(Natural News)—Bioengineered foods and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are commonly confused with each other, but they have different meanings. “Bioengineered” describes food and products that are enhanced with scientific techniques to add particular traits. In contrast, “GMOs” involve changing the genetic makeup of animals, plants or microbes in ways that do not occur naturally using methods like genetic engineering.
Health risks posed by GM foods
Some notable issues related to the consumption of GM foods and products include the following:
Allergic reactions
Genetic modifications can transfer allergens from one food to another. For instance, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) revealed that soybeans engineered with a Brazil nut gene caused allergic reactions in people who are nut-sensitive. This led to the withdrawal of some products due to this serious risk. Without proper labeling, people with allergies can unknowingly consume these harmful ingredients.
New allergens
GM food and products might also introduce new allergens. The genetic changes can create novel proteins not previously in the human diet, potentially triggering allergic responses. Despite warnings from U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists about this risk, mandatory long-term testing for new allergens is not required, leaving many consumers, especially children, at risk of severe allergic reactions.
Antibiotic resistance
GM foods and products could potentially contribute to antibiotic resistance, making it harder to treat infections. According to the Food Standards Agency, most GM foods contain “antibiotic resistance markers,” which help identify successful genetic modifications. However, introducing these markers into the food supply might render essential antibiotics, like ampicillin, ineffective against bacterial infections. This concern led several European countries, including Britain, to ban certain GM crops for fear of the spread of antibiotic resistance. Despite warnings from scientists, the FDA has continued to allow these markers in GM foods even though public health experts view them as a significant threat.
Cancer risk
In 1993, the FDA approved the use of genetically engineered recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) to boost milk production in cows, assuring consumers of its safety. However, Canada and Europe later banned the treatment due to concerns about animal and human health. Research has shown that dairy from rBGH-treated cows has higher levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a hormone linked to breast, colon and prostate cancers. While the FDA overlooked studies showing that IGF-1 can survive digestion and enter the bloodstream – increasing cancer risk – the American Cancer Society states there is no current evidence linking GMOs to cancer and more long-term research is needed.
Immunosuppression
A study published in The Lancet by Dr. Arpad Pusztai and Stanley W.B. Ewen, funded by the Scottish government, investigated the effects of GM potatoes containing the biopesticide Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) on rats. The research found that rats consuming these potatoes experienced negative impacts on their immune function, metabolism and organ development. Although the biotechnology industry criticized Pusztai’s work, they haven’t provided any studies to disprove his findings. Additionally, 22 leading scientists have supported the validity of animal tests linking GM foods to immuno-suppression.
Loss of nutrition
Genetic engineering can reduce the nutritional value of food. In 1992, FDA scientists warned that altering foods genetically might lead to “undesirable changes in nutrient levels.” They highlighted the risk that these changes could go unnoticed without specific testing. Despite these concerns, the FDA chose not to require mandatory testing for nutritional content in GM foods.
Toxicity
GM foods are unstable by nature. The process of inserting new genes into food is unpredictable, with no way to ensure the added genetic material doesn’t create harmful effects. This randomness means that each gene insertion could potentially turn safe food into something toxic.
FDA scientists were aware of this risk before setting their policy of no mandatory testing. They warned that genetic engineering could increase known toxins, introduce new ones, or cause foods to absorb more environmental toxins, like heavy metals and pesticides. Despite these warnings, the FDA chose to ignore the potential dangers and didn’t require toxicological testing for GM foods, prioritizing industry interests over food safety.
GMOs and their environmental impact
GMOs pose several environmental risks, including:
- Gene transfer outcrossing. There is a risk that genes from GMO crops could spread to wild plants and other crops, potentially creating unintended hybrids that could disrupt ecosystems.
- Impact on wildlife. Introducing GMOs into the environment can harm insects and other species. For example, dominant GMO species may outcompete and displace native species, upsetting the natural balance.
- Loss of biodiversity. The use of GM seeds, like Monsanto’s Roundup-resistant crops, can lead to reduced plant diversity. These GM seeds are designed to survive glyphosate, a pesticide that kills weeds but spares the crops. While this innovation saves farmers time and money by reducing the need for multiple pesticides, it also forces them to buy new seeds every year due to Monsanto’s patent rather than reusing seeds from previous harvests. (Related: GMOs linked to increased pesticide use and loss of biodiversity.)
