The Dirty Truth About GMOs

You see them every day in the grocery store, and it’s probable that you buy them without knowing it.  As many of you are familiar with this term, genetically modified organisms are living organisms that have been altered from their original form with the removal or addition a certain trait(s).  Genetic engineering has become widely popular in agriculture, and is now freakishly common in the production of our produce.  Scientists originally believed that this method could be used to resolve issues of famine and resource inadequacies among impoverished populations; however, the resulting issues are substantially greater and much more threatening to the earth and whole ecological systems.

By altering the genetic material of the food we eat, not only do we deplete the source’s nutrient content during mutation, but we also risk the extinction of the original subject altogether.  Cross-contamination of such products (referring to agricultural produce in this case) will eventually hinder, and has already in some cases, the plant’s ability to reproduce in its original form, and the series of consequences may be fatal to entire ecosystems.  Corn, for instance, has been so cross-contaminated over the course of decades that it is highly unlikely we will ever see it in its original form.  Quoted directly from saynotogmos.org, in a discussion about the environmental effects of GMOs:

“Last year, 71 percent of all GM crops grown were genetically engineered to be herbicide resistant. A field can now be sprayed with chemicals and everything will die except for the resistant crop. The sales of one of the herbicides being used are predicted to rise by $200 million as a result.

Graham Wynne, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, says: "The ability to clear fields of all weeds using powerful herbicides which can be sprayed onto GM herbicide-resistant crops will result in farmlands devoid of wildlife and will spell disaster for millions of already declining birds and plants."

There are also GM virus-resistant crops. Prof Joe Cummins says:

"Probably the greatest threat from genetically altered crops is the insertion of modified virus and insect virus genes into crops - genetic recombination will create virulent new viruses from such constructions. The widely used cauliflower mosaic virus (present in the GM soy and maize currently on supermarket shelves in the UK) is a potentially dangerous gene. It is very similar to the Hepatitis B virus and related to HIV. Modified viruses could cause famine by destroying crops or cause human and animal diseases of tremendous power."

This excerpt is just one example of the implicit power behind the production of GMOs; it is alarming, at least, and should not be taken lightly.  This website provides a plethora of information regarding genetically modified organisms, and I strongly recommend checking it out. 

So…how to avoid consuming and supporting the production GMOs?  The good news is: as of now, organic produce is GMO free by U.S. standards; however, very slight degrees of cross-contamination are possible and probably inevitable in some cases.  The bad news is: new legislation is attempting to pass certain GMO products as organic material, and if this does occur, we will certainly be paying the consequences.  If this is an issue that concerns you, as it should be, do some research!  There are many ways to petition this movement, and if nothing else, get to know the facts about what you’re buying at the grocery store.