PLEASE CHECK THIS MESSAGE FROM GMO /TOXIN FREE USA AND CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY
https://gmofreeusa.salsalabs.org/connectingthedots20220924_0
AND READ THE U. S. DISTRICT COURT OPINION HERE:
Here is the news:
USDA Loses GMO Labeling Lawsuit
Saturday, September 24, 2022
Sunday, May 16, 2021
NATIONAL BLACK FARMERS ASSOCIATION UNITES AGAINST MONSANTO
On April 27, 2021, the legal website Lawyers and Settlements reported that a major lawyers association was suing Monsanto for harms to rural Black farmers allegedly associated with the use of Roundup products. NATIONAL BLACK FARMERS ASSOCIATION JOINS MONSANTO MDL
| . By Anne Wallace |
BLACK FARMERS ARGUE RACISM WORSENED CANCER RISK
See the rest of this article at:
###
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
GMO Page Learn More
Learn More
A Basic Resource Sheet from Illinois Right to Know GMO:
A WORD Document: click here.
A PDF Document: click here.
Please note this will be updated from time to time..
Some Websites and Videos of Current Interest:
1. GMO WTF is a student-organized response to Cornell University's recent "Debate" on genetic engineering. click here. (http://www.gmowtf.com/what/). GMO WTF is a series of lectures held at Cornell University during 2016 and they are found at the above website and also on You Tube. Here are two particularly interesting ones but all will be useful.
a. Discussion with Michael Hansen of Consumers Union and Jonathan Latham of the Bioscience Resource Program.
This YouTube broadcast is nearly two hours long and is a rebuttal to a recent Cornell University series on this topic. To watch this discussion click here. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHsVupnT0kY&app=desktop)
b. As part of the program above, Steven Druker, author of Altered Genes, Twisted Truth speaks on the deceptions involved in bringing genetically engineered foods to market. To watch this 90 minute talk click here. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGeC-Jg4klM
2. Learn More at These Websites -- a Partial List of Resources
This list is still under construction. We'll be updating with annotations about these websites, but all of these resources will answer questions and help you become better informed.
Institute for Responsible Technology
Organic Consumers Association
GMO Free USA
U. S. Right to Know
Food and Water Watch
Food Democracy Now
Cornucopia Institute
USRTK.org
Movies and Videos
Food Inc.
Vanishing Bees
Stop Monsanto From Poisoning Hawai'i
American Meat
Right To Know Minnesota - Label GMOs!
Genetic Roulette Movie
Recommended Books
Altered Genes Twisted Truth by Steven Druker Please see Sidebar!
GMO Myths and Truths, 3rd Edition Please See Sidebar!
GMO Myths and Truths free online 2nd Edition
Genetic Roulette, The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Food
Seeds of Deception
The World According to Monsanto
Information about the Work of Specific Scientists
Dr. Gilles-Eric Seralini
Dr. Judy Carman
For views of some FDA scientists in 1992, click here.
Other State Organizations (Partial List)
California – www.labelgmos.org
Colorado – www.righttoknowcolorado.org
Connecticut – www.gmofreect.org
Massachusetts – www.marighttoknow.org
Minnesota – www.righttoknowmn.org
New Hampshire – www.nhrighttoknowgmos.org
New York – www.gmofreeny.net
Oregon – www.gmofreeoregon.org
Pennsylvania – www.gmofreepa.org
Vermont – www.vtrighttoknowgmos.org
A WORD Document: click here.
A PDF Document: click here.
Please note this will be updated from time to time..
Some Websites and Videos of Current Interest:
1. GMO WTF is a student-organized response to Cornell University's recent "Debate" on genetic engineering. click here. (http://www.gmowtf.com/what/). GMO WTF is a series of lectures held at Cornell University during 2016 and they are found at the above website and also on You Tube. Here are two particularly interesting ones but all will be useful.
a. Discussion with Michael Hansen of Consumers Union and Jonathan Latham of the Bioscience Resource Program.
This YouTube broadcast is nearly two hours long and is a rebuttal to a recent Cornell University series on this topic. To watch this discussion click here. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHsVupnT0kY&app=desktop)
b. As part of the program above, Steven Druker, author of Altered Genes, Twisted Truth speaks on the deceptions involved in bringing genetically engineered foods to market. To watch this 90 minute talk click here. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGeC-Jg4klM
2. Learn More at These Websites -- a Partial List of Resources
This list is still under construction. We'll be updating with annotations about these websites, but all of these resources will answer questions and help you become better informed.
Institute for Responsible Technology
Organic Consumers Association
GMO Free USA
U. S. Right to Know
Food and Water Watch
Food Democracy Now
Cornucopia Institute
USRTK.org
Movies and Videos
Food Inc.
