Decade-Long Feeding Study Reveals Significant Health Hazards of
Genetically Engineered Foods
August 07 2012
By Dr. Mercola
Scientists in Norway have released results from experimental
feeding studies carried out over a 10-year period, and the verdict
is in: If you want to avoid obesity, then avoid eating genetically
engineered (GE) corn, corn-based products, and animals that are fed
a diet of GE grain.
As reported by Cornucopia.org1,
the project also looked at the effects on organ changes, and
researchers found significant changes that affected weight gain,
eating behaviors, and immune function.
How Genetically Engineered Corn and Soy Can Wreak Havoc on Your
Health
“The results show a positive link between GE corn and
obesity. Animals fed a GE corn diet got fatter quicker and
retained the weight compared to animals fed a non-GE grain diet.
The studies were performed on rats, mice, pigs and salmon,
achieving the same results.
... Researchers found distinct changes to the intestines
of animals fed GMOs compared to those fed non-GMOs. This
confirms other studies done by US researchers. Significant
changes occurred in the digestive systems of the test animals’
major organs including the liver, kidneys, pancreas, genitals
and more.”
Their findings (which were published July 11, 2012 in Norway by
Forskning.no, an online news source devoted to Norwegian and
international research3)
showed that animals fed genetically engineered Bt corn ate more, got
fatter, and were less able to digest proteins due to alterations in
the micro-structure of their intestines.
They also suffered immune system alterations. The impaired
ability to digest proteins may be of particular concern as this can
have far-reaching implications for your health. If your body cannot
digest proteins, your body will be less able to produce amino acids,
which are necessary building blocks for proper cell growth and
function.
As noted by Cornucopia.org:
“This not only may relate to a rise in obesity, but to
increases in many modern diseases. These diseases include
diabetes, digestive disorders, inflammatory bowel disease,
colitis, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (ADD), autoimmune
diseases, sexual dysfunction, sterility, asthma, COPD and many
more.
...[Lead author] Professor Krogdahl explains: “It has
often been claimed that the new genes in genetically modified
foods can’t do any damage because all genes are broken down
beyond recognition in the gut. Our results show the contrary;
that genes can be taken up across the intestinal wall, is
transferred to the blood and is left in the blood, muscle and
liver in large chunks so that they can be easily recognized...
The biological impact of this gene transfer is unknown.”
Bt Toxin Found in Blood of Women and Fetuses
This is not the first time scientists have revealed significant
biological impacts and related health problems as a result of eating
a diet of genetically engineered foods. More often than not, unless
the research is tainted by industry ties, studies into the effects
of genetically engineered foods demonstrate that it is anything but
safe. This isn’t so surprising when you consider that simple logic
will tell you it’s probably not wise to consume a plant designed to
produce its own pesticide, for example.
So-called “Bt corn” is equipped with a gene from the soil
bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which produces
Bt-toxin—a pesticide that breaks open the stomach of certain insects
and kills them. This pesticide-producing corn entered the food
supply in the late 1990's, and over the past decade, the horror
stories have started piling up.
Monsanto and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) swore
that the toxin would only affect insects munching on the crop. The
Bt-toxin, they claimed, would be completely destroyed in the human
digestive system and would not have any impact on animals
and humans. The biotech companies have doggedly insisted that
Bt-toxin doesn't bind or interact with the intestinal walls of
mammals, and therefore humans.
The featured research proves all such claims false.
Prior findings have already shown that Bt corn is anything but
innocuous to the human system. Just last year, doctors at Sherbrooke
University Hospital in Quebec found
Bt-toxin in the blood4
of:
93 percent of pregnant women tested
80 percent of umbilical blood in their babies, and
67 percent of non-pregnant women
Bt-toxin breaks open the stomach of insects. Could it similarly
be damaging the integrity of your digestive tract? If Bt-toxins can
damage the intestinal walls of newborns and young children, the
passage of undigested foods and toxins into the blood from the
digestive tract could be devastating to their future health.
Scientists speculate that it may lead to autoimmune diseases and
food allergies. Furthermore, since the blood-brain barrier is not
developed in newborns, toxins may enter the brain causing serious
cognitive problems. Some healthcare practitioners and scientists are
convinced that this one mechanism for autism.
