The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Bioterrorism Act of 2002 is meant to protect the national food system from “intentional contamination” (quotations mine), yet Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) – which are registered as patented pesticides – are determined safe for consumption in the United States by the FDA.
GMO’s are registered as pesticides because at the molecular level they have been engineered (in a lab) is to make GMO products resistant to pesticides such as Round-up. This is done by inserting the gene structure of a plant with a “Round-up Ready” gene that will make the plant resistant to pesticides. Now – the basic genetic make-up of that Genetically Modified Organism contains a pesticide.
Lobbyist from American food and chemical companies argue that plants and animals naturally produce carcinogens so this is not any different or any less safe. A few keys here: American companies and naturally produce.
America! F*** yeah!
America is the only country where consumers are fed GMO products in staggering amounts. Corn, Soy, Canola, and Cotton are the big four genetically engineered foods (Alfalfa will so be GE as well). Pick up any product in the grocery store. It will most certainly contain a corn, soy, or canola ingredients or derivative. But it doesn’t say it’s genetically modified? That’s because unlike Europe, Genetically Modified ingredients do not need to be labeled in the US.
The US actually has a back-stock of GM Corn because we give tax-payer subsidies to farmers to grow corn over other crops and no one else wants it. We can’t export the stuff because other countries don’t see US corn as fit for human consumption. The result is we have huge corn mountains scattered across the corn growing regions and have started to invent new industries from GM corn. Ethanol gasolines? GM corn. Compostable utensils, plates, cups, etc.? GM Corn.
Don’t forget much of this cheap registered pesticide corn is also feed to American livestock, along with a whole bunch of antibiotics (thankfully, RbGH – bovine growth hormone – seems on the decline thanks to places like Walmart for eliminating RbGH dairy products from their aisles).
Nothing about these products is natural.
Rising Health Care
Much attention has been given to the rising health care costs in the US (in fact, the United States has the highest health care cost in the world). Most people point to easy targets such as smoking or an aging baby boomer generation, but what about the rising costs associated with obesity and related problems? What about the rise in cancer rates over the last 30 years? What about a rise in food allergies in children?
Thankfully, soda fountains and candy has been pulled from many schools – public and private. Some states even charge a higher sales tax on sodas and candy. Personal choice is important, but the market needs to be reworked so that the items that ultimately cost society more will cost more at the checkout counter too.
The Conscious Consumer – Demand More
Better American health care starts with healthier Americans. Healthier Americans begin with better food and making better choices.
Unfortunately, we are led to believe that the FDA would be more vigilant in protecting the national food system from “intentional contamination”, but unless we – as consumers – begin to demand more from the the brands we buy and the places we buy from there is not likely to be much change.
Vote to change the system with your wallet every day, not just in a booth every four years.
As political unrest continues throughout Northern Africa and food price indexes reach record highs, expect to see more unrest in other parts of the world as prices on commodidties continue to rise.