Vanishing Bees
Stop Monsanto From Poisoning Hawai'i
American Meat
Right To Know Minnesota - Label GMOs!
Genetic Roulette Movie
Recommended Books
Altered Genes Twisted Truth by Steven Druker Please see Sidebar!
GMO Myths and Truths, 3rd Edition Please See Sidebar!
GMO Myths and Truths free online 2nd Edition
Genetic Roulette, The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Food
Seeds of Deception
The World According to Monsanto
Information about the Work of Specific Scientists
Dr. Gilles-Eric Seralini
Dr. Judy Carman
For views of some FDA scientists in 1992, click here.
California – www.labelgmos.org
Colorado – www.righttoknowcolorado.org
Connecticut – www.gmofreect.org
Massachusetts – www.marighttoknow.org
Minnesota – www.righttoknowmn.org
New Hampshire – www.nhrighttoknowgmos.org
New York – www.gmofreeny.net
Oregon – www.gmofreeoregon.org
Pennsylvania – www.gmofreepa.org
Vermont – www.vtrighttoknowgmos.org
GMO Page Myths of Industry
Myths of Industry
Read These and Watch for more MYTHS OF INDUSTRY here!
More Supporting Documents may be downloaded at the foot of this Page.
More Supporting Documents may be downloaded at the foot of this Page.
What are Myths of Industry? Myths are stories that may have a grain of truth. Often it is that grain of truth that gives a myth its staying power. Here are some myths about genetically engineered foods. Each is meant to make you feel stupid or guilty, each contains a truth, but not the whole truth, and each is easily debunked.
1. The Myth: Genetically engineered foods are just the same as any other conventionally bred foods of the same kind.
The Truth: The basis of this myth is most likely because the popular term for genetically engineered food is GMO (standing for genetically modified organism). The term genetically modified organism (or GMO) could indeed be used to describe food that is "modified" through traditional breeding methods, such as hybridization, seed saving or grafting. We agree that genetically engineered food is a better term to use, but GMO as commonly used today generally does not denote foods bred through traditional means.
The Truth: The basis of this myth is most likely because the popular term for genetically engineered food is GMO (standing for genetically modified organism). The term genetically modified organism (or GMO) could indeed be used to describe food that is "modified" through traditional breeding methods, such as hybridization, seed saving or grafting. We agree that genetically engineered food is a better term to use, but GMO as commonly used today generally does not denote foods bred through traditional means.
Genetically engineered foods, often referred to as GMO's, are produced in a laboratory by forcing genetic material from the genome of one organism into that of another. This generally involves different species that would never reproduce together in nature. This is quite different from traditional plant breeding methods.
2. The Myth: The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates and tests genetically engineered foods for health and safety.
The Truth: The FDA relies on a 1992 "Policy Statement" having no force of law that simply "presumes" these foods to be safe. See Altered Genes, Twisted Truth by Steven Druker, Chapter 5. And to see the concerns of FDA scientists asked to review this document prior to publication, but whose views were largely ignored, click here.
While FDA currently provides for voluntary consultation with industry, it cannot require industry to turn over studies and other materials that industry prefers not to share. And even that "voluntary consultation" process generally uses a standard called "Substantial Equivalence," a superficial standard designed specifically for genetically engineered foods and one that does not consider a broad range of parameters.
This was confirmed at a United States Senate Agriculture committee hearing on October 21, 2015:
The Truth: The FDA relies on a 1992 "Policy Statement" having no force of law that simply "presumes" these foods to be safe. See Altered Genes, Twisted Truth by Steven Druker, Chapter 5. And to see the concerns of FDA scientists asked to review this document prior to publication, but whose views were largely ignored, click here.
While FDA currently provides for voluntary consultation with industry, it cannot require industry to turn over studies and other materials that industry prefers not to share. And even that "voluntary consultation" process generally uses a standard called "Substantial Equivalence," a superficial standard designed specifically for genetically engineered foods and one that does not consider a broad range of parameters.
This was confirmed at a United States Senate Agriculture committee hearing on October 21, 2015:
Q&A with Dr. Susan Mayne, Director of FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition with Senator
Kirsten Gillibrand of NY, around 2:08 into the tape:
Sen. Gillibrand: I just want to go back to Dr. Mayne. At the end of your consultation process for producers
you issue a letter that says no further questions on your determination remain How come you don’t
end that process with a letter that says your product is safe?
Mayne: Well the consultation process is a service that we provide to industry to help assure that they are
meeting their compliance obligations to /have a/ safe food. It’s voluntary and to date it has worked well.
