly. For scientists
to ensure the experiment worked, they insert an antibiotic resistant
marker gene into the gene package. They then bathe the cells of that plant
in a bath of antibiotics. If the plant survived, they know that the gene
package was inserted correctly.
But
we forget that this plant now carries antibiotic resistance that may transfer
to our human gut! My concern is that the government is not insisting that
the cost of long term mammal testing fall on the GMO seed company, and
should be carried out by a 3rd party that has no financial gain in the
results.
3.
Mold and viruses:
The third great concern is they're using viruses to create genetic
modification because viruses by nature, force their own DNA into a
host.
Scientists
pry open the gene package using a virus and inserting extra material. As a
result GMO crops have a weakened immune system.
It's
been shown that genetically modified plants are higher in mold and have
a much higher propensity of fungal infection.
That
makes sense to me because if there's been a virus attack, the plant's
immune system is left vulnerable. The plant is more likely to have a
bacterial or fungal infection because its immune system is knocked down.
In the case of GMO corn, we're gene splicing in bacteria that can harm the
gut lining.
4.
Pesticide resistance
GMOs
are also resistant to a dreadful pesticide which has been shown to have
many negative health effects.
These
plants are resistant to organophosphate pesticides, so farmers now spray much
higher amounts than in the past because it no longer kills their crop.
The
rest of the field may be decimated but the actual plant remains.
Instead
of reducing pesticide use, it's dramatically increased the amount
of pesticides in the food we consume. Organophosphate pesticides
have been proven to increase ADHD, Cancer and Parkinson's disease.
Lynda: Now that we know more about the
health concerns, how can we protect ourselves and our families?
Julie: I truly avoid genetically
modified food. People think that the genie is out of the bottle. It's not
- yet!
Not
all our foods are genetically modified. In Canada, four major crops are
genetically modified: corn, canola, soy and sugar beet.
In
the US, papaya can be genetically modified. The US also has a massive cotton
industry, and cotton seeds are genetically modified. And you have large test
plots of rice, from which some rice has escaped, so it's a good idea to buy
non-GMO rice.
Lynda: What else can we do to avoid
GMOs?
Julie: You're not being force-fed this
stuff. You just have to avoid certain plants. In Canada, the only item on
the produce shelf today that's genetically modified is sweet corn. The Arctic
apple is soon to follow, but presently we're only dealing with corn in the
produce aisle.
Outside
the produce aisle, it gets dodgy. That's why I choose to make as much of
my own food as possible. I avoid processed and packaged foods
which generally contain canola oil, and soybeans and corn products that
have been processed into derivatives.
I
do not consume genetically modified taco shells, corn flakes and any sort of
taco shells, or any of those corn products. I just don't eat
them. And I also choose not to eat soybeans that are genetically
modified. I won't put soy past my lips unless I know for a fact that
it is completely organic, which means it's not genetically modified.
Lynda: What labels should people look
for on packaged foods?
Julie: Look for "Non-GMO
verified" products because they've got certifications. The
verification is done by a third party, from field to table. They test it all
away along the tracks so there's no contamination.
My
favorite website for up to date information on GMO's is www.CBAN.ca
The
person who runs the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network is Lucy
Sharratt and she has been with her finger on the pulse of this critical
issue for over 16 years.
Check
out the Non-GMO project
website, which is very helpful.
They've
developed a shopping guide to help people avoid genetic modification
and they really keep up to date on GMOs that are being released.
Also
remember that anything that is certified organic cannot be
genetically modified.
