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Genetically Engineered Food - Not on my Plate! Renu Namjoshi Renu Namjoshi, a long time consumer advocate and co-founder of Texas Consumers for Safe Food, teaches "Conscious Eating" classes in Austin.

I am a mother of two children, and like all parents I am very concerned about what my children eat. Did you know that in the United States we, as parents and consumers, are rapidly losing our power to choose what we put on our dinner tables? For the past five years we have been unwitting subjects in a vast experiment. Genetically engineered foods (also known as GMO, or genetically modified organisms) have been sold in American supermarkets, without our consent or knowledge, unlabeled and untested. Today, more than 75% of all the food in American supermarkets contains some GMO ingredients. Genetically engineered foods are created by a technology that allows scientists to edit the genetic code of the plants and animals we eat.

Through genetic engineering, scientists insert the gene of one organism into the genome of another, often completely unrelated organism, in an effort to replicate characteristics in the receiving organism. For example, a moth gene works as a built in pesticide in russet potatoes and bacteria genes work as pesticides in soy, corn and canola sold in American supermarkets today. Experiments are underway in which an "anti-freeze" gene from an Artic fish is inserted into strawberries to make them resistant to frost, and human genes have been transferred into cows to make milk with human proteins. Virtually all the plants and animals we eat are on their way to being designed into tailor made commodities through genetic engineering.

Informed public discussion of the issues has been deliberately stifled in the United States. Opposition to GMO's is fierce in other countries, especially in Europe, forcing major food manufacturers from Kellogg's to McDonalds to make products for export without GMO's. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has chosen a "don't look, don't see" policy. Under U.S. law there is no significant difference between genetically engineered and non-genetically engineered foods. Therefore, the market place is left to police itself in determining the health and environmental impact of these novel foods and no special labeling is required. The FDA has not only been grossly negligent; it has also taken away our freedom to decide what we choose to feed our children. All we are left with are assurances from biotechnology companies that GMO foods have been thoroughly tested and are safe. These are the same companies that introduced us to some of the most environmentally hazardous poisons on earth, such as DDT, Dioxin, PCB's and Agent Orange.

A key question we must ask is: where is the independent science to prove the safety of these foods? Last June, the prestigious journal Science, reported a detailed database search, which turned up a grand total of just eight refereed journal articles dealing with ANY aspect of the safety of GMO foods worldwide. The eight included only four actual feeding trials, of which three were from Monsanto, the company that is producing the vast majority of these foods. When it comes to human and environmental safety there should be clear evidence of the absence of risk; the mere absence of evidence is not enough. There are many scientists who believe that this relatively new and poorly understood technology could produce unpredictable toxins, allergens and new diseases and could potentially cause serious damage to our environment.

The public relations propaganda of the biotechnology firms is designed to convince the public that genetically engineered food is necessary to feed the rapidly growing world population. We must look at the reality, not the hype. Who is benefiting from the current GMO crops? It's not the consumer, not the environment and not even the farmer; just the biotech companies. When the so-called miracle products are created and are independently tested for long-term human health and environmental safety, then we can reassess the importance of GMO's to humanity.

What is most alarming is that today ten corporations control 32 percent of the world's commercial seed market and 100% of the market for genetically engineered seeds. Just five corporations control the entire global trade in grain. These corporations are actively involved in manipulating international trade agreements to their advantage, backed by the U.S government. Food security will not increase for the world by holding farmers and consumers' hostage to a handful of multinational enterprises.

We have the science and the know-how to do what Mother Nature in its wisdom never allowed -- breeding across species. Humanity is faced with some very critical questions. Why are we taking these risks and are the risks worth it? The decision to forge ahead on this experiment to re-engineer Mother Nature is not one that belongs in the hands of a few greedy corporations, because this time we will not be able to clean up their mess. Once an engineered gene is released into the environment, it cannot be recalled or cleaned up.

Please feel free to post your questions or comments at: Discussions

Join Bangef, the Texas Consumers for Safe Food listserv on the Internet to receive daily news on developments on the GMO issues from around the world. Send e-mail to renu@namjoshi.org

Sites of Interest:
- Union of Concerned Scientists
- Physicians and Scientists for the Responsible Application of Science and Technology
- Campaign to label GMO food
- Pure Food Campaign

Until we connect again....

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