Gillibrand: But you don’t make an assessment of whether it’s safe.
Mayne: Well what we do is we consult on the safety, we consult as to whether we believe that anything has
any antigenic, allergenic potential, any toxic potential.
But it’s ultimately industry’s responsibility to assure the safety of that product so we consult with them on this.
Gillibrand: So you don’t determine if it’s safe; you just create a dialogue to make sure they’re doing their job.
Mayne: Correct. We review the science, we review the data to make sure we have no further questions about
the safety. If we were to have to attest to that safety specifically then that would shift some of
that burden to FDA with all its resource implications.
Gillibrand: Thank you.
###
Read more about the limited role of FDA safety oversight of genetically engineered foods click here.
3. The Myth: We cannot feed the world without genetically engineered crops.
The Truth: While it is true that yield may increase, at least for a while, using these crops, this effect is often short lived, especially when "super pests" that can withstand the herbicidal applications or internal insecticides that quickly evolve. More importantly, war, corruption and poverty are the most frequent sources of world hunger. For an example of what can happen when yields are great but no one can buy, click here.
UPDATE: October 29, 2016, New York Times reports "Doubts about the Promised Bounty of Genetically Engineered Crops." To see this article click here. (Note if you cannot open this please let us know using "Contact Us" and we'll try to make this available for you.)
The Truth: While it is true that yield may increase, at least for a while, using these crops, this effect is often short lived, especially when "super pests" that can withstand the herbicidal applications or internal insecticides that quickly evolve. More importantly, war, corruption and poverty are the most frequent sources of world hunger. For an example of what can happen when yields are great but no one can buy, click here.
UPDATE: October 29, 2016, New York Times reports "Doubts about the Promised Bounty of Genetically Engineered Crops." To see this article click here. (Note if you cannot open this please let us know using "Contact Us" and we'll try to make this available for you.)
4. The Myth: Genetic engineering is required to produce crops with specific traits such as drought resistance and needed nutritional content.
The Truth: This can be done with genetic engineering, but it is by no means required. Similar results can often be gained with conventional breeding practices, often resulting in less costly seed when there are no patent monopolies.
Here are a few examples of sweet potatoes rich in needed nutrients bred flourish in countries where the need is greatest; to see how one organization, Harvest Plus, does this, click here. The sweet potato produced by Harvest Plus recently won the prestigious World Food Prize for their vitamin A rich sweet potato produced using traditional breeding techniques. These nutritious sweet potatoes are inexpensive for gardeners to propagate where they are needed most. To read about this please click here and click here .
One of the most famous would-be example of alleged benefits of genetic engineering is Golden Rice
For a discussion of some of the issues surrounding "Golden Rice" click here. Golden Rice is not nearly as rich in vitamin A ounce per ounce as the sweet potato discussed above and must be grown each season from newly purchased patented seeds, a considerable expense in many locales.
As to drought resistance, frequently the drought resistance itself is bred into the plants using conventional breeding methods, and the genetic engineering is applied only to produce traits such as herbicide resistance and insecticide production.
5. The Myth: Genetically engineered foods and the toxic chemicals they enable present no serious health or safety issues.
The Truth: For years scientists have presented empirical evidence of hazards to health and safety presented by genetically engineered foods. In 2009 the American Academy of Environmental Medicine examined existed scientific literature and concluded that the public should be warned about this. To read this position paper click here.
Because these seeds are patented, it is often difficult for scientists to obtain permission from the corporate patent holder to study them legally. And when scientists gain access to seeds for this purpose and conduct experiments demonstrating health and safety issues, seemingly orchestrated campaigns to prevent publication and smear reputations frequently result. See the following examples in connection with Dr. Gilles Eric Seralini click here, and Dr. Judy Carman click here.
6. The Myth: Unless it is shown that GE foods are unsafe using controlled human studies there is no reason to label them or take them off the market.
The Truth: Properly randomized and controlled human feeding studies on a free living human population would be almost impossible to carry out even if this were ethical. But we have plenty of animal studies using the same kinds of animals (generally rats) used to test pharmaceuticals for human safety, and many of these have pointed to areas of concern. Since there is no consumer advantage to the bulk of genetically engineered foods on the market today, and given the red flags we have already seen from a variety of sources, it is understandable that many people would wish to avoid them.
7. The Myth: There are no reported cases of human illness from GE foods. Therefore they are safe.
The Truth: While there are indeed some reported cases of human illness (see Altered Genes, Twisted Truth, ibid.) at this time there seems to be no widely understood and effective means of reporting illness suspected to be related to genetically engineered foods to any federal regulatory agency.
