Interesting Stuff

This isn't related to food, but it is still very interesting. Make sure you watch the whole thing...

Evidence

GM Foods and Corporate Lies: Hurting Consumers in the Name of Money

We live in a world where we are the mercy of seemingly endless catastrophe. Despite all the technological advances in recent years, we are still at the mercy of a massive oil spill with no end in sight, more hurricanes and earthquakes than ever before, and a gargantuan level of economic uncertainty that may linger for years to come. Yet one of the most mysterious and pervasive dangers is in our own kitchens and supermarkets. Unbeknownst to many Americans, much of what we eat comes from an environment more akin to “Dr. Frankenstein” lab experimentation than farms and gardens. Corporations lie to us every day about the safety of genetically modified (abbreviated as GM) foods. The average consumer is at the mercy of a food industry that is addicted to mass production in order to maximize profits. Not only are we kept in the dark about what our foods actually consist of, we are told that these products are equivalent to natural foods. GM foods have been proven to cause an array of life-threatening health problems, yet they are sold in stores anyway due to corporate profitability. Safety is the last thing these corporations are concerned about, and it is clear we are already paying the price.

Perhaps one of the most blatant and high profile examples of the dangers of genetically modified foods occurred more than two decades ago. It has come to be known as the L-Tryptophan- EMS Disaster of 1989. L-Tryptophan was a health food supplement that suddenly began to induce severe symptoms in several thousand consumers in the US and Asia. The symptoms ranged from tingling sensations in the limbs and exhaustion to paralysis and death. Several dozen people died. It was later determined that the symptoms were caused by a genetically engineered bacterium strain that was added to the manufacturing of this product (Boyens). The company, called Shava Denko, added the strain to make the manufacturing process more efficient. Efficiency, of course, relates directly to money-making.

Aside from this documented example, many studies have been conducted that show there are dangers associated with GM foods. One study found that GM corn produced a number of health problems in rats. These problems included decreased fertility, allergy, and alterations to the immune system (Damato). Another study on three strands of GM corn showed that it caused liver and kidney damage in mice. This particular study focused on the Bt protein in the corn used by corporations like Monsanto to ward off crop pests (Derbyshire). This is a striking discovery due to the fact that most processed foods are composed of corn products. Therefore, the average consumer ends up purchasing foods that are made of corn products whether they realize it or not. Also, many corporations like Monsanto feed beef cattle with corn instead of grain. So even if consumers do not eat what they consider to be the typical processed foods, they are still consuming livestock that has been fed a diet rich with chemicals and GM corn compounds (Food, Inc.).

Even though numerous health problems are implicated in the studies, one of the most severe and alarming is the link between GM foods and cancer. Most of all, the GM products that may cause cancer are the most widely used in the food industry. An example of this is the genetically modified rBGH growth hormone. This has been used on millions of livestock in the last two decades to induce speedy growth (to maximize profits). Scientists have found that this growth hormone increases levels of cancer causing agent in the human body known as 1GF-1 (Thom). This has been linked to colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer in humans. A Canadian study also found that rBGH causes organ damage in rats (Kimbrell). This research has been proven so extensively that the European Union has banned this growth hormone over fifteen years ago (Cummins).

Despite the severity of these instances, the general public is kept in the dark about the proven (and the potential) dangers of genetically modified foods. These foods are not labeled in stores, so the average consumer purchases them whenever they go to the supermarket. Many of us of heard of genetically modified foods via the media, but many do not consider it something so close to our everyday lives due to the lack of labeling. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has lost its power in recent decades due to a number of regulations and laws that product the corporations that produce food (Kissinger). This is basically a huge instance of corporate greed and misuse of power. The FDA is supposed to test the GM foods for consumer safety, but what they have to say has minimal consideration in whether a food product can be sold in stores. The corporations that make the products have more power than the FDA due to the amount of money and political connections they have. As a result, the foods are often not tested at all, and the companies often claim that there is no proof of dangers to consumers. They also claim that GM foods are the same thing as natural foods, a statement which clearly is not supported by the research.

