Day 31 - Must be good to be a GMO apple part 2

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away." unless it is an GMO apple.

If you read my post Day 9- Must be good to be a GMO apple you know about the experiment I am doing. Today it is the 22nd after I took the first picture (equals another 3 weeks). The apples have been already 4 weeks old when I posted the first picture. Too bad I don't have an organic apple to prove that apples generally don't last this long. So, to sum it up the apple as of today is 7 weeks old (almost 2 months!!) Is that a little concerning or what? 

I hear from people that GMO is not concerning, it is not harmful, there is no evidence that organic produce is better than GMO. I hear that the FDA would never approve anything that is harmful, I hear that all studies on GMO are safe...blah..blah..blah...Then WHY in the world wouldn't companies/government allow the labeling of GMO produce/food in the US? Germany for example is requiring labeling. I found a German article that states that in Germany there has been a mandatory labeling regulation in place since April 18, 2004!!! It includes all products that have been genetically modified even if the modifications are no longer traceable in the end product. This excludes the mandatory labeling for meat, eggs, and milk products of animals that were fed with genetic modified foods....I admire that! Why wouldn't it work for our country? Why would we automatically assume people would stop buying GMO foods since the majority is buying GMO foods already. I feel it is important to have a choice. GMO foods have been linked to allergies and cancer. I know that all is unsure, but why take the chance? I personally take a pretty firm stand when it comes to labeling. You might think I am a radical - but I rather take appropriate actions now and admit that I was wrong later instead of taking the chances - I am waiting for solid evidence/solid studies!!

 

German article from Wikipedia.de

"Seit dem 18. April 2004 besteht innerhalb der EU eine Kennzeichnungspflicht für gentechnisch veränderte Produkte. Sie schließt ein, dass alle Produkte, die eine genetische Veränderung besitzen, gekennzeichnet werden müssen, auch dann, wenn die Veränderung im Endprodukt nicht mehr nachweisbar ist. Ausgenommen von der Kennzeichnungspflicht sind Fleisch, Eier und Milchprodukte von Tieren, die mit gentechnisch veränderten Pflanzen gefüttert wurden sowie Produktzusätze, die mithilfe genetisch veränderter Bakterien hergestellt wurden. Ebenso Enzyme, Zusatzstoffe und Aromen, da sie im rechtlichen Sinne nicht als Lebensmittel gelten."

 

 

"Die Regulierung der Gentechnik ist außerhalb der deutschsprachigen Länder und der EU allgemein häufig weniger strikt. In den USA und Kanada ist Kennzeichnung z.B. freiwillig."

The above statement says that the regulation of genetic engineering outside German-speaking countries and the European Union is generally less strict. In the US and Canada the labeling is voluntary.

I have been reading up on GMO foods and it is truly hard to find some unbiased internet resources, because everything is backed up by high paying companies, just like Monsanto.  Just like "Marketplace, a program of American Public Media, has provided a soapbox to opponents of organics with a recent report titled "The Non-Organic Future." This poisoning of public radio programming -- and news that's assumed to be unbiased and fair -- aired on a program that has received substantial sponsorship from Monsanto, the corporation responsible for producing roughly 90% of genetically modified seeds around the globe."

But I do frequently check on Institute for Responsible Technology - Most Comprehensive Source of GMO Health Risk Information on the Web. 

"Our website has become one of the most respected resources for online videos, podcasts, blogs, and reports for accurate and up to date information on GMOs"

 

I came across this very interesting article on that website, that I would like to share with everyone. It's titled GM Toxic Chemicals found in pregnant women and fetuses.

"When U.S. regulators approved Monsanto’s genetically modified “Bt” corn, they knew it would add a deadly poison into our food supply. That’s what it was designed to do. The corn’s DNA is equipped with a gene from soil bacteria called Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) that produces the Bt-toxin. It’s a pesticide; it breaks open the stomach of certain insects and kills them.
But Monsanto and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) swore up and down that it was only insects that would be hurt. The Bt-toxin, they claimed, would be completely destroyed in the human digestive system and not have any impact on all of us trusting corn-eating consumers.Oops. A study just proved them wrong. Doctors at Sherbrooke University Hospital in Quebec found the corn’s Bt-toxin in the blood of pregnant women and their babies, as well as in non-pregnant women. (i)(Specifically, the toxin was identified in 93% of 30 pregnant women, 80% of umbilical blood in their babies, and 67% of 39 non-pregnant women.) The study has been accepted for publication in the peer reviewed journal Reproductive Toxicology."

Don't want to bore you with details, but if you would like to read more click on the title and it will get you to the website and the article. I find it interesting and I don't feel this is some sort of conspiracy. It's just someone asking the questions that we never dare to ask or receive vague answers.

WISDOM OF THE DAY

The Idaho Farm to School Program works towards having Idaho-grown food served to students in Idaho Child Nutrition Programs. Child Nutrition Programs are buying fresh food directly from local farmers as a way of improving the quality and taste of their meals. These Farm to School Programs have a dual mission: they motivate students to improve their eating habits and health through improving the quality of the food served in schools, and they support local farmers.

Farm to School program come in many shapes and sizes unique to the communities that build them. After exploring the resources and existing programs, contact your state Farm to School lead for additional information and assistance specific to Idaho.

Leah Clark
208-332-8684
lclark@agri.idaho.gov