If Bt genes are colonizing the bacteria living in the digestive
tract of North Americans, we might expect to see an increase in
gastrointestinal problems, autoimmune diseases, food allergies, and
childhood learning disorders since the advent of Bt crops in 1996,
and that’s exactly what’s being reported. For example, between 1997
and 2002 the number of hospitalizations related to allergic
reactions to food increased by a whopping 265 percent. One out of 17
children now has some form of
food allergy and allergy rates are rising.
Genetically Engineered Foods Trigger Adverse Immune System Responses
There’s plenty of evidence showing that the Bt-toxin produced in
genetically modified Bt crops like corn and cotton plants is toxic
to humans and mammals andtriggers immune system responses.
For example, in government-sponsored research in Italy5,
mice fed Monsanto's Bt corn showed a wide range of immune responses,
such as:
Elevated IgE and IgG antibodies, which are typically
associated with allergies and infections
An increase in cytokines, which are associated with allergic
and inflammatory responses. The specific cytokines
(interleukins) that were found to be elevated are also higher in
humans who suffer from a wide range of disorders, from arthritis
and inflammatory bowel disease, to MS and cancer
Elevated T cells (gamma delta), which are increased in
people with asthma, and in children with food allergies,
juvenile arthritis, and connective tissue diseases.
Rats fed another of Monsanto's Bt corn varieties called MON 863,
also experienced an activation of their immune systems, showing
higher numbers of basophils, lymphocytes, and white blood cells6.
These can indicate possible allergies, infections, toxins, and
various disease states including cancer. There were also signs of
liver and kidney toxicity.
USDA Clears Roundup Ready Sugar Beets
So-called “Roundup Ready” crops are another type of genetically
engineered crops. While Bt crops contain a gene that produces a
pesticide inside the plant itself, Roundup Ready crops are designed
to withstand otherwise lethal topical doses of glyphosate—a broad
spectrum herbicide, and the active ingredient in Monsanto’s
herbicide Roundup as well as hundreds of other products.
This way, the crop survives while all weeds are theoretically
eliminated from the field. I say ‘theoretically’ because the overuse
of the herbicide has led to the rapid development of
glyphosate-resistant superweeds. It's estimated that more than 130
types of weeds spanning 40 U.S. states are now herbicide-resistant,
and the superweeds are showing no signs of stopping.
Roundup Ready crops have also been linked to serious health
problems—particularly relating to
fertility and birth defects—as has
glyphosate itself, which is why the latest news regarding the
deregulation of Roundup Ready sugar beets is all the more
disappointing.
A number of organizations challenged the USDA approval of Roundup
Ready (RR) sugar beets in 2008, arguing that the beets would
contaminate related organic and non-GE crops such as table beets and
chard. Further, they said that the pesticide-resistant beets would
increase pesticide impacts on the environment and worsen the current
epidemic of pesticide-resistant superweeds.
A lawsuit was filed against the USDA in 2009 for failure to
complete an Environmental Impact Study. A federal judge agreed,
temporarily suspending all planting of RR sugar beets. The
suspension was later overridden by the USDA, ostensibly to prevent a
sugar shortage. After a number of additional legal twists and turns,
the USDA has now announced its decision to deregulate Monsanto’s
Roundup Ready genetically modified sugar beets7.
According to a July 19 press release by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)8:
“After completing both a thorough environmental impact
statement and plant pest risk assessment, holding three public
meetings and considering and analyzing thousands of comments
regarding its analyses, APHIS has determined that, from the
standpoint of plant pest risk, Roundup Ready sugarbeets are as
safe as traditionally bred sugarbeets.”
GM Companies Threaten Food Security and Sovereignty
A landmark speech delivered during the 2011 SEMEAR conference in
Sao Paulo, Brazil, on how genetically modified (GM) seed companies
threaten food security and food sovereignty has resulted in a call
to action by an unlikely source who is a key player in the soy
industry. Pierre Patriat, President of APROSMAT, the association of
seed producers of Mato Grosso, Brazil, does not oppose genetically
engineered (GE) crops, but he does recognize the unprecedented
threat to food security that GM seeds pose.
Saying that the GM industry is rapidly taking away Brazilian
farmers’ freedom of choice, he asked for “immediate mobilization and
action on the part of concerned industry members, government,
lawmakers, farmers, and civil society to avert the threat to food
sovereignty posed by the GM industry’s control of markets through
their patented seeds,” according to a recent report by GM Watch9.