Aside from the bogus claims that GM foods are the equivalent of natural foods, these corporations also state that GM farming is beneficial to the environment and the farming industry as a whole. Many GM food corporations state that GM products are more efficient and cleaner in terms of farming resources. Although the public is led to believe that the pesticides used on GM crops are less dangerous, they are just as bad as normal pesticides - it is just the crop itself that is genetically engineered enough to supposedly resist the chemicals (Smith). The corporations basically say that the GM products also better because they have been modified to be larger in size, resist pesticides and tolerate other crop chemicals without becoming damaged by the exposure (Gay). The bottom line is that they are easier to produce in large quantities. They also claim that GM farming is harmless and does not affect the environment. However, research has shown that cross-contamination (non-crop organisms being exposed to the GM products) is a huge problem resulting from GM crops (Margulis). Genetically modified soil dries out the non-GM soil around it and the runoff from the crops damages a lot of natural soil. Also, GM farming uses so many chemicals that the soil becomes depleted of nutrients and does not replenish itself. At the end of the day, GM farming is more efficient for productivity but is not more efficient environmentally or in terms of health.

GM food corporations are also hugely critical of scientific research on their products and deny the causal link between GM products and health problems. Many of these corporations claim that they these studies are flawed or do not prove a causal relationship between the GM food and health risks. If the study involved animals, which they often do, the corporations claim that just because GM foods may cause health problems in the animals does not indicate that the products could harm humans. The corporations tend to claim that they have conducted their own research on the GM products and have found no harm, or they claim that other factors caused the result (Thom). Often there is no actual research on health risks. Many companies that sell GM products have maintained that there is no difference between GM food and non-GM food. They state there is a gross lack of proof behind negative claims regarding GM food even though they are responsible for the lack of research and publicity regarding this issue.

For the average consumer, the best way to be certain that one is not ingesting GM foods is to start an organic diet. Organic foods are natural and the products used to produce them are also natural or organic as well. Therefore, one can be certain that the food is coming from an organic farm as opposed to the mysterious, untraceable realms most of the other food comes from. If organic sounds a bit extreme, a great start would be to limit the consumption of processed foods and meat, which are more likely to be GM than natural foods. This occurs because most processed foods come from corn compounds, which have been genetically modified. Non-organic meat is also injected with and fed a variety of GM products. Every citizen should also demand that the public learn more about the sources of the products we eat every day and healthy food options. Farmer’s markets are another excellent resource for natural foods. If the general public can turn the heads of lobbyists and political officials, we can achieve a much safer, efficient and ecological food industry. The current presidential administration is making efforts to enforce a better food system, but if each American takes responsibility as a consumer then the results can be boosted exponentially. If each person made a small effort to stop buying into the vicious cycle imposed by the food industry, then these massive corporations would no doubt see a tangible decline in their marketability. After all, once enough people take a stand on something they can achieve the seemingly impossible. If the tobacco industry could be tamed then the food industry can too.

Although one can argue that the dangers of GM foods are largely unknown, it is clear we have proof that the unknown is a scary and potentially disastrous threat to not only the environment but also to mankind. It truly brings new meaning to the phrase “You are what you eat”, although now what you eat can alter your DNA and cause irreversible health problems. The size and political clout of the organizations behind GM foods is certainly a daunting and intimidating hurdle, but that doesn’t mean these companies should not be held accountable for the general well-being of consumers. The most alarming nature of this issue is the unknown- there is no telling how askew the ecosystem can become due to exposure to GM products. The tip of the iceberg may not even be clear to us. This vicious cycle must be stopped before the unthinkable consequences become too large to be reversed. The most alarming thing is that no one can say whether it is already too late. The answer lies in consumers demanding for their right to know what they are eating, and their ability to urge leaders to fight for their interests.

Works Cited

Boyens, Ingeborg. "Did Genetic Engineering Cause the Tryptophan-EMS Disaster of 1989?.”

The Aquarian (2000). Web. 20 Apr 2010.

.



Cummins, Ronnie. "Hazards of Genetically Engineered Foods and Crops: Why We Need a

Global Moratorium." Food, Inc.. Edited by Karl Weber. (2009): 79-89. Print.



