Europeans More Resistant to Genetically Modified Foods

Europeans More Resistant to Genetically Modified Foods
Posted by Dr. Mercola | May 17 2003 | 2,256 views
Email this to a friend
Share this article

Previous Article

Next Article

While many in America believe that genetically modified (GM) foods will reduce the need for pesticides and chemical fertilizers, helps solve the world hunger problems and help with medical issues, Europeans are much more resistant such biotechnology.
In fact, in 1998 in response to consumer demands the European Union (EU) restricted new GM products and required that all foods containing more than one percent of GM ingredients be labeled.
However, worldwide, land devoted to GM crops has increased 30-fold from 1996 to 2001, and in the United States GM crops have spread and contaminated traditional crops so severely that the U.S. seed industry can’t guarantee that soybean, corn or canola seeds are GM-free.
While the U.S. government maintains that genetic engineering is safe, the EU has been somewhat more resistant and 70 percent of European consumers say they don't want to eat any GMO at all.
Controversy is brewing over whether Europeans are being overly cautious or prudent. According to some experts, it is too soon to know for sure how GM products will affect humans.
Alternet April 29, 2003

Dr. Mercola's Comments:


Consuming genetically modified foods is like participating in a giant experiment. There is no telling what the consequences of using these genetically modified foods will be because these products have never existed before now.
It seems clear that these altered foods are capable of producing chages in humans. Already, investigators have found that rats fed genetically modified potatoes had an increased thickening in the lining of their stomach and intestine and a weakening of their immune system.
Further, some scientists want to put vaccines into plants without any real knowledge of what effects this unnatural addition will have on human health, or the health of our planet.
This is SHEER LUNACY.
What these scientists have failed to fully appreciate is that once these genetically modified plants are growing it is physically impossible to prevent them from pollinating other plants, thereby contaminating them with these new proteins, of which we do not know the long-term consequences.
The absurdity of the entire process is mind-boggling. These scientists are willing to sacrifice the country’s food supply by adding vaccines, which do not even work in the first place, to plants.
If this continues, our grandchildren may not have access to any non-genetically modified food, and the health of our society may continue to rapidly decline.
One of the keys to health is good food. Although most of us don't choose to do so, we can still purchase real, unaltered food in this country. Sadly, the future does not appear to provide this option.
Genetically modified foods did not exist prior to 1995. Ninety percent of the money Americans spend on food is spent on processed foods, and seventy percent of processed foods have genetically modified foods in them.
There have been NO STUDIES done with humans to show what happens when genetically modified foods are consumed. The FDA has ASSUMED that these modified foods are equivalent to the original foods and does not require any studies to have them approved, despite the fact that this technology has never before existed in the history of the world.
This is especially troubling in light of the United State’s federal track record on genetically engineered safety, which is terrible.
For example, last year genetically modified Starlink corn was approved for animal consumption, but NOT human consumption because of a concern that it could cause allergies in humans. However, Starlink corn would up directly in the human food supply, despite FDA precautions.
There are EIGHT different agencies in the United States regulating biotechnology under 12 different sets of laws. NONE of the laws had biotechnology in mind when they were passed, as they are 40 to 50 years old.
This lack of regulation and total irresponsibility in using genetically modified foods is a disaster waiting to happen.
Related Articles:
GMO Crops Are an Accident Waiting to Happen
Drug Company Owns Monsanto and Their Weed Killer Is What Funds GMO Crops
GMO Crops Are An Accident Waiting to Happen
Genetically Modified Foods, Inc.
Source: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/05/17/gm-foods-part-six.aspx