8. The Myth: State labeling laws produce a “patchwork” of confusing legislation.
The Truth: Almost all of the state mandatory labeling bills introduced in the past several years were modeled on a single model bill produced by Center for Food Safety. However, as of July 2016, this question is now moot as Congress has preempted the right of states to require labeling of genetically engineered foods.
Updated September, 2016
More Supporting Documents: These may take a little time to load; please be patient.
If necessary please let us know using the Contact form on the sidebar.
PDF Links to more supporting documents: Click here.
WORD Links to more supporting documents: Click here.
The Truth: This can be done with genetic engineering, but it is by no means required. Similar results can often be gained with conventional breeding practices, often resulting in less costly seed when there are no patent monopolies.
Here are a few examples of sweet potatoes rich in needed nutrients bred flourish in countries where the need is greatest; to see how one organization, Harvest Plus, does this, click here. The sweet potato produced by Harvest Plus recently won the prestigious World Food Prize for their vitamin A rich sweet potato produced using traditional breeding techniques. These nutritious sweet potatoes are inexpensive for gardeners to propagate where they are needed most. To read about this please click here and click here .
One of the most famous would-be example of alleged benefits of genetic engineering is Golden Rice
For a discussion of some of the issues surrounding "Golden Rice" click here. Golden Rice is not nearly as rich in vitamin A ounce per ounce as the sweet potato discussed above and must be grown each season from newly purchased patented seeds, a considerable expense in many locales.
As to drought resistance, frequently the drought resistance itself is bred into the plants using conventional breeding methods, and the genetic engineering is applied only to produce traits such as herbicide resistance and insecticide production.
5. The Myth: Genetically engineered foods and the toxic chemicals they enable present no serious health or safety issues.
The Truth: For years scientists have presented empirical evidence of hazards to health and safety presented by genetically engineered foods. In 2009 the American Academy of Environmental Medicine examined existed scientific literature and concluded that the public should be warned about this. To read this position paper click here.
Because these seeds are patented, it is often difficult for scientists to obtain permission from the corporate patent holder to study them legally. And when scientists gain access to seeds for this purpose and conduct experiments demonstrating health and safety issues, seemingly orchestrated campaigns to prevent publication and smear reputations frequently result. See the following examples in connection with Dr. Gilles Eric Seralini click here, and Dr. Judy Carman click here.
6. The Myth: Unless it is shown that GE foods are unsafe using controlled human studies there is no reason to label them or take them off the market.
The Truth: Properly randomized and controlled human feeding studies on a free living human population would be almost impossible to carry out even if this were ethical. But we have plenty of animal studies using the same kinds of animals (generally rats) used to test pharmaceuticals for human safety, and many of these have pointed to areas of concern. Since there is no consumer advantage to the bulk of genetically engineered foods on the market today, and given the red flags we have already seen from a variety of sources, it is understandable that many people would wish to avoid them.
7. The Myth: There are no reported cases of human illness from GE foods. Therefore they are safe.
The Truth: While there are indeed some reported cases of human illness (see Altered Genes, Twisted Truth, ibid.) at this time there seems to be no widely understood and effective means of reporting illness suspected to be related to genetically engineered foods to any federal regulatory agency.
8. The Myth: State labeling laws produce a “patchwork” of confusing legislation.
The Truth: Almost all of the state mandatory labeling bills introduced in the past several years were modeled on a single model bill produced by Center for Food Safety. However, as of July 2016, this question is now moot as Congress has preempted the right of states to require labeling of genetically engineered foods.
9. The Myth: Food prices will increase if labeling is required.
The Truth: Food companies change their labels often and for many reasons as a regular cost of doing business. Recently several food companies began to label their genetically engineered products with no increase in prices. And see Consumers Union's discussion in the supporting documents linked below, concluding that food prices will not increase as a result of labeling.
10. The Myth: Sourcing will be difficult if labeling is required.
The Truth: As in so many other areas, as demand increases so will supply. Right now many farmers produce non-GMO foods for export to countries where the demand is high. This would happen here as well if consumers demand it.
11. The Myth: Major science organizations say GMO's are safe.
The Truth: Many have in fact done this, but as Steven Druker points out in Altered Genes, Twisted Truth, many of these pronouncements are not based up on actual scientific research but result from a cherry-picked rehash borrowing from primary but also secondary sources to achieve a desired outcome.
The least heard group of scientists comprises senior scientists at the FDA who expressed their views in response to the 1992 FDA "Policy Statement" which "presumed" genetically engineered foods to be safe. The concerns of these FDA scientists directly charged with assuring the safety of the American food supply are only rarely included in lists of science organizations claiming asserting safety. Read these comments here.