Derbyshire, David. "Fears grow as study shows genetically modified crops 'can cause liver and

kidney damage'." Dailymail 21 January 2010. Web. 20 Apr 2010.


genetically-modified-crops-cause-liver-kidney-damage.html#ixzz0lchEgQvT>.



Food, Inc. Dir. Robert Kenner. Official Food, Inc. Movie Site - Hungry For Change?. Web. 31

May 2010. .



Gay , Kathlyn. Superfood or Superthreat: The Issue of Genetically Engineered Food. Berkeley Heights,

NJ. Enslow, 2008. Print.



Kimbrell, Andrew, and Joseph Mendelson III. "Seeking the Withdrawal of Approval for

Posilac®." Synthesis/Regeneration 18.Winter 1999 (1999). Web. 20 Apr 2010.

.



Kissinger, Meg. "FDA says it’s unable to regulate BPA." Jounral Sentinel Online (2010).Web.20

Apr 2010.
but-powerless-to-regulate/>.



Margulis, C. "The Hazards of Genetically Engineered Foods." Environmental Health Perspectives.

114.no.3 (2006): 146-47. Print.



Smith, Jeffrey M. Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered

Foods . Fairfield, IA: Yes!Books, 2008. Print.



Thom, Michelle. "BGH, Monsanto and Corporate Agriculture Information About Intellectual

Property Rights ." Mindfully.org. Mindfully.org, August 1994. Web. 20 Apr 2010.

.

What I learned about research

I learned that research involves a lot of trial and error as opposed to entering obvious keywords on google and skimming the results. It involves sifting through a variety of topics and key words which may or may not be related to my interest. It can be surprising which words can be related. It can be frustrating how redundant it can be to find a relevant article on a specific viewpoint, etc.
The most valuable tool I acquired in this process is learning how great the scholarly databases are. I found a number of quality articles and other publications on my topic- too many to even use in my paper. Until this point I only used google to find relevant information, which made it very challenging determining whcih sources were valuable and which were not. The databases essentially cut my work in half.
I still need to work on fleshing out both sides of the issue. I think it would help if I practice writing from viewpoints that I do not agree with because it is so much easier for me to embellish the side I believe in.

Supersize Me

I have seen this movie several times before watching it in class last week and yet I still learned more about the dangers of fast food. Since taking this class, I no longer eat meat products from fast food restaurants but I do eat the french fries (I need to work on that). "Supersize Me" still surprised me with the emotional and physical damage caused by eating fast food for just one month. To think that fast food can damage someone's liver to the point that it may resemble that of an alcoholic is remarkable. I do not think anyone really understood exactly how bad fast food was until Morgan Spurlock did this dangerous experiment. Of course, I knew it was unhealthy and that if I eat it every day I will gain weight. However, until watching this documentary I did not realize the extent to which the chemicals and fat and cholesterol can affect a person's emotional state and long-term health. The truly alarming thing is that many people do eat McDonald's and other fast foods on a daily or semi-daily basis. Weight gain may be the most visible change that people notice, but this documentary shows us that weight is actually one of the less dangerous problems caused by a fast food diet. The lack of energy, the anxiety, depression, craving, blood pressure and liver problems are shocking and show that many people have these problems at least in part due to fast food. As I get a little older, I begin to see how much a bad diet affects me in my daily life. Even though I am only 25, I can see that many health problems are in my near future if I continue to eat fast food and other processed foods. Six years ago I never would have believed that young people could be affected by fast food in such an enormous way. Due to the subject matter of this class, and this documentary, my opinion on that issue has changed substantially. It is the weight-related health issues that are not visible to the naked eye that are the worst aspect of the fast food generation. "Supersize Me" is an incredibly important documentary because it begins with weight issues in the forefront and proceeds to show us that this isn't about vanity anymore, it's about life and death.

Genetically Modified Food and Birth Defects

My topic for the paper is GMO's as the possible cause of birth defects. My thesis so far is that there is evidence that Gentically modified food can cause birth defects and that consumers should be wary of GMOs.

I found several links to include in my presearch which I have included below.

