DOCTORS: AVOID GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD AND GMOS
By Fred Burks
Examiner
June 2, 2009
Original LinkA group of leading doctors has warned the public to avoid genetically modified food and GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). A revealing
press release from this group of concerned physicians states, "The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) today released its position paper on Genetically Modified foods stating that 'GM foods pose a serious health risk' and calling for a moratorium on GM foods."
The critical information here is largely taken with permission from
an excellent article written by respected health researcher Jeffrey Smith on this key topic so vital to our health.
On May 19th, the AAEM posted their landmark paper calling on “Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM (genetically modified) foods when possible and provide educational materials concerning GM foods and health risks. In addition to a moratorium on GM foods, these doctors also called for non-biased, long-term independent studies, and labeling of all foods containing GM ingredients.
AAEM’s position paper stated, “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. They conclude, “There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects. There is causation,” as defined by recognized scientific criteria. “The strength of association and consistency between GM foods and disease is confirmed in several animal studies.”
More and more doctors are already prescribing GM-free diets. Dr. Amy Dean, a Michigan internal medicine specialist and board member of AAEM says, “I strongly recommend patients eat strictly non-genetically modified foods.” Allergist Dr. John Boyles says “I used to test for soy allergies all the time, but now that soy is genetically engineered, it is so dangerous that I tell people never to eat it.”
Research has shown that pregnant women and babies are at particularly great risk. Biologist David Schubert of the Salk Institute warns that “children are the most likely to be adversely effected by toxins and other dietary problems” related to GM foods. He says without adequate studies, the children become “the experimental animals.”
Animal Studies
The experience of actual GM-fed experimental animals is scary. When GM soy was fed to female rats, most of their babies died within three weeks – compared to a 10% death rate among the control group fed natural soy. The GM-fed babies were also smaller, and later had problems getting pregnant. When male rats were fed GM soy, their testicles actually changed color – from the normal pink to dark blue. Mice fed GM soy also had altered young sperm.
GMOs are known to provoke immune reactions. AAEM states, “Multiple animal studies show significant immune dysregulation,” including increase in cytokines, which are “associated with asthma, allergy, and inflammation” – all on the rise in the US. According to GM food safety expert Dr. Arpad Pusztai, changes in the immune status of GM animals are “a consistent feature of all the studies.”
Warnings by government scientists ignored and denied
Scientists at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had warned about all these problems even in the early 1990s. According to documents released from a lawsuit, the scientific consensus at the agency was that GM foods were inherently dangerous, and might create hard-to-detect allergies, poisons, gene transfer to gut bacteria, new diseases, and nutritional problems. They urged their superiors to require rigorous long-term tests, but to no avail.
The White House instead ordered the agency to promote biotechnology. The FDA responded by recruiting Michael Taylor, former attorney of Monsanto – the largest GM food producer – to head up the formation of GMO policy. The wolf was hired to regulate the hen house. The policy developed under Taylor, which is in effect today, denies knowledge of scientists’ concerns and declares that no safety studies on GMOs are required. It is left to Monsanto and the other biotech companies to determine if their foods are safe. Mr. Taylor later left the FDA to become Monsanto’s vice president.
AAEM states, “GM foods have not been properly tested” and “pose a serious health risk.” Not a single human clinical trial on GMOs has been published. A 2007 review of published scientific literature on the “potential toxic effects/health risks of GM plants” revealed “that experimental data are very scarce” for human tests. The author concludes his review by asking, “Where is the scientific evidence showing that GM plants/food are toxicologically safe, as assumed by the biotechnology companies?"
Famed Canadian geneticist David Suzuki answers, “The experiments simply haven’t been done and we now have become the guinea pigs.” He adds, “Anyone that says, ‘Oh, we know that this is perfectly safe,’ I say is either unbelievably stupid or deliberately lying.”
There is a pocket
Non-GMO Shopping Guide, co-produced by the Institute for Responsible Technology and the Center for Food Safety, which is available as a download, as well as in natural food stores and in many doctors’ offices. If even a small percentage of people choose non-GMO brands, the food industry will likely respond as they did in Europe – by removing all GM ingredients. Thus, AAEM’s non-GMO prescription may be a watershed for the US food supply.
The box immediately below provides several ideas on what you can do to educate yourself and make a difference on this vital topic. We also invite you to comment below and let us know what you think. Can we join Europe in demanding the safety of our food supply and labeling of GM food?
What you can do:
* Inform your media and political representatives of this important information. To contact those close to you,
click here. Urge them to pass legislation requiring labeling of GM food and non-biased scientific reviews of the dangers of GMOs already in our food.
* Read Jeffrey Smith's full article on this key topic at
this link. See also his powerful
10-page summary on the cover-up of GMO dangers and more at this link. Lots of excellent footnotes for verification are included in both of these articles.
* For a powerful documentary showing these dangers in our food supply, click here:
http://www.wanttoknow.info/healthvideodocumentaryfutureoffood* Read concise summaries of revealing media reports on health cover-ups available here:
http://www.wanttoknow.info/healthnewsarticles* Visit our Health Information Center at:
http://www.WantToKnow.info/healthinformation* Spread this news to your friends and colleagues, and bookmark this article on key news websites using the "Share This" icon just below the title of this article, so that we can fill the role at which the major media is sadly failing. Together, we can make a difference.