Are GMO dangers a real threat? Or are GMOs in food something that we can trust? In this article, Danielle explains the impact that GMO food can have on health along with ways to make sure your family eats the safest foods possible.
What are GMOs?
GMOs stand for “genetically modified organisms.” These organisms contain DNA that has been modified by human hands, not to be confused with the popular method of “crossbreeding.”
Crossbreeding naturally mates two types of the same plant or organism to produce a more desirable organism – such as breeding a cabbage to have more red than green, or breeding a tomato to be a bit smaller or larger.
This is natural, normal, and has been going on since the beginning of time.
GMOs have not.
In a laboratory, scientists can now modify an entire genome by adding a gene from another organism or a gene that has been artificially made. Also known as “transgenic” breeding, a popular example is RoundUp Ready corn or soybeans.
These are crops that have been genetically modified to withstand RoundUp pesticide.
Since GMO seeds and pesticides go hand in hand, we have to consider the safety of both.
Are genetically modified foods safe?
This has been the big question for years.
In March 2015, the World Health Organization deemed glyphosate, one of the most popular pesticides used for GMO plants, as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” In the United States, we’ve seen thousands of lawsuits citing bodily harm from pesticides.
A California groundskeeper won a lawsuit which found that RoundUp likely was a key player in his cancer.
Those who rely on the science that non-GMO and GMO products both have the same macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) say that GMO dangers don’t exist.
But GMO status doesn’t tell us if modified foods have the same micronutrients, which are so important to our health. Or even if they have other factors that affect health.
In addition to this, studies used to back GMO safety span short periods of time. To fully understand GMO dangers, we need research that looks at the big picture and investigates the effects of long-term exposure.
The FDA and US government perform no safety analysis of GMO foods. Instead, the companies who manufacture GMO seeds and pesticides voluntarily submit studies – paid for and done by them.
It is no wonder that they deem GMOs in food as “safe” despite clear GMO dangers.
What are the dangers of GMO foods?
Independent scientists have seen tumors grow in mice fed GMO corn diets, and not in the non-GMO fed mice. These mice also experienced liver and kidney damage.
Other studies and countries reveal that GMO pesticides cause birth defects and malformations.
Furthermore, genetically modified foods have been sprayed with chemicals in the field, such as glyphosate.
Some crops – like corn, cotton, and soybean – carry a modification known as the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin gene, making them resistant to pests. But when we consume the Bt toxin, we now know that it combines into our DNA.
The full effects of this have not been studied. This toxin may even cause antibiotic resistance in consumers.
In 2007, scientists began speculating that Bt crops caused colony collapse disorder – or a nationwide phenomenon of disappearing bees.
This tells us that independent scientists found the following GMO dangers:
- Antibiotic resistance
- Birth defects
- Liver and kidney damage
- Gut damage
At this point, it doesn’t look good for the safe use of GMOs. We need more independent studies to determine the long-term effects of GMOs.
Beware of GMO dangers lurking in these foods
You’ll find GMOs in nearly all processed corn, soy, rapeseed (canola), and sugar beet products.
Even if a product is not genetically modified, it may contain harmful pesticides or herbicides.
To avoid GMOs, shop locally for produce and meat. Visit your neighborhood farmer’s market. At natural grocery stores, look for “organic” or “NON-GMO” foods.
The organic label certifies that the product was organically grown, using only natural herbicides or pesticides. A non-GMO label specifies that a product is not genetically modified.
A focus on traditional, whole foods will naturally limit your GMO intake.
Regarding pesticides, shop organic when buying the “Dirty Dozen.” These are fruits and vegetables that have the most pesticides remaining when you purchase them.
Also, be on the lookout for GMO salmon in the United States. Already sold in Canada, in 2019 the US will see extra large Atlantic salmon that contains a growth hormone gene from the Chinook salmon.
Where are GMOs banned?
Since the dawn of time, farmers have reused seeds from last year’s crop to plant this year. Monsanto and other GMO seed producers not only ban the reuse of their seeds but litigate farmers who do so.
This is financially devastating to farmers.
Because of this and the health impact of GMOs, many countries have outright banned them. Twenty-six countries in the world have banned the cultivation of GMO foods in their country. This includes Germany, France, Greece, and Austria.
Russia has banned both the cultivation and sale of GMOs in their country.
Sixty-four countries of the world require GMOs to be labeled, such as Australia, the entire European Union, and Japan.
Clearly, this isn’t a questionable issue.
