The Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods

GM Foods: What Mother Nature Never Intended

From Alternatives Newsletter Fall 2009

Many health groups are beginning to investigate the dangers of Genetically Modified (GM) foods, which are created from a special set of technologies that alter the genetic makeup of organisms such as animals, plants or bacteria.  According to the World Health Organization, this technology is often called “modern biotechnology” or “gene technology.”  It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between non-related species.  Such methods are used to create GM plants – which are then used to grow GM food crops.  Some health professionals believe that these foods could be contributing to diseases such as autism.  Learn more about the potential dangers of genetically modified foods . . . .

The Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods

Many health groups are beginning to investigate the dangers of Genetically Modified (GM) foods, which are created from a special set of technologies that alter the genetic makeup of organisms such as animals, plants or bacteria.

GM products (current or those in development) include medicines and vaccines, foods and food ingredients, feeds and fibers, according to the Human Genome Project, a government Web site (http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml).  This type of gene technology allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between non-related species.  Such methods are used to create GM plants – which are then used to grow GM food crops, which some health professionals believe could be to blame for diseases such as autism.

Genetic technology may inter-mingle genes from totally unrelated species in combinations not possible using conventional breeding methods, according to Kathi Bratberg, RN, MS Holistic Nutrition at Alternatives.

“For instance, genes from a fish may be placed into a strawberry plant to make them more resistant to frost by causing the strawberry plant to produce a form of antifreeze which the fish normally produces to endure cold ocean conditions.  Corn and cotton are actually being engineered to produce their own pesticide that can’t be washed off a plant.  All of that poison is injected into the digestive system to cause damage throughout our bodies,” she added.

In August of this year, the Lyme Induced Autism Foundation (LIA) joined other leading health organizations to call on medical practitioners to prescribe diets free from all Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).  In a press release, the organization said:  “Children with autism often develop allergies to corn, soy and dairy.  Since most soy and corn are Genetically Modified, and dairy cows are usually fed GM feed and sometimes injected with GM bovine growth hormone, the LIA Foundation wants studies to investigate a possible connection.”

The LIA release quoted Therese Yang, MD, FAAFP, a specialist in Lyme Disease:  “I am very concerned how the GM foods are affecting our health, especially since it changes our intestinal environment.  Our intestines are where much of our immunity and our ability to protect ourselves originate,” she added.

“In many countries, people have rejected these foods and practices,” Alternatives’ Nutritionist Bratberg said. “Corn, soy, canola and cottonseed are among foods that are more likely to be Genetically Modified,” she noted.  “Look for labels on food that says non-genetically modified,” Bratberg noted.  “If it doesn’t say that, assume that it is.”

For more information, contact Alternatives: A Center for Conscious Health at 824-9470.  Or log on to www.publichealthalert.org.