In my blog "Whole Food and Highly Processed Food, and the effects on Our Body", I talked about the differences between whole foods and processed foods. Also, I talked about organic vs traditional produce, but I did not talk much about GMOs because it's a separate and unique topic. First, what are GMOs and their use? and, where do we find them? What is the reason for its use? Are GMOs really making good changes in the quality, mass production and hardness of food? or, Is it just one more thing that is affecting the health and stability of our communities and the planet?
GMOs are living genetically modified organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. It is the combination of genes from plants, animals, bacteria and viruses that are not produced naturally or by using traditional cross-breeding techniques, but rather by modifying the genetics of an organism in a laboratory using genetic engineering or transgenic technology. Much more than this, these techniques of crossing are not only used on organisms of the same species but on organisms from different species; as in the case of the "Flavr Savr" (called Infame tomate in Spanish) This was the result of crossing the DNA of a fish called Arctic Flounder and the DNA of a plant, so this plant can withstand temperatures below zero. This product was in the market since 1994 but disappeared in 1997 because this product was not in high demand by consumers (consumers did not know how this product was produced).
But if we think carefully about this method of reproduction, not in relation to durability, production, quality and variety, but at the cellular level and how this can affect humans and the environment. Because if we think about it, we are changing the DNA of these organisms and the environment will have to adapt to them and to all the new species that will continue to be created. Also, how will these organisms affect our DNA? To what extent are the companies that are creating these organisms studying and making sure that they will not harm the genetics, the environment and the economy of everything and everyone exposed to them?
These modifying genetic living organisms are in the food/products we currently consume and because GMOs are available and growing in number every day, they are available for commercial use. It seems for the authorities that regulate the products we consume, these organisms are not a threat to the health of humanity. We have been consuming GMOs in food products since 1980, but only in recent years ago media and internet information shared the presence of them in our food. Products that contains GMOs derivados are not required to be labelled in the United States of America. Under the USDA's National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS) some, but "not all" products that contains GMO's must be labeled, but the categorical exceptions of the law about this matter prevent Americans the transparency we deserve. Just recently, Congress passed the National Bioengineering food Disclosure Standard to regulates labeling of bioengineered foods. Implementation should began on January 1, 2020 and mandatory compliance begins on January 1, 2022. We are in 2023, I am a consumer and I do not see these regulations being effectively implemented on many products and specially those that are in high demand and are produced by bioengineering.
Some of the reasons for its creation was once again to control the quality of the food we produce, the quantity (abundance), and to change the characteristics of certain foods to make them "better". In addition, other driving forces for the creation of these bodies were reducing the use of pesticides in the fields, helping to meet the challenges of climate change, and making agriculture more sustainable. However, even with all these engineering modifications of these organisms (foods), the increase in production and nutritional value of these organisms is not meeting expectations. Most of the time, statistics show that the production of these genetically modified organisms is less than the production of conventional crops. Added to that, this way of producing food is affecting conventional and organic agriculture, since the crops of these plants, being close to conventional and organic fields, can receive the pollen from these plants and mix with organic crops, affecting the guarantee that these crops are free from exposure to GMOs. For organic farming, this can mean a loss of production and quality of its products. Also, people who are exposed to them are exposed to stronger pesticides because these organisms are more resistant to common pesticides.
To this day, there have not been any epidemiological studies investigating the potential effects of GMOs on human health; but on the other hand, most of the investigations to affirm that GMOs are safe for human consumption have been carried out solely by biotech companies, those responsible for their existence. According to a 2015 statement post signed by 300 scientists, clinicians, and academics, the often-repeated claim of a scientific consensus on GMOs in the media is an "artificial construct that has been falsely perpetuated."
What is the main reason I mention this or I talk about it? Because it is so much the public does not know about it. We know and talk about all the different health conditions and mutations that we do not have explanations for. Well, I do not think there are not any explanations, we just do not get informed about what is happening and the decisions that are made on the behalf of every single of us and it is affecting our environment and humanity.
For this reason, supporting people and regulations that advocate for the elimination, limitation, regulation or prohibition of the use of breeding or maintenance methods that could affect our communities and planet is part of our responsibility whether is GMOs or other ways to produce consumer products. There is limited information about this topic, but enough to get informed, support and reach out to those authorities who can make those changes.
Also, you have to question every product you consume if you do not really know what ingredients you are putting in your body. For more information look and subscribe to https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/.
We have online information available about GMOs and all the ways of their use. The history of these organisms and why they are on our supermarket shelves. I will leave information that you can research, but today, there is enough information about GMOs that you can find on the Internet and in libraries.
"GMO Myths & Truths” was published by three leading researchers at Earth Open Source.
https://www.protectnaturenowcoalition.org/post/genetically-modified-microbes
BE THE CHANGE! :)
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