Saturday, February 18, 2006
Research needed about GM foods
"The C.D.C. now says that food is responsible for twice the number of illnesses in the United States as scientists thought just seven years ago. Many of the illnesses stem from improper handling of food, either by kitchen workers or consumers themselves, but some health officials say this has always been the case and, if anything, treatment of food has improved over the years. At least 80 percent of food-related illnesses are caused by viruses or other pathogens that scientists cannot even identify." Greg Winter. (2001, March 21). "Contaminated Food Makes Millions Ill Despite Advances." New York Times.
According to Jeffrey Smith (Seeds of Deception, 2003, p. 39), this increase in illnesses roughly corresponds with the time that Americans have been eating genetically modifed (GM) foods. Obesity has skyrocketed during the same period. Diabetes rose 33 percent and we are seeing the increase in incidence of many other illnesses, as well.
Smith asks, "Is there a connection to GM foods?" We don't know because no one has looked for a connection.
The reason, according to Smith, is that scientists are afraid to research in the area. The amount of public humiliation that follows is not worth it. If the pattern is followed with previous research, the biotech industry and its allies do as much as possible to discredit the researchers. (Smith describes in detail how the GM industry in the United Kingdom tried to discredit Arpan Pusztai.)
Government has bought into the biotech revolution and so there is no money available for research that doesn't support the industry. For whatever reason (possibly big advertising dollars), the US media virtually ignores the dangers of GM foods or runs stories supportive of the industry.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has adopted a policy that GM foods are assumed to be safe unless research proves otherwise (Smith, 2003, p. 11). The result has been that 80 percent of the soy and 38 percent of the corn planted in the US in 2003 was genetically engineered. These crops are found in about 70 percent of processed foods (p. 38). Farmers have bought into GM crops because they have been engineered to kill insects and allow for spraying for weeds.
It's time our legislators demand the research that will clear up this issue. The news media need to put public interest first and provide the indepth reporting that will educate the US public. Researchers need to put the public interest ahead of their careers. We need to know for sure the effects of eating GM foods.
According to Jeffrey Smith (Seeds of Deception, 2003, p. 39), this increase in illnesses roughly corresponds with the time that Americans have been eating genetically modifed (GM) foods. Obesity has skyrocketed during the same period. Diabetes rose 33 percent and we are seeing the increase in incidence of many other illnesses, as well.
Smith asks, "Is there a connection to GM foods?" We don't know because no one has looked for a connection.
The reason, according to Smith, is that scientists are afraid to research in the area. The amount of public humiliation that follows is not worth it. If the pattern is followed with previous research, the biotech industry and its allies do as much as possible to discredit the researchers. (Smith describes in detail how the GM industry in the United Kingdom tried to discredit Arpan Pusztai.)
Government has bought into the biotech revolution and so there is no money available for research that doesn't support the industry. For whatever reason (possibly big advertising dollars), the US media virtually ignores the dangers of GM foods or runs stories supportive of the industry.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has adopted a policy that GM foods are assumed to be safe unless research proves otherwise (Smith, 2003, p. 11). The result has been that 80 percent of the soy and 38 percent of the corn planted in the US in 2003 was genetically engineered. These crops are found in about 70 percent of processed foods (p. 38). Farmers have bought into GM crops because they have been engineered to kill insects and allow for spraying for weeds.
It's time our legislators demand the research that will clear up this issue. The news media need to put public interest first and provide the indepth reporting that will educate the US public. Researchers need to put the public interest ahead of their careers. We need to know for sure the effects of eating GM foods.
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