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January 07, 2009

More Proof that Frankenfoods Can Harm You

The Organic Consumers Association has just put together a sobering article about three 2008 studies that “confirm genetically modified crops damage human health and the environment.”

Although genetically modified (GM) corn is banned in most of the world, it has been approved as "safe" for human consumption in the U.S. for 12 years and is now likely unknowingly consumed, in one form or another, by more than 90% of Americans on a regular basis. But a recent series of peer-reviewed studies were published in 2008 confirming previous studies indicating potentially severe health and environmental problems associated with the biotech crops.

The studies include:

One by the Austrian government finding that consumption of GM corn, for as little as 20 weeks, can damage the reproductive system, lower fertility rates and increase illness and death rates in offspring. Not surprisingly, Monsanto tried to block the research.

Another study was done in Mexico, where it was found that some popular varieties of GM corn impaired the learning response of bees. Scientists are concerned this may be an indicator of the cause of Colony Collapse Disorder, which threatens even human survival.

A third study found a direct connection between consumption of GM corn and a damaged immune system.

You don’t have to eat this stuff. The best way to avoid most GM foods is to use products voluntarily label themselves as GMO or GE-free or buy organic. You can also avoid most of it by staying away from non-organic products that contain corn, fructose, dextrose, glucose, modified food starch, soy-anything, vegetable oil, vegetable protein, canola oil, cottonseed oil, or sugar from sugar beets.

Posted by Becky at January 7, 2009 02:36 PM