Label GMOs

Millions Against Monsanto

Do you think that consumers have a right to know what's in the food they eat?

      The protesters out side of Lassen's grocery store think that they do. Yesterday I was approached by a very sweet lady who proceeded to ask me if I would sign her petition to require food companies to label genetically modified products. I, being the environmental nut that I am, agreed to sign her petition (which is actually pretty rare). Before I left, she gave me some "literature" on the subject which I kindly summarized below. (side note: posting this while drinking delicious organic green tea)

What is a GMO?

      A GMO (genetically modified organism) is a product that has artificially altered DNA in order to grow faster and at a cheaper price. It is commonly altered with genes from other plants and animals, and sometimes with bacteria and viruses.

The Facts:

• "Over 70% of processed food on the grocery store shelves contain GMO's"
• "50 countries including the European Union, Japan and China already label genetically engineered foods" (p.s. my dog is going absolutely ballistic right now...)
• The FDA does not require any safety studies on the effects of GMOs, even though their scientists have insisted upon long-term studies.
• Some GM foods contain insecticide in every single cell!

How does is effect me?

• "GM foods pose a serious health risk in the areas of toxicology, allergy and immune function, reproductive, metabolic, physiological and genetic health" - The American Academy of Environmental Medicine
• Private studies have shown that animals fed GM foods responded with allergic reactions, organ disruption, accelerated aging and other problems.
• Children are more vulnerable and extremely sensitive to the effects of GM foods (food allergies in children have increased 18% in recent years)

What can you do to save yourself and others?

• Buy USDA Organic foods and support your local farmers market
• Avoid products made with corn and soy, canola oil, cottonseed oil, Hawaiian papaya, and animals fed GMOs
• Call or mail public officials and urge them to vote yes for labeling GMOs (simple but effective)

Who uses GMOs?

• Kellogg's/Kashi, Coca-Cola, Kraft/Nabisco, McDonald's, Frito-Lay, General Mills, Quaker Oats, Safeway, Wal-Mart, Campbell Soup, and more.

Learn More:

• Videos: The Future of Food and World According to Monsanto (Netflix), Islands at Risk and Deconstructing Supper (YouTube)
• Sites: www.fooddemocracynow.org , www.organicconsumers.org , www.responsibletechnology.org , www.labelgmos.org