Like most folks, I enjoy fresh, sweet corn in the summer. Most of the time I don’t even cook it. (You don’t have too!) I buy from small farmers at my local farmers market. I love to buy local, but I often wonder, how do I know it’s not genetically modified corn? Once upon a time, we only had to worry about genetically modified things like corn syrup, popcorn, tortilla chips and corn flakes, but now they’ve managed to defile our delicious fresh corn, too! Monsanto started promoting their genetically engineered sweet corn in 2011.
What’s Wrong With This Corn?
You could say that this corn contains a “built in” pesticide that cannot be washed off. Actually, when you buy Monsanto’s special genetically altered corn seed, it is engineered to withstand the spraying of their Roundup pesticide (aka Glyphosate) while all the weeds around it die. That’s the theory…but it doesn’t work! (See why below.)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency categorizes GMO corn as an “insecticide.”
GMO Side Effects
The biotech companies claim GMO crops are safe. But Glyphosate has many verified effects on people and animals. Consider this latest research. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, performed the first GMO study on pregnant and non-pregnant women. They discovered Glyphosate in the blood of the non-pregnant women and found its metabolites in the pregnant women and their fetuses.
In a German study, researchers at Leipzig University found that Glyphosate was toxic to healthy intestinal bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Bacillus, and Bifidobacterium. They found the death of these essential bacteria promoted Clostridium Botulinum, an anaerobic pathogen that causes botulism. They suggested it would throw off our overall gut immunity making us more susceptible to infections and intestinal diseases such as leaky gut, irritable bowel, colitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. This is similar to how the overuse antibiotics has compromised our immunity.
1913 – Corn is 100% Farmer Owned
2013 – Corn is 95% Corporation Owned
A Big Idea That Has Gone Bust
Monsanto figured their pesticide would kill the weeds but spare their genetically altered crops and farmers would be forced to buy their patented seed from them. However, since this pesticide is so widely used, over time nature has developed Glyphosate-resistant “super weeds” that has resulted in a dramatically increased volume of pesticide use. In a study by the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources at Washington State University, researchers found there was a 527 million pound increase in herbicide use in the United States between 1996 and 2011. Even though GMO companies claimed farmers would use less pesticide, the opposite has been the case.
The leading GMO foods in North America are:
Soy, Corn, Cottonseed (oil), Canola (oil), Beets, Papaya, Alfalfa
How Do You Know It’s GMO?
Too bad there is no way to tell if the sweet corn or any other corn or soy ingredient you eat is genetically altered. Of course, if you live in any of 64 countries, you could tell simply by reading the label. But not in North America and not in any of its big supermarket chains such as Walmart, Kroger, and Safeway
But you would know if it was certified organic, because organic tests for GMO. Don’t be fooled by a “natural packaging” appearance or the words “All Natural” on the label. Read the package carefully for anything made with corn or soy. It’s not enough to just have the words “Non-GMO” on the package. Don’t be fooled by manufacturer’s artwork. It must say “Certified Non-GMO” or “Certified Organic” and include their official emblems.
Why Not Label?
The big food conglomerates are spending massive amounts of cash to stop grass roots efforts to label GMO foods in North America. PepsiCo spent $70 million dollars to block labeling in California and Washington State. Now they are trying quash a new initiative in Oregon. Companies like PepsiCo and Monsanto know that if Oregon’s “ballot Measure 92” passes, it would establish a precedent for other states and initiate a GMO labeling movement. The Vermont legislature passed a label law that goes into effect July, 2016 unless it loses in the courts. The state has already been sued by 4 big industry groups all financed by corporate food giants.
People have a right to know what’s in their food.
Put it on the label and let everyone decide for themselves.
Support the Center for Food Safety Here
Sign the Petition to Put It on the Label
Click Here to View the List of Foods You Should Never Eat Unless They’re Organic
The best way to guarantee our food has no GMOs and no toxic agri-chemicals is to shop organic. Here’s how to do it efficiently and affordably. It’s all laid out in this inexpensive book. Buy a few and share it with friends who need to know. Give them the gift that will inspire a higher quality diet and and a longer life.
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