Why won’t the US ban GMOs in food? It has to do a lot with the government farm subsidies that mostly benefit GMO farmers and the monopoly that GMO seed producers – like Monsanto, DuPont, and Bayer – have on the US.
So what can we do? We can avoid GMO foods as best we can.
Je, hatari za GMO ni tisho halisi? Je, GMO katika chakula ni kitu ambacho tunaweza kuamini? Katika makala hii, Danielle anaelezea athari ambazo chakula cha GMO kinaweza kuwa na afya pamoja na njia za kuhakikisha familia yako inakula vyakula salama zaidi iwezekanavyo. Viumbe vilivyobadilishwa kimetengenezwa kwa njia ya maumbile ni nini? "GMO ni jina la kiingereza linalomaanisha ""genetically modified organisms"" (viumbe vilivyobadilishwa chembe za urithi) na ni aina ya mimea ambayo huchanganya aina mbili za mimea ili kutokeza aina nyingine ya mimea ambayo inahitajiwa zaidi, kama vile kabichi kuwa na rangi nyekundu kuliko kijani au nyanya kuwa ndogo au kubwa." Hii ni ya kawaida, ya kawaida, na imekuwa ikiendelea tangu mwanzo wa wakati. GMO hazijawahi kutokea. Katika maabara, wanasayansi sasa wanaweza kurekebisha genome nzima kwa kuongeza jeni kutoka kwa kiumbe kingine au jeni ambalo limetengenezwa kimakusudi. Pia inajulikana kama <unk>transgenic<unk> uzalishaji, mfano maarufu ni RoundUp tayari mahindi au maharagwe ya soya. Mimea hiyo imebadilishwa chembe za urithi ili iweze kuvumilia dawa ya kuua wadudu ya Roundup. Kwa kuwa mbegu za GMO na dawa za kuua wadudu zinaambatana, ni lazima tufikirie usalama wa zote mbili. Je, vyakula vilivyobadilishwa chembe za urithi ni salama? Hilo limekuwa swali kubwa kwa miaka mingi. Mnamo Machi 2015, Shirika la Afya Ulimwenguni lilihesabu glyphosate, moja ya dawa maarufu za kuua wadudu zinazotumiwa kwa mimea ya GMO, kama "labda kansa kwa wanadamu" nchini Marekani, na tumeona maelfu ya kesi za kisheria zinazohusisha madhara ya mwili kutokana na dawa za kuua wadudu. Msimamizi wa uwanja wa California alishinda kesi ambayo iligundua kwamba RoundUp labda ilikuwa mchezaji muhimu katika kansa yake. Wale ambao hutegemea sayansi kwamba bidhaa zisizo za GMO na GMO zote mbili zina macronutrients sawa (karbohydrates, protini, na mafuta) wanasema kwamba hatari za GMO hazipo. Lakini hali ya GMO haituambie kama vyakula vilivyobadilishwa vina virutubisho sawa, ambavyo ni muhimu sana kwa afya yetu. Au hata ikiwa wana sababu nyingine zinazoathiri afya. Kwa kuongezea, masomo yaliyotumiwa kuunga mkono usalama wa GMO huchukua vipindi vifupi vya wakati. Ili kuelewa kabisa hatari za GMO, tunahitaji utafiti ambao unaangalia picha kubwa na kuchunguza athari za mfiduo wa muda mrefu. Serikali ya Marekani na FDA hazifanyi uchunguzi wa usalama wa vyakula vilivyotengenezwa kwa njia ya maumbile. Badala yake, makampuni ambayo hutengeneza mbegu za GMO na dawa za kuua wadudu hutoa masomo kwa hiari - yanayolipwa na kufanywa na wao. Haishangazi kwamba wao huona GMOs katika chakula kuwa "safe" licha ya hatari dhahiri ya GMO. Ni nini hatari ya vyakula vyenye chembe za urithi? Wataalamu wa utafiti wa magonjwa ya tumors wameona tumors katika panya kulishwa GMO mahindi, na si katika panya kulishwa non-GMO. Panya hao pia walipatwa na madhara ya ini na figo. Uchunguzi mwingine na nchi zinafunua kwamba dawa za kuua wadudu zenye chembe za urithi husababisha kasoro za kuzaliwa na kasoro za ukuzi. Kwa kuongezea, vyakula vilivyobadilishwa chembe