Why Is Gmo Bad
Joseph Edward Bennett
Panapa
WR121: Research Essay
24 AUG 2013
Your Food is Killing You During a time in the world where unemployment is at record highs and the cost a food has become staggering, farmers and businessmen alike have sought out new forms and methods of growing food. One of these methods has been using genetically modified crops. Most people do not even know what GMO’s are, where they come from, and how eating these foods are affecting their bodies. According to the United Stats Department of Labor, the unemployment rate of Americans still sets at an unbelievable 7.6 percent. “This number does not bring hope to the agricultural area of the states that continually seek out ways of improving its income” (BLS web). The …show more content…
U.S. agricultural system is considered one of the best in the world and continues to increase in productivity. However “opinion varies as to whether the tremendous biological, chemical, and mechanical advances of the last few decades can persist”(Monthly Labor Review, p.16). “The complexity and scale of modern agriculture may pose prohibitive costs in realizing further substantial productivity gains" (Monthly Labor Review, p.16).
Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen created the first GMO in 1973. In 1982 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first GM drug, Humulin the first bacteria to produce human insulin. In 1986 tobacco was the first genetically modified crop to be field tested in Belgium. 1992 the U.S. FDA declared that GM foods are “not inherently dangerous” so they would not require special regulation (americanradioworks.org). According to BestMeal.info, “Monsanto is a US based agricultural and pharmaceutical is a producer of monopoly, Monsanto Company herbicides, prescription pharmaceutical drugs, and genetically engineered (GMO) seeds.” Monsanto has been at the forefront of injecting toxins and chemicals into our food making humans the only species on earth that poisons them on purpose and pay money to do so. “GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals” (Non GMO Project, 2013).
This type of crossbreeding and combining of genes is not natural in any aspect. GMO is “engineered to withstand herbicides and/or to produce an insecticide” within the plant (Non GMO Project, 2013). Most developed countries do not recognize GMO as safe for consumption and have attributed its insecticide properties as the reason for “super bugs and super weeds” emerging on farms (Non GMO Project, 2013). Another plant modification known as Terminator Technology kills the plants offspring after two generations of planting causing farmers to need more seeds every time they plant. It is a challenge for people to identify GMO in their foods, as there is no law saying food distributors must disclose GMO in their products and is a continuing fight between activists, farmers and Monsanto in court. A few of the high- risk for GMO crops include “soy, corn, sugar beets, cotton, canola, zucchini, and yellow summer squash” (Non GMO Project, 2013). In 1994, the “first of Monsanto 's biotech products to make it to market was not a GMO crop but Monsanto 's controversial GMO cattle drug, bovine growth hormone - called rBGH or rBST,” for dairy cows (BestMeal.info, 2013). Even though there were public concerns, it was approved by the FDA for
consumption. You can usually find GMO in your family vitamins as well in the form of “Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbate, Citric Acid, Sucrose, Maltodextrin, and Sodium Citrate” to name a few (Adams, 2013). Even though some countries have banned GMO as not safe for consumption, the United States stands behind it using scientific studies paid for by the same people producing GMO as valid reasoning for its use. More independent studies have shown dangerous consequences from GMO with animal testing resulting in growth of tumors and damaged organs in rats that were “fed a combination of GM corn and glyphosate” (Adams, 2013 p.1) GMO crops are killing us by absorption of the toxins these plants are engineered to produce. According to GMwatch.org, these farmers and corporations are now engineering these crops to produce two or more toxins in order to kill off pest inherent with certain crops. “The reason behind this is because the pest are now mutating along with the plants” (GMWatch.org). Our bodies absorb what we eat and our cells have been known to take on certain characteristics of said food. Take carrots for example. Carrots have a natural occurring chemical called Beta- keratin our bodies are unable to break down this chemical as such if humans were to consume a large enough portion of carrots then their skin would literally turn orange (the magic school bus). [There are too few independent (non-industry) studies of the health effects of GM foods to have confidence in their safety. In an experiment in Scotland, rats fed GM potatoes containing a gene for a protein, lectin, fared poorly and suffered internal organ damage. Pro-GM scientists have attacked the study, but at the very least it highlights the need for more research. The mistaken release into the food system of "Starlink" GM corn approved only for animal feed illustrates another danger—that of allergens being introduced into otherwise non-allergenic foods through genetic engineering (Americanradioworks.org).] Our food is killing us not only have GMO’s gained the majority of crops in the US, but has also succeeded in stupefying Americans into thinking that they are good for us. Major corporations like MONSANTO whom have a history of lying and deceiving America have gain notoriety and have become very profitable. GM crops not only kill themselves but also have the capability of killing us at the same time.