In his speech, which I recommend reading in its entirety to learn
more, Patriat wisely says:
“... [T]oday, people think everything can be resolved
through the seed. If soybean rust occurs they say, "Just wait,
this can be resolved with genetic engineering!" A problem with
nematodes? - "We'll change the seed directly!" They want to
solve all problems that way... But as long as we have
alternative solutions we don't need genetic engineering to get
rid of all problems.
Today we have a big problem with nematodes for a simple
reason, not least because of the lack of a medium-term
agricultural policy. There is a solution known to every
agronomist: Crop rotation! That is how weeds and pests are
weakened. It is so simple! Another way is soil management and
measures to correct the soil - fundamental things nobody pays
attention to anymore because everything has to be resolved
through the seed.
No one does rotation any more - everyone does succession
[planting same crop in succession]. These are problems that are
not resolved by biotechnology. The man who is going to spend
150-200 Brazilian dollars per hectare would do much better to
invest it in the [quality of the] land. The profitability in the
medium term will be much better for sure. This does not mean
that constant seed improvement will not bring solutions. But we
ought to cooperate and define the base for new regulations, so
that everyone may collaborate harmoniously without abusing their
economic power.
Because today there are no brakes on the abuse of
economic power over seed, and even worse, this affects the
sovereignty of a country, because it is a matter of food
security and food security is national security.”
The issue of food sovereignty is certainly not restricted to
Brazil. It’s becoming a serious threat to every nation on this
planet as genetically engineered crops spread. These seeds are owned
by private companies, and it’s imperative to understand that once a
country allows GE crops to monopolize their agricultural sector, it
becomes completely beholden to and dependent upon a corporation for
the ability to grow food and feed its citizens!
Support California's Ballot Initiative to Label Genetically
Engineered Foods!
In the video above, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont speaks
about proposed amendments to the U.S. Senate Farm Bill and Nutrition
Programs with regard to genetically engineered foods.
Unfortunately, due to lack of labeling, many Americans are still
unfamiliar with what genetically engineered foods are. We now have a
great opportunity to change that, and I urge you to participate and
to continue supporting the California ballot initiative—which will
require labeling of genetically engineered foods and food
ingredients, and eliminate the routine industry practice of labeling
and marketing such foods as "natural"—in any way you can. The voting
takes place in November, so we still have a few more months to go,
and we need "all hands on deck," so to speak, until then.
Remember, since California is the 8th largest economy in the
world, a win for the California Initiative would be a huge step
forward, and would likely affect ingredients and labeling
nation-wide, as large companies are not likely going to label their
products as genetically engineered when sold in California, but not
when sold in other states. Doing so would be a PR disaster.
But it's an enormous ongoing battle, as the biotech industry will
outspend us by 100 to 1, if not more, for their propaganda. Needless
to say, the campaign needs funds, as there are no deep corporate
pockets funding this citizen’s initiative. So, please, if you have
the ability, I strongly encourage you to make a donation.
Some good news: the California "Yes on 37" Right to Know campaign
recently received the endorsement of the California Labor Federation
and U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Mark Leno.
“Senator Boxer said... “California consumers have the
right to know if their food has been genetically engineered.
This basic information should be available for consumers on the
label the way it is in nearly 50 other countries around the
world.” The Digital Journal reported on July 2710.
State Senator Mark Leno said, ”The people of California
want to know what's in their food. More than half the people in
the world live in countries that already require labeling of
genetically engineered foods. Californians deserve to have this
information too.”
Steve Smith, Communications Director for the California
Labor Federation, said, "Working people deserve the right to
know what is in the food we are feeding our families. Prop 37 is
a commonsense measure that ensures our families are able to make
educated choices about the food we purchase. We’re proud to join
with millions of Californians in supporting the right to know
what’s in our food.”
I urge you to get involved and help in any way you can. Be
assured that what happens in California will affect the remainder of
the U.S. states, so please support this important state initiative,
even if you do not live there!
If you live in California and want to get involved, please
contact LabelGMOs.org.
They will go through all volunteer requests to put you into a
position that is suitable for you, based on your stated
interests and location.
No matter where you live, please help spread the word in
your personal networks, on Facebook, and Twitter. For help with
the messaging, please see
LabelGMOs.org's
"Spread the Word!" page.
Whether you live in California or not, please donate money
to this historic effort, either through the
Organic
Consumers Fund.
Talk to organic producers and stores and ask them to
actively support the California Ballot. It may be the only
chance we have to label genetically engineered foods.
For timely updates, please join the Organic Consumers
Association on
Facebook, or follow them on
Twitter.