For an example of the kinds of distortion that took place in one of these reports, as reported by The Ecologist, click here.
To learn more about the distortions used to buttress safety claims by some national and international health organizations as compiled by GMO Free USA, click here. Among science organizations and publications expressing concerns are the Royal Society of Canada, the British Medical Association, the Public Health Association of Australia and the leading medical journal The Lancet. For more background from GMWatch.org, click here.
To read what Sustainable Pulse had to say about this click here. National Geographic questioned some of the alleged advantages of genetic engineering contained in that report. To see this article click here.
12. The Myth: People who question GE foods are “anti-science”
The Truth: Food companies change their labels often and for many reasons as a regular cost of doing business. Recently several food companies began to label their genetically engineered products with no increase in prices. And see Consumers Union's discussion in the supporting documents linked below, concluding that food prices will not increase as a result of labeling.
10. The Myth: Sourcing will be difficult if labeling is required.
The Truth: As in so many other areas, as demand increases so will supply. Right now many farmers produce non-GMO foods for export to countries where the demand is high. This would happen here as well if consumers demand it.
11. The Myth: Major science organizations say GMO's are safe.
The Truth: Many have in fact done this, but as Steven Druker points out in Altered Genes, Twisted Truth, many of these pronouncements are not based up on actual scientific research but result from a cherry-picked rehash borrowing from primary but also secondary sources to achieve a desired outcome.
The least heard group of scientists comprises senior scientists at the FDA who expressed their views in response to the 1992 FDA "Policy Statement" which "presumed" genetically engineered foods to be safe. The concerns of these FDA scientists directly charged with assuring the safety of the American food supply are only rarely included in lists of science organizations claiming asserting safety. Read these comments here.
For an example of the kinds of distortion that took place in one of these reports, as reported by The Ecologist, click here.
To learn more about the distortions used to buttress safety claims by some national and international health organizations as compiled by GMO Free USA, click here. Among science organizations and publications expressing concerns are the Royal Society of Canada, the British Medical Association, the Public Health Association of Australia and the leading medical journal The Lancet. For more background from GMWatch.org, click here.
To read what Sustainable Pulse had to say about this click here. National Geographic questioned some of the alleged advantages of genetic engineering contained in that report. To see this article click here.
12. The Myth: People who question GE foods are “anti-science”
The Truth: This is of course a matter of opinion, but it would seem that the most "anti-science" people are those who side with suppression of the work of scientists whose findings do not fit their corporate mold. Also, supporting research that increases our understanding of the world does not necessarily mean favoring every application of that knowledge. For a thoughtful article about that, click here.
Arguably the label "Anti Science" should be pinned on some of the corporations owning the patents on genetically engineered seeds who exercise strict control making it difficult or even impossible for independent scientists to use them in research. For a discussion of this, click here.
13. The Myth: There's no problem with genetically engineered foods because we routinely use medicines developed with genetic engineering.
The Truth: It is true that we use medicines developed with genetic engineering but these are carefully vetted by the Food and Drug Administration (which is NOT true for genetically engineered foods - see No. 2 above). Also FDA has extensive post-surveillance reporting procedures to make it easy for health care providers and/or patients to report harms possibly associated with drugs (including these drugs) so that they may be investigated. Also, pharmaceuticals are generally used by people with some condition that needs treatment and under the care of a health care professional with whom they can make informed decisions about the need for a particular medication and the possible harm that might result from that medication, while foods are consumed by millions of healthy people who have no knowledge as to whether their foods are genetically engineered and are typically not in a position to make an informed decision with the assistance of an appropriate health care professional.
Arguably the label "Anti Science" should be pinned on some of the corporations owning the patents on genetically engineered seeds who exercise strict control making it difficult or even impossible for independent scientists to use them in research. For a discussion of this, click here.
13. The Myth: There's no problem with genetically engineered foods because we routinely use medicines developed with genetic engineering.
The Truth: It is true that we use medicines developed with genetic engineering but these are carefully vetted by the Food and Drug Administration (which is NOT true for genetically engineered foods - see No. 2 above). Also FDA has extensive post-surveillance reporting procedures to make it easy for health care providers and/or patients to report harms possibly associated with drugs (including these drugs) so that they may be investigated. Also, pharmaceuticals are generally used by people with some condition that needs treatment and under the care of a health care professional with whom they can make informed decisions about the need for a particular medication and the possible harm that might result from that medication, while foods are consumed by millions of healthy people who have no knowledge as to whether their foods are genetically engineered and are typically not in a position to make an informed decision with the assistance of an appropriate health care professional.