This link is from the site of an organization called the Institute for Responsible Technology. They are strongly opposed to GMO's and feature a lot of the similar stances as the "Food, Inc." documentary we watched include in class:

http://www.responsibletechnology.org/GMFree/Home/index.cfm

Here is another link about the dangers of GMOs from the Center for Food Safety. This time the focus is on genetically modified corn, which is used in almost all processed products we use:





I found this site called "Raw Wisdom", which can give me many studies to research. It lists many occurances of GMOs affecting consumer health. It also lists numerous ways that genetically modified foods affect our health (50, in fact).



This is from the Humane Society International, and details the ways animals are used to test GMOs. Often the results show that there their health is affected by genetically modified foods. However, it can be hard to tell if those results can be generalised to humans.







Many of the websites I have encountered so far do not actually site any specific studies that would shed some light on the relationship between GMOs and birth defects. Perhaps I should change my topic to the effects of GMOs on overall health? Either that or I may have to zero in on one particular genetically modified protein and find how it may affect overall health or cause birth defects. Hrmmmmmm



For some reason the LGCC wifi isn't letting me play videos, perhaps I will post one later.

Rough Draft

Dear Friends,

The animals are not the only victims of the food industry
I am writing to inform you that the animals are not the only victims of the food industry. Many people who are mployed by the food industry suffer a horrible lack of rights and gross mistreatment. It is a huge oversight of justice that these people are treated in such an inhumane manner. Aside from all the other atrocities provided by the food processing industry, such as the horrific abuse of animals and the vast lack of regulations concerning our overall safety as consumers, the way food service employees suffer adds more insult and more injury to the overall abuse of power and greed.

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of an average processing plant worker’s daily routine is the massive risk of injury and infection. Many of us have perhaps seen images of animal carcasses being hauled by hooks through the assembly lines. However, the reality of working inside the food processing plants is much more graphic and repulsive. Every day these unfortunate workers are exposed to gargantuan levels of bodily fluids from the animal carcasses. They are splattered with blood, intestinal juices and large amounts of urine and excrement. The amount of protection provided to these workers is minimal, and many of them have infections and other health problems resulting from such high exposure to this level of filth.

Not only are the conditions incredibly unsanitary, but the employees are also treated as second-class citizens on more practical levels as well. They are overworked and underpaid, and many of these workers are living in poverty and lack the educational or financial means to find work elsewhere. The image of carcasses moving down an assembly line also represents the mentality of employment at these food processing plants. These corporations recruit impoverished people on purpose and view their workers as replaceable at any time. These workers have very little rights because they are highly dependent on these jobs due to their lack of resources. If they complain or speak up about their treatment, they are at risk of losing their jobs.
An additional psychological level to this mistreatment is that the corporations are basically totally in control of the situation. The workers are not protected at all. An example of how untouchable the corporations are is their ability to recruit workers in Mexico to come work in the USA as illegal immigrants. These same companies are not penalized for employing the illegals even though Immigration can arrest them. This is a prime example of how poor and uneducated people are taken advantage of by these food processing companies.

Despite the vast injustices committed to these hapless workers, many American are totally unaware of the dark aspects of the food processing industry. I urge you to consider not only the sad plight of animals in this system, but also the bleak reality many employees face every day. It is easy to blame all people associated with the industry for the cruelty and lack of consumer safety, but I hope that you will see that many people in this system are also victims of the corporate greed and mistreatment. Please take responsibility as a consumer and an American and educate others about the lack of rights many people experience at the hands of the food processing industry.


Sincerely,

Ben

I kind of forgot to include how the food industry directly affects my life in the last post, so here we go-

The corrupt food industry affects my life because I am young, poor, and living in New York, trying to survive on my own during these bad economic times. These industries are another example of large c0rporations getting everything they want and obscuring politics and how it relates to the average American. I, like the average American, is struggling right now, while these companies become richer and richer. The average American, like myself, is seemingly powerless (at least at an individual level) over that cast level of bureaucracy. The average American is very likely to eat meat coming from one of these processing plants and have no idea where it actually comes from, leading to a chance of food poisoning or at least a decline in overall health. I, like many Americans, am engaging in a risk every time I eat fast food just because it is filling and incredibly cheap compared to fruit and vegetables. It affects my everyday life because it shows that the government doesn't care about my personal interest, only about the interest of huge corporations.