GMOs? OMG!

by Kimberly Foster Branch

GMOs? OMG!

I first heard of GMOs while visiting a friend at her lake house in Upstate New York. Her friend and local farmer was there too, and selling food. I was thrilled to buy organic vegetables from a real farmer. I was also excited to be able to pick this farmer’s brain about why my zucchini were not bearing fruit. I read that my plant could be sterile and that there were no bees.

Farmer Linda Borghi and I became instant friends. We had dinner and we talked. Actually she talked and I listened. Luckily, I had the presence of mind to know I was eating with a very wise woman – so I zipped it.

I had to know more. Here are the broad strokes.

A genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically engineered organism (GEO) is an organism whose geneticmaterial has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. This DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it modified or novel genes. Transgenic organisms, a subset of GMOs, are organisms that have inserted DNA, which originated from a different species. GM, GMOs and GE are one in the same.

I got that off Wikipedia.

Here is the “easier” way to understand it; A bacteria gene is injected into the seed crops making them resistant to herbicides and pesticides. So no matter how much poison is sprayed, the corn will still be standing. This is because it is not really corn anymore.

This is a little different from the GM hormones injected into cows so they lactate at a sickening speed, perpetuating pus from infected udders, which then requires antibiotics!  The hormones, antibiotics and pus end up in your milk! Sometimes you will see dairy products that say, no rBGH or no Bovine Growth Hormone. You pay more for the good stuff. It’s worth it.

Another  GMO trait is a built-in pesticide, found in GMO corn and cotton. A gene from the soil bacterium called Bt (Bacillius thuringiensis) is inserted into the plants DNA, where it secretes the insect-killing Bt toxin in every cell. About 19% of GMO crops produce their own pesticide. Another 13% produces a pesticide and are herbicide tolerant. When you eat this, your intestines become a pesticide factory that continues churning poison long after dinner. Got gas? Stomach aches? IBS?

Here is the list of GM foods that are sold at a store near you: soy, corn, canola, cotton, and sugar beets. And in case you didn’t know, “everything” is made out of one or all of these, particularly in processed foods. Also some Hawaiian papaya and zucchini are on the hit list.

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine states, “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GMO food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system.

Certainly by now, all parents and teachers know it is not healthy to give children pop-tarts, pudding and soda. That level of unconsciousness is another subject. But to give your child corn on the cob and soy milk and think it is part of a healthy meal?! OMG, pure GMOs instead?

The distinction is that we need to have a choice. Parents might drive though McDonald’s and maybe feel a little bad. That is a choice. It is the lack of information that I am talking about.

To think you are doing something good when in fact you are part of a plan that hurts your child and yourself. There are actually mothers feeding their babies soy formula. It seems like a good idea. Vegetarians are eating tofu and thinking they are making a healthy choice. A buffalo burger in most cases is much healthier!

Personally, I used to buy organic because I didn’t want the overload of pesticides. I thought it was as simple as that. Not anymore. But don’t feel bad if you nibbled on a corn chip that wasn’t blue organic or ate Chinese food. (They all cook with vegetable oil!) I know because I personally called each one on the Upper West Side of Manhattan – you know, all the fine dining out here, and I asked them!

There are many directions to take regarding GMOs. The main thing is to avoid them. Please follow the list above and remember that packaged food in general is made with GMO ingredients. Your healthiest choice is to eat fresh organic food.