THIS IS NOT A MYTH:
LABELING HELPS CONSUMERS MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS!
Updated September, 2016
More Supporting Documents: These may take a little time to load; please be patient.
If necessary please let us know using the Contact form on the sidebar.
PDF Links to more supporting documents: Click here.
WORD Links to more supporting documents: Click here.
GMO Page Be Active
Be Active
Join our mailing list! This is the easiest step you can take to become involved in our efforts to get food with GMOs labeled. Complete the form at the right to sign up for our occasional Action Alerts and other important announcements.
Join our Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Illinois-Right-To-Know-GMO/
We often meet on the second Wednesday of each month, generally but not always at the Arlington Heights Public Library, and this is announced at the above website. Our meetings, films, lectures and expos are posted here as well, and we also announce other local events pertaining to GMOs. If you are having an event, let us know at IRTKGMO[at]gmail[dot]com so we can consider it for posting on our Meetup page.
(Note: If you are new to Meetup.com, you first join Meetup.com and then join Illinois Right to Know GMO. We will mot have access to your e-mail; all meeting notices are sent to you via Meetup.com.)
Like and Comment on our Facebook Page: IRTKGMO Facebook Page
Follow, Tweet and Retwee on Twittert: Our handle is @IRTKGMO
Don't buy Genetically Engineered Foods. (GMO's). Money talks! Vote with your dollars by not buying Genetically Engineered food. Manufacturers listen. If sales decline even by 5%, they will take notice and act! Every little bit counts.
Invite us to your event. We can send speakers to your event to talk about many aspects of genetically engineered food.
We can offer:
Please include as much information as you can about the event, location, date, time, expected numbers of attendees and whether you want us to HANDOUT INFORMATION or GIVE A PRESENTATION. Please notify us well in advance of the event so we can prepare for it.
Join our Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Illinois-Right-To-Know-GMO/
We often meet on the second Wednesday of each month, generally but not always at the Arlington Heights Public Library, and this is announced at the above website. Our meetings, films, lectures and expos are posted here as well, and we also announce other local events pertaining to GMOs. If you are having an event, let us know at IRTKGMO[at]gmail[dot]com so we can consider it for posting on our Meetup page.
(Note: If you are new to Meetup.com, you first join Meetup.com and then join Illinois Right to Know GMO. We will mot have access to your e-mail; all meeting notices are sent to you via Meetup.com.)
Like and Comment on our Facebook Page: IRTKGMO Facebook Page
Follow, Tweet and Retwee on Twittert: Our handle is @IRTKGMO
Our Instagram.com handle is "ILRightToKnowGMO"
Don't buy Genetically Engineered Foods. (GMO's). Money talks! Vote with your dollars by not buying Genetically Engineered food. Manufacturers listen. If sales decline even by 5%, they will take notice and act! Every little bit counts.
Invite us to your event. We can send speakers to your event to talk about many aspects of genetically engineered food.
We can offer:
- HANDOUTS: We can attend your event to give information to your attendees. We give out flyers, brochures, other information and answer questions people have about genetically engineered food and the Illinois bill.
- PRESENTATIONS: We can give presentation on genetically engineered food, anywhere from 30 to 60 min, with a question and answer period. Content may include explaining what GMOs are, the foods they are found in and how to avoid them, effects on health, legislative updates and related topics.
- MODERATE A DISCUSSION AFTER A DVD SHOWING: Host a film screening and discussion (see DVDs under the Learn More menu).
- SOMETHING ELSE: You propose it and we will see if we can do it!
Please include as much information as you can about the event, location, date, time, expected numbers of attendees and whether you want us to HANDOUT INFORMATION or GIVE A PRESENTATION. Please notify us well in advance of the event so we can prepare for it.
GMO Page FAQ's
From FAQ Page
FAQs
What is a GMO?
GMO literally stands for Genetically Modified Organism, a term that some consider overbroad because it may include any organism that has been genetically modified by any means. However the term GMO has long been popularly used to denote food that has been genetically engineered, and that is how it is used here.
How are genetically engineered foods produced?
Genetically engineered foods are produced by forcing genes from one organism - often a bacterium - into the DNA of another organism, generally a food crop, in order to introduce a new characteristic or "trait" into that target. This process must normally take place in a laboratory.
What are Main Purposes of Genetic Engineering for Food Crops?
1. Herbicide tolerance – this trait lets the target crop survive applications of toxic herbicides in order to kill weeds with out killing the crop. Examples of this are Roundup Ready crops which are sprayed with glyphosate-containing Roundup. (Note: "Roundup" and "Roundup Ready" are registered trademarks of the Monsanto Corporation).