- Introduction of GM organisms. Releasing GM animals, organisms or plants into the wild can further threaten biodiversity by allowing new, more dominant species to take over. This could lead to the decline or extinction of native species.
Tips to reduce GMO exposure
- Examine labels. While the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS) mandates labels for many GMO products, certain items, like GM animal products and refined ingredients (such as oils and sugars) are not required to be labeled. Instead of relying solely on these labels, look for the Non-GMO Project Verified seal, which ensures that the product has been certified GMO-free.
- Go organic. Opt for organic produce as organic farming regulations strictly ban the use of GMOs in animal feeds, crops and seeds. Choosing organic is a reliable way to avoid GMOs in your diet.
- Cook your meals. Preparing meals at home with organic ingredients allows you to reduce your exposure to GMOs, which are common in processed and restaurant foods.
- Support local farmers. Shopping at local farmers’ markets can help you avoid GMOs, as many small-scale farmers use traditional, non-GMO seeds. However, it is a good idea to ask farmers directly about their farming practices to ensure you’re buying GMO-free produce.
- Limit consumption of processed foods. Processed and ultra-processed foods often contain GMO-derived ingredients, like emulsifiers, oils and sweeteners. To minimize GMO intake, reduce your consumption of these foods which may not disclose their GMO content.
- Stay informed. Refer to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) bioengineered food list to identify foods that are likely to contain GMOs. This can help you to make informed choices at the grocery store or supermarket.
Visit GMO.news for more stories like this.
Watch the following video about “GMOs: Exposing industry and government lies about the safety of the genetically engineered foods you’re eating – Conspiracy Conversations.”
This video is from the Flyover Conservatives channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
- GMOs are harmful, should be avoided at all costs – study.
- GMOs are killing us: Facts you probably don’t know.
- Sneaky QR code labeling HIDES GMOs in food.
Sources include:
- CenterForFoodSafety.org
- NEJM.org
- ACNFP.Food.gov.uk
- Cancer.org
- NCBI.NLM,NIH.gov 1
- GMWatch.org
- NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 2
- ProTerraFoundation.org
- Harbert.Auburn.edu
- Government.Nl
- NonGMOProject.org
- Brighteon.com
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Sorry,, Not buying this one.
Unless the intent is evil, then society should be fairly safe..
There likely will be some allergies,,, but if we let a kid being allergic stop us from producing that food, then peanut products would have disappeared decades ago.
Now, as long as we are on the subject,, isn’t it time to examine the corn syrup question in the USA? Or,, how about the Sucralose allergies destroying lives and killing people for the sake of saving a percentage of a penny on the production of a product.
Here’s the thing: GMO tech is something we copied from nature. Scientists watched how nature does it and copied that. Organisms naturally swap DNA all the time. If you don’t want to consume something that has “foreign” genes stuck into it, don’t swallow your own saliva. The bacteria in your mouth are continually swapping genetic material among themselves. So are the bacteria in your gut, the bacteria on your skin, and the bacteria in your respiratory system. Nature has already done every sort of genetic experiment on bacteria. Gene swaps, mutations, hybridizations, you name it. In higher organisms, hybridization occurs naturally all the time. Plants get pollen for other species of plants and sometimes, you get an actual viable hybrid. Similar animals cross breed frequently. Horses and donkeys make mules. Here’s one for the snake haters: Copperhead snakes can cross breed with Cottonmouth Water Moccasins. Yes, you say, but that’s gene swapping between closely related animals and plants. Human produced GMO’s have genes from unrelated organisms. That’s surely different from what happens naturally. Well, viruses are the go-betweens that swap genes between vastly unrelated organisms. In fact, the human genome contains many genes known to have been put there by viruses and a lot that we suspect were brought in by viruses. A lot of those genes appear to do nothing. Some may result in disease, some of our most important genes may have got in through viruses. Then you’ve got just plain old spontaneous mutations popping up. Many of our crops would not exist without natural mutations. Long story short: Natural, uncontrolled genetic modification is going on all around you and in your body. Mother nature is always doing billions of random experiments. Those experiments are overwhelmingly harmless, but one out of many trillions might produce the next plague. Directed GMO experiments, unless they are specifically aimed at producing something dangerous, are far safer. If you want to have trouble sleeping at night, worry about this: Genetic engineering of bacteria and viruses is amazingly easy. You can buy science project kits and do it in your own home. Worry about the people who hate us out there trying to make super diseases. Heck, worry about your own government doing it. “Gain-of-function” anyone?