Works Cited
Americanradioworks.org (2013) History of Genetic Engineering
http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/gmos_india/history.html
BLS (2013) International Unemployment Rates and Employment Indexes, Seasonally Adjusted, 2009-2013
http://www.bls.gov/fls/intl_unemployment_rates_monthly.htm#Rchart1 (2013
BestMeal.info.com (2013) Dark History of the Evil Monsanto Corporation http://bestmeal.info/monsanto/company-history.shtml
Consumer alert: Most common vitamins, including children’s vitamins, found to contain http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/1981/11/art2full.pdf GMOs by Mike Adams, Natural News. July 31, 2013 Web. 24 August 2013 Web. August 24, 2013.
Non-GMO Project (2013) web. August, 24, 2013.
http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/
Monthly Labor Review November 1981, Agricultural employment: Has the decline ended?
GMWatch.org (2013) Attempts to prevent pests adapting to Bt crops may fail – study Web. August 24 2013 http://www.gmwatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1471 7:new-paper-on-dsrna-risks-briefing-for-non-specialists
The magic school bus season 4 Episode 6 Goes Cell-Ular(1997)
http://www.tv.com/shows/the-magic-school-bus/goes-cell-ular-57412/
Panapa
WR121: Research Essay
24 AUG 2013
Your Food is Killing You During a time in the world where unemployment is at record highs and the cost a food has become staggering, farmers and businessmen alike have sought out new forms and methods of growing food. One of these methods has been using genetically modified crops. Most people do not even know what GMO’s are, where they come from, and how eating these foods are affecting their bodies. According to the United Stats Department of Labor, the unemployment rate of Americans still sets at an unbelievable 7.6 percent. “This number does not bring hope to the agricultural area of the states that continually seek out ways of improving its income” (BLS web). The …show more content…
U.S. agricultural system is considered one of the best in the world and continues to increase in productivity. However “opinion varies as to whether the tremendous biological, chemical, and mechanical advances of the last few decades can persist”(Monthly Labor Review, p.16). “The complexity and scale of modern agriculture may pose prohibitive costs in realizing further substantial productivity gains" (Monthly Labor Review, p.16).
Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen created the first GMO in 1973. In 1982 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first GM drug, Humulin the first bacteria to produce human insulin. In 1986 tobacco was the first genetically modified crop to be field tested in Belgium. 1992 the U.S. FDA declared that GM foods are “not inherently dangerous” so they would not require special regulation (americanradioworks.org). According to BestMeal.info, “Monsanto is a US based agricultural and pharmaceutical is a producer of monopoly, Monsanto Company herbicides, prescription pharmaceutical drugs, and genetically engineered (GMO) seeds.” Monsanto has been at the forefront of injecting toxins and chemicals into our food making humans the only species on earth that poisons them on purpose and pay money to do so. “GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals” (Non GMO Project, 2013).