GMO literally stands for Genetically Modified Organism, a term that some consider overbroad because it may include any organism that has been genetically modified by any means. However the term GMO has long been popularly used to denote food that has been genetically engineered, and that is how it is used here.
How are genetically engineered foods produced?
Genetically engineered foods are produced by forcing genes from one organism - often a bacterium - into the DNA of another organism, generally a food crop, in order to introduce a new characteristic or "trait" into that target. This process must normally take place in a laboratory.
What are Main Purposes of Genetic Engineering for Food Crops?
1. Herbicide tolerance – this trait lets the target crop survive applications of toxic herbicides in order to kill weeds with out killing the crop. Examples of this are Roundup Ready crops which are sprayed with glyphosate-containing Roundup. (Note: "Roundup" and "Roundup Ready" are registered trademarks of the Monsanto Corporation).
2. Production of Bt Toxin. This trait is produced by the insertion of genes from a bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis, which results in the release of Bt Toxin which kills or deters certain insects. While Bt toxin is used as a spray by organic gardeners, in this application the toxin it is produced within the cells of a plant genetically engineered for that particular trait. Here it is far more toxic, not subject to biodegradation, and impossible to wash off. According to Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), sheep in India died after grazing on fields following the harvest of cotton plants engineered to produce Bt toxin.
How do I know if I’m eating genetically engineered food?
Crops that may be genetically engineered include 94% of soy, 88% of corn, 90% of cotton, 90% of canola, 95% of sugar beets, more than 50% of Haw (Itaiian papaya, over 24,000 acres of zucchini and yellow crookneck squash, and some alfalfa. (IRT, May, 2010).
Other products that may be genetically engineered or involve products of genetically engineering include dairy products from cows injected with the GM hormone rbGH, meat, eggs, and dairy products from animals that have eaten GM feed, honey and bee pollen that may have genetically engineered sources of pollen, and food additives, enzymes, flavorings, and processing agents, including the sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet) and rennet used to make hard cheeses.
It is estimated that 70-80% of products on grocery store shelves have GMO in their ingredients. Currently the only way to know your food does not have GMO ingredients is by buying certified organic products or products certified by the Non GMO Project. Not everyone can afford to eat 100% organic, but everyone should have the choice to avoid GMOs. Even if food is labeled as “natural,” it’s impossible to know if they are produced with GMOs. Food companies routinely and intentionally mislead consumers by labeling products “natural” in order to attract health-conscious consumers.
How do genetically engineered foods affect health?
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine reported as early as 2009 “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. Among other things, Physicians were urged to recommend healthier non-GMO foods. The studies reviewed here were animal studies involving the same kinds of animals, mostly rats, routinely used to conduct safety testing on pharmaceuticals and food additives. To see this report click here.
Recently the United Nations' International Agency for Research on Cancer found glyphosate, the principal ingredient in Roundup, to be a "probable carcinogen." Other studies have pointed to health issues associated with genetically engineered foods and the toxic chemicals associated with them. Much of this information will be found in resources on the Learn More page. http://illinoisrighttoknowgmo.blogspot.com/p/learn-more.html
Because genetically engineered crops are patented, many scientists have not been allowed to use them for their research. However the recent work of two scientists, and the reaction to this work, should be noted. Dr. Gilles-Eric Seralini in France and Dr. Judy Carman in Australia have both done important animal studies showing health concerns associated with genetically engineered foods. Please follow links to their works at the Learn More page, http://illinoisrighttoknowgmo.blogspot.com/p/learn-more.html
Haven’t farmers modified crops for ages?
It is true that we have long bred plants using traditional methods such as hybridization, seed saving, grafting and similar processes. But this is not the same as modern genetic engineering which must be done in laboratories and combines genetic material from organisms that would never breed together in nature.
Will labeling genetically engineered foods increase food costs?
Companies change their labeling all the time, and dozens of other countries have already introduced GMO labeling without increasing food costs. Many companies have begun to label for GMO's without corresponding price increases.
Why doesn’t the FDA require labeling?
The FDA has ignored warnings from its own scientists and allowed the biotech industry to deceive the American people about the safety of its GMO products. This is extensively documented in the book Altered Genes, Twisted Truth by Stephen Druker. For more on this topic, click here.
What do medical and health groups say about GMOs?
American Public Health Association, Illinois Public Health Association and the American Nurses Association have called for GMO labeling. The American Medical Association has called for safety testing of these foods before they are sold to consumers.
Is labeling being done other countries?
64 nations have either banned genetically engineered foods or required labeling of foods containing genetically engineered ingredients. The U.S. and Canada are the only two major industrial nations that do not require labeling.
