GMO?

At this moment, I feel as though I have spent too much of this week focusing mainly on very texty pieces of work. Therefore, today I am going to accentuate on something more visual: an infographic.

In "GMO?," the questions and consequences regarding GMOs are accentuated through visual interpretations. According to the article, "Genetic modification may include the ADDITION OF DNA from species that would NOT BREED in nature." After reading this statement, I find this horribly disgraceful and somewhat shameful. Another statement which is exemplified in this infographic is: "GMO varieties of corn and potatoes are engineered to PRODUCE THEIR OWN PESTICIDES." Personally, I find the fact that those words that are bolded are done so quite appropriately. It is in fact quite disorientating to think that plants have been manipulated in such as way that they produce poison. Overall, this inforgraphic emphasizes on the grotesque features of GMOs; thus, giving me another reason to avoid them as much as possible.

It's Not Just Your Health

Although I have written about avoiding GMO products countless times, the routine seems to never get too old. Thus, after reading Wanttoknow.info's article, "GMOs and Genetically Modified Foods
Risks and Dangers of GMOs," I have rediscovered additional reasons to stay GMO-free.

• Agency scientists warned that GM foods in general might create unpredicted allergies, toxins, antibiotic resistant diseases, and nutritional problems
• Tragically, scientists who voice their criticism, as well as those who have discovered incriminating evidence, have been threatened, stripped of responsibilities, denied funding or tenure, or fired
• Americans eat genetically modified foods everyday
• Cows fed GM corn in Germany died mysteriously
• Soon after GM soy was introduced to the UK, soy allergies skyrocketed by 50 percent
• The only human feeding study ever conducted showed that the gene inserted into soybeans spontaneously transferred out of food and into the DNA of gut bacteria
• No one monitors human health impacts of GM foods
• In the US, most people believe they have never eaten a GM food in their lives

Overall, I found this article to be particularly insightful in not only highlighting the health consequences of GMOs, but also the social and long-term.

Article: 

GMOs and Genetically Modified Foods Risks and Dangers of GMOs by Wanttoknow.info

Common Knowledge

As I have stated in the past, Genetically modified organisms are “plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals. These experimental combinations of genes from different species cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding” (Non-GMO Project). Although the abundance of genetically modified organisms is increasing in the modern world, the idea has received a lot of controversy for it’s unnatural attempt to “better” the food industry. For over the past decade, the ongoing argument over the dangers of genetically modified organisms has remained a significant global dispute. Although many argue that genetically modified organisms have more advantages than disadvantages, the vast majority of people protest against this claim.

However, after reading Environmental Commons article, "What You Should Know About Genetically Modified Foods!", I have found that my definition and understanding of GMOs has been slightly altered. Therefore, I highly recommended, to all those who want a straightforward insight into the "what, why, and how" of GMOs, that you read up on this article (link mentioned below).

What You Should Know About Genetically Modified Foods! by Environmental Commons

4 More Reasons

According to CNN iReport's article, there are four major potential health risks of eating GMO foods.

As stated in the article, these include:
1. Allergies

According to "GMO Compass", "When a new gene is introduced into a plant’s genome, the principal end result is the production of a new protein." Due to these unknown proteins, unprecedented allergies can be a result.

2. Antibiotic Resistance

Furthermore, it has been acclaimed that GMOs have antibiotic resistance. As claimed by "GMO Compass", "Antibiotic resistance genes from GM foods are taken up by bacteria in the gut during digestion. If bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes were ever to cause infection, it would be very difficult for doctors to treat."

3. Pesticide Exposure 

Another reason why GMOs are harmful is due to the fact that they are sprayed with insect-repellent pesticides. As stated by "GMO Compass", "Bt, is a bacterium that has attracted much attention for its use in pest control. The soil bacterium produces a  protein that is toxic to various herbivorous insects."

4. Unpredictability and the Unknown

Lastly, GMOs are dangerous because they are unpredictable. As stated by US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, GMOs are "Resistant to pests and the herbicides used to control weeds, these new crops were so popular with farmers that millions of acres were planted with them by the turn of the millennium."

For more information please visit:

4 Potential Health Risks of Eating GMO Foods by CNN iReport

Genetically Modified Foods: Breeding Uncertainty by Charles W. Schmidt

Do GMOs Mean More Allergies? by GMO Compass

Pest Resistant Crops by GMO Compass

Antibiotic Resistance Genes: A Threat? by GMO Compass

ɔːˈganɪk

• organic: produced or involving production without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial chemicals (Oxford English Dictionary)

What does "organic" mean?

According to the United States Food Department, organic "is the term used to describe raw or processed agricultural products and ingredients that have been (a) organically grown (farmed) and (b) handled in compliance with the standards"

What are the USDA's standards for organic products?

According to "The World's Healthiest Foods," organic products must be free of:

• Most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
• Sewer sludge fertilizers
• Genetic engineering
• Growth hormones
• Irradiation
• Antibiotics
• Artificial ingredients
• Many synthetic additives

Although organically grown crops are beneficial to consumers, they are also beneficial to the land that they are grown in.

In terms of being beneficial to the land, organic products:

• Use of crop rotation
• Use of composted animal manure with specified carbon to nitrogen ratios and temperature readings.
• Use of uncomposted plant materials

Overall, organic products have demonstrated to be much more beneficial to our well-being in comparison to genetically modified organisms; therefore, it is highly recommended to incorporate more organic crops into a healthy, daily diet.

For more information on organic please visit: Everything You Need to Know About Organic Foods by World's Healthiest Foods

For more information on why you should decrease GMO consumption please visit:

First the Rats... then Us

GMO Disadvantages

Stay GMO-Free

GO FAIRTRADE!

As I have mentioned before, it is highly preferable to switch to non-GMO and/or organic products; in order to effectively decrease consumption of GMO chicken. However, there is an additional option that is not only beneficial to you, but to those less fortunate as well. Go for fair trade products! By buying fair trade products, you help those less fortunate earn a responsible and fair living. According to the Mirror in their article “40 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE FAIRTRADE PRODUCTS,” there are, as stated, forty good reasons and facts that should incline you to make better decisions and purchase more fair trade products.

If I were to list out all the reasons, the list would be quite extensive; instead, please visit:  40 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE FAIRTRADE PRODUCTS

First the Rats... then Us

According to the Institute for Responsible Technology’s article “GMO Danger,” expressing concerns over negative outcomes of GMOs,  GMOs have the potential to be extremely dangerous.
As expressed in the article, there is evidence that GMOs have done the following:

• Bt cotton has killed thousands of grazing livestock
• When GM corn is consumed by mice, decreases fertility
• Mice fed GM soy had a shorter life expectancy rate
• GM soy caused infertility in hamsters
• Rodents fed GM corn had a decrease in immunity
• Cooked GM increased soy allergen as much as seven times
• Soy allergies increased 50% when GM soy was introduced in the UK
• GM potatoes caused rats to grow cells excessively, leading to cancer

Overall, for the most part, GMO had a significant negative impact on rodents. Once again, giving us a reason to be safe rather than sorry.