This type of crossbreeding and combining of genes is not natural in any aspect. GMO is “engineered to withstand herbicides and/or to produce an insecticide” within the plant (Non GMO Project, 2013). Most developed countries do not recognize GMO as safe for consumption and have attributed its insecticide properties as the reason for “super bugs and super weeds” emerging on farms (Non GMO Project, 2013). Another plant modification known as Terminator Technology kills the plants offspring after two generations of planting causing farmers to need more seeds every time they plant. It is a challenge for people to identify GMO in their foods, as there is no law saying food distributors must disclose GMO in their products and is a continuing fight between activists, farmers and Monsanto in court. A few of the high- risk for GMO crops include “soy, corn, sugar beets, cotton, canola, zucchini, and yellow summer squash” (Non GMO Project, 2013). In 1994, the “first of Monsanto 's biotech products to make it to market was not a GMO crop but Monsanto 's controversial GMO cattle drug, bovine growth hormone - called rBGH or rBST,” for dairy cows (BestMeal.info, 2013). Even though there were public concerns, it was approved by the FDA for
consumption. You can usually find GMO in your family vitamins as well in the form of “Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbate, Citric Acid, Sucrose, Maltodextrin, and Sodium Citrate” to name a few (Adams, 2013). Even though some countries have banned GMO as not safe for consumption, the United States stands behind it using scientific studies paid for by the same people producing GMO as valid reasoning for its use. More independent studies have shown dangerous consequences from GMO with animal testing resulting in growth of tumors and damaged organs in rats that were “fed a combination of GM corn and glyphosate” (Adams, 2013 p.1) GMO crops are killing us by absorption of the toxins these plants are engineered to produce. According to GMwatch.org, these farmers and corporations are now engineering these crops to produce two or more toxins in order to kill off pest inherent with certain crops. “The reason behind this is because the pest are now mutating along with the plants” (GMWatch.org). Our bodies absorb what we eat and our cells have been known to take on certain characteristics of said food. Take carrots for example. Carrots have a natural occurring chemical called Beta- keratin our bodies are unable to break down this chemical as such if humans were to consume a large enough portion of carrots then their skin would literally turn orange (the magic school bus). [There are too few independent (non-industry) studies of the health effects of GM foods to have confidence in their safety. In an experiment in Scotland, rats fed GM potatoes containing a gene for a protein, lectin, fared poorly and suffered internal organ damage. Pro-GM scientists have attacked the study, but at the very least it highlights the need for more research. The mistaken release into the food system of "Starlink" GM corn approved only for animal feed illustrates another danger—that of allergens being introduced into otherwise non-allergenic foods through genetic engineering (Americanradioworks.org).] Our food is killing us not only have GMO’s gained the majority of crops in the US, but has also succeeded in stupefying Americans into thinking that they are good for us. Major corporations like MONSANTO whom have a history of lying and deceiving America have gain notoriety and have become very profitable. GM crops not only kill themselves but also have the capability of killing us at the same time.
Works Cited
Americanradioworks.org (2013) History of Genetic Engineering
http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/gmos_india/history.html
BLS (2013) International Unemployment Rates and Employment Indexes, Seasonally Adjusted, 2009-2013
http://www.bls.gov/fls/intl_unemployment_rates_monthly.htm#Rchart1 (2013
BestMeal.info.com (2013) Dark History of the Evil Monsanto Corporation http://bestmeal.info/monsanto/company-history.shtml
Consumer alert: Most common vitamins, including children’s vitamins, found to contain http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/1981/11/art2full.pdf GMOs by Mike Adams, Natural News. July 31, 2013 Web. 24 August 2013 Web. August 24, 2013.
Non-GMO Project (2013) web. August, 24, 2013.
http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/
Monthly Labor Review November 1981, Agricultural employment: Has the decline ended?
GMWatch.org (2013) Attempts to prevent pests adapting to Bt crops may fail – study Web. August 24 2013 http://www.gmwatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1471 7:new-paper-on-dsrna-risks-briefing-for-non-specialists
The magic school bus season 4 Episode 6 Goes Cell-Ular(1997)
http://www.tv.com/shows/the-magic-school-bus/goes-cell-ular-57412/