Should people with allergies be concerned?
Yes. The Food Allergen and Labeling Consumer Protection Act is a federal law mandating that food products containing ingredients from major food allergens MUST state it on the label. Genetic modification can introduce new and known food allergens into GMOs. Tree nuts (e.g., Brazil nuts) are a major food allergen identified by the FDA. One GMO developer inserted Brazil nut genes into a GMO soybean, which caused allergic reactions in people allergic to tree nuts. Since GMO foods are NOT safety tested by the FDA or independent third parties for human allergens, Americans with allergies are put at risk every time they eat food with unlabeled GMO ingredients. (Information courtesy of GMO Free NY)
There are many other questions associated with Genetically Engineered foods, and these will be addressed on these pages in the future. Please watch this space, and refer to the Learn More page for further information from a variety of sources.
Updated July, 2016
How do I know if I’m eating genetically engineered food?
Crops that may be genetically engineered include 94% of soy, 88% of corn, 90% of cotton, 90% of canola, 95% of sugar beets, more than 50% of Haw (Itaiian papaya, over 24,000 acres of zucchini and yellow crookneck squash, and some alfalfa. (IRT, May, 2010).
Other products that may be genetically engineered or involve products of genetically engineering include dairy products from cows injected with the GM hormone rbGH, meat, eggs, and dairy products from animals that have eaten GM feed, honey and bee pollen that may have genetically engineered sources of pollen, and food additives, enzymes, flavorings, and processing agents, including the sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet) and rennet used to make hard cheeses.
It is estimated that 70-80% of products on grocery store shelves have GMO in their ingredients. Currently the only way to know your food does not have GMO ingredients is by buying certified organic products or products certified by the Non GMO Project. Not everyone can afford to eat 100% organic, but everyone should have the choice to avoid GMOs. Even if food is labeled as “natural,” it’s impossible to know if they are produced with GMOs. Food companies routinely and intentionally mislead consumers by labeling products “natural” in order to attract health-conscious consumers.
How do genetically engineered foods affect health?
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine reported as early as 2009 “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. Among other things, Physicians were urged to recommend healthier non-GMO foods. The studies reviewed here were animal studies involving the same kinds of animals, mostly rats, routinely used to conduct safety testing on pharmaceuticals and food additives. To see this report click here.
Recently the United Nations' International Agency for Research on Cancer found glyphosate, the principal ingredient in Roundup, to be a "probable carcinogen." Other studies have pointed to health issues associated with genetically engineered foods and the toxic chemicals associated with them. Much of this information will be found in resources on the Learn More page. http://illinoisrighttoknowgmo.blogspot.com/p/learn-more.html
Haven’t farmers modified crops for ages?
It is true that we have long bred plants using traditional methods such as hybridization, seed saving, grafting and similar processes. But this is not the same as modern genetic engineering which must be done in laboratories and combines genetic material from organisms that would never breed together in nature.
Will labeling genetically engineered foods increase food costs?
Companies change their labeling all the time, and dozens of other countries have already introduced GMO labeling without increasing food costs. Many companies have begun to label for GMO's without corresponding price increases.
Why doesn’t the FDA require labeling?
The FDA has ignored warnings from its own scientists and allowed the biotech industry to deceive the American people about the safety of its GMO products. This is extensively documented in the book Altered Genes, Twisted Truth by Stephen Druker. For more on this topic, click here.
What do medical and health groups say about GMOs?
American Public Health Association, Illinois Public Health Association and the American Nurses Association have called for GMO labeling. The American Medical Association has called for safety testing of these foods before they are sold to consumers.
Is labeling being done other countries?
64 nations have either banned genetically engineered foods or required labeling of foods containing genetically engineered ingredients. The U.S. and Canada are the only two major industrial nations that do not require labeling.
Should people with allergies be concerned?
Yes. The Food Allergen and Labeling Consumer Protection Act is a federal law mandating that food products containing ingredients from major food allergens MUST state it on the label. Genetic modification can introduce new and known food allergens into GMOs. Tree nuts (e.g., Brazil nuts) are a major food allergen identified by the FDA. One GMO developer inserted Brazil nut genes into a GMO soybean, which caused allergic reactions in people allergic to tree nuts. Since GMO foods are NOT safety tested by the FDA or independent third parties for human allergens, Americans with allergies are put at risk every time they eat food with unlabeled GMO ingredients. (Information courtesy of GMO Free NY)
There are many other questions associated with Genetically Engineered foods, and these will be addressed on these pages in the future. Please watch this space, and refer to the Learn More page for further information from a variety of sources.
Updated July, 2016
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