za urithi vimepakwa kemikali katika shamba, kama vile glyphosate. Mazao fulani - kama vile mahindi, pamba, na maharagwe ya soya - yana mabadiliko yanayoitwa jeni la sumu ya Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), na hivyo huwa na uwezo wa kukabiliana na wadudu. Lakini wakati tunatumia sumu ya Bt, sasa tunajua kwamba inachanganya katika DNA yetu. Athari kamili za jambo hilo hazijatafakariwa. Toxini hiyo yaweza hata kusababisha watumiaji wa dawa za kuua viini wasishindwe na dawa hizo. Katika mwaka wa 2007, wanasayansi walianza kufikiri kwamba mazao ya Bt yalisababisha ugonjwa wa kuanguka kwa makoloni au tukio la kitaifa la kutoweka kwa nyuki. Hii inatuambia kwamba wanasayansi huru walipata hatari zifuatazo za GMO: - Upinzani wa antibiotic - Kasoro za kuzaliwa - Uharibifu wa ini na figo - Uharibifu wa matumbo Katika hatua hii, haionekani kuwa nzuri kwa matumizi salama ya GMO. Tunahitaji masomo zaidi ya kujitegemea ili kuamua athari za muda mrefu za GMO. Jihadharini na hatari za GMO zinazofichwa katika vyakula hivi Utapata GMO katika karibu mahindi yote yaliyotengenezwa, soya, mbegu za rape (canola), na bidhaa za beet ya sukari. Hata ikiwa bidhaa haijabadilishwa chembe za urithi, huenda ikawa na dawa za kuua wadudu au dawa za kuua magugu zenye madhara. Ili kuepuka GMO, nunua mazao na nyama katika eneo lenu. Tembelea soko la wakulima la jirani yako. Katika maduka ya vyakula vya asili, tafuta vyakula vya "kibichi" au "visivyo na viumbe vilivyobadilishwa kimetengenezwa kwa viumbe". Nembo ya kikaboni inathibitisha kwamba bidhaa hiyo ilikua kwa njia ya kikaboni, ikitumia dawa za kuua magugu au dawa za kuua wadudu za asili tu. Nembo isiyo ya GMO inaonyesha kwamba bidhaa haijabadilishwa chembe za urithi. Kuzingatia vyakula vya kitamaduni, vyenye virutubisho vyote kwa kawaida kutapunguza ulaji wako wa GMO. Kwa habari ya dawa za kuua wadudu, ununuzi wa kikaboni wakati wa kununua <unk> Dirty Dozen. <unk> Hizi ni matunda na mboga ambazo zina dawa nyingi za kuua wadudu zilizobaki wakati unazinunua. Pia, uangalie samaki wa GMO nchini Marekani. Katika mwaka wa 2019, Marekani itapata samaki mkubwa wa Atlantiki ambaye ana jeni la homoni ya ukuaji kutoka kwa samaki wa Chinook. GMO zimepigwa marufuku wapi? Tangu mwanzo wa nyakati, wakulima wametumia mbegu za mazao ya mwaka jana kupanda mwaka huu. Monsanto na wazalishaji wengine wa mbegu za GMO sio tu wanakataza matumizi ya mbegu zao bali pia wanashtaki wakulima wanaofanya hivyo. Jambo hilo huwaangamiza wakulima kifedha. Kwa sababu ya jambo hilo na athari za kiafya za viumbe vilivyobadilishwa kimetengenezwa kwa mbinu za kibiolojia, nchi nyingi zimezipiga marufuku kabisa. Nchi 26 duniani zimepiga marufuku uzalishaji wa vyakula vilivyotengenezwa kwa njia ya maumbile. Hilo latia ndani Ujerumani, Ufaransa, Ugiriki, na Austria. Urusi imepiga marufuku kilimo na uuzaji wa GMO nchini mwao. Nchi 64 duniani zinahitaji GMO kuandikwa, kama vile Australia, Umoja wa Ulaya, na Japani. Ni wazi, hii si suala la kutiliwa shaka. Kwa nini Marekani haipigani marufuku GMO katika chakula? "Hii inahusiana sana na ruzuku ya serikali kwa kilimo ambayo inanufaisha wakulima wa GMO na udhibiti ambao wazalishaji wa mbegu za GMO kama Monsanto, DuPont, na Bayer wana juu ya Marekani. """ Kwa hiyo tunaweza kufanya nini? Kwa hivyo, tunapaswa kuepuka vyakula vya GMO kwa kadiri tuwezavyo.