Genetically Modified (GM) Foods documented to be very dangerous/harmful

For documentation on the serious harmful health effects of Glyphosate see www.myflcv.com/GMOcorn.html ;

  High Levels of Bayer’s Glyposate Weedkiller Found in Hummus, Chickpeas

Independent laboratory tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group found glyphosate, the notorious weedkiller linked to cancer, in more than 80 percent of non-organic hummus and chickpeas...

 

Bayer-Monsanto Agrees to $10B Settlement With Victims Poisoned by Roundup Weedkiller

 

This Supermarket "Health Food" Killed These Baby Rats in Three Weeks 

Posted By  Dr. Mercola  | October 04 2010      By Jeffrey Smith    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/04/watch-out-there-are-more-problems-with-genetically-modified-foods-than-youre-allowed-to-know.aspx

Arpad Pusztai

Biologist Arpad Pusztai had more than 300 articles and 12 books to his credit and was the world’s top expert in his field.

But when he accidentally discovered that genetically modified (GM) foods are dangerous, he became the biotech industry’s bad-boy poster child, setting an example for other scientists thinking about blowing the whistle.

In the early 1990s, Dr. Pusztai was awarded a $3 million grant by the UK government to design the system for safety testing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). His team included more than 20 scientists working at three facilities, including the Rowett Institute in Aberdeen, Scotland, the top nutritional research lab in the UK, and his employer for the previous 35 years.  

The results of Pusztai’s work were supposed to become the required testing protocols for all of Europe. But when he fed supposedly harmless GM potatoes to rats, things didn’t go as planned.

Within just 10 days, the animals developed potentially pre-cancerous cell growth, smaller brains, livers, and testicles, partially atrophied livers, and damaged immune systems. Moreover, the cause was almost certainly side effects from the   process   of genetic engineering itself. In other words, the GM foods on the market, which are created from the same process, might have similar affects on humans.

With permission from his director, Pusztai was interviewed on TV and expressed his concerns about GM foods. He became a hero at his institute -- for two days.  

Then came the phone calls from the pro-GMO prime minister’s office to the institute’s director. The next morning, Pusztai was fired. He was silenced with threats of a lawsuit, his team was dismantled, and the protocols never implemented. His Institute, the biotech industry, and the UK government, together launched a smear campaign to destroy Pusztai’s reputation.

Eventually, an invitation to speak before Parliament lifted his gag order and his research was published in the prestigious   Lancet . No similar in-depth studies have yet tested the GM foods eaten every day by Americans.

Irina Ermakova

Irina Ermakova , a senior scientist at the Russian National Academy of Sciences, was shocked to discover that more than half of the baby rats in her experiment died within three weeks. She had fed the mothers GM soy flour purchased at a supermarket. The babies from mothers fed natural non-GMO soy, however, only suffered a 10% death rate. She repeated her experiment three times with similar results.

Dr. Ermakova reported her preliminary findings at a conference in October 2005, asking the scientific community to replicate her study. Instead, she was attacked and vilified. Her boss told her to stop doing anymore GM food research. Samples were stolen from her lab, and a paper was even set fire on her desk. One of her colleagues tried to comfort her by saying, “Maybe the GM soy will solve the overpopulation problem.”

Of the mostly spurious criticisms leveled at Ermakova , one was significant enough to raise doubts about the cause of the deaths. She did not conduct a biochemical analysis of the feed. Without it, we don’t know if some rogue toxin had contaminated the soy flour. But more recent events suggest that whatever caused the high infant mortality was not unique to her one bag of GM flour.  

In November 2005, the supplier of rat food to the laboratory where Ermakova worked began using GM soy in the formulation.   All   the rats were now eating it. After two months, Ermakova asked other scientists about the infant mortality rate in   their   experiments. It had skyrocketed to over 55 percent.

It’s been four years since these findings were reported. No one has yet repeated Ermakova’s study, even though it would cost just a few thousand dollars.

Andrés Carrasco

Embryologist Andrés Carrasco told a leading Buenos Aires newspaper about the results of his research into Roundup, the herbicide sold in conjunction with Monsanto’s genetically engineered Roundup Ready crops.  

Dr. Carrasco, who works in Argentina’s Ministry of Science, said his studies of amphibians suggest that the herbicide could cause defects in the brain, intestines, and hearts of fetuses. Moreover, the amount of Roundup used on GM soy fields was as much as 1,500 times greater than that which created the defects.  

Tragically, his research had been inspired by the experience of desperate peasant and indigenous communities who were suffering from exposure to toxic herbicides used on the GM soy fields throughout Argentina.

According to an article in   Grain , the biotech industry “mounted an unprecedented attack on Carrasco, ridiculing his research and even issuing personal threats.” In addition, four men arrived unannounced at his laboratory and were extremely aggressive, attempting to interrogate Carrasco and obtain details of his study. “It was a violent, disproportionate, dirty reaction,” he said. “I hadn’t even discovered anything new, only confirmed conclusions that others had reached.”

Argentina’s Association of Environmental Lawyers filed a petition calling for a ban on Roundup, and the Ministry of Defense banned GM soy from its fields.

Judy Carman

Epidemiologist Judy Carman used to investigate outbreaks of disease for a state government in Australia. She knows that health problems associated with GM foods might be impossible to track or take decades to discover. Moreover, the superficial, short-term animal feeding studies usually do not evaluate “biochemistry, immunology, tissue pathology, gut function, liver function, and kidney function” and are too short to test for cancer or reproductive or child health.  

Dr. Carman has critiqued the GMO approval process on behalf of the Public Health Association of Australia and speaks openly about her concerns. As a result, she is repeatedly attacked. Pro-GM scientists threatened disciplinary action through her Vice-Chancellor, and circulated a defamatory letter to government and university officials.

Carman was awarded a grant by the Western Australia government to conduct some of the few long-term animal feeding studies on GMOs. Apparently concerned about what she might find, GMO advocates wrote letters to the government demanding that the grant be withdrawn. One scientist tried to convince the Western Australia Agriculture minister that sufficient safety research had been conducted and he should therefore cancel the grant.

 As his evidence, however, he presented a report summarizing only 60 GMO animal feeding studies -- an infinitesimal amount of research to justify exposing the entire population to GM foods.

A closer investigation, however, revealed that most of the 60 were not safety studies at all. They were production studies, measuring, for example, the animals’ carcass weight. Only 9 contained data applicable to human health. And 6 of the 9 showed adverse effects in animals that ate GM feed!  

Furthermore, there were several other studies with adverse findings that were mysteriously missing from the compilation. Carman points out that the report “does not support claims that GM crops are safe to eat. On the contrary, it provides evidence that GM crops may be harmful to health.”

When the Western Government refused to withdraw the grant, opponents successfully interfered with Carman’s relationship with the university where she was to do the research.  

Terje Traavik

Prominent virologist Terje Traavik presented preliminary data at a February 2004 meeting at the UN Biosafety Protocol Conference, showing that:

  1. Filipinos living next to a GM cornfield developed serious symptoms while the corn was pollinating; 
  2. Genetic material inserted into GM crops transferred to rat organs after a single meal; and 
  3. Key safety assumptions about genetically engineered viruses were overturned, calling into question the safety of using these viruses in vaccines. 

The biotech industry mercilessly attacked Dr. Traavik . Their excuse? -- he presented unpublished work. But presenting preliminary data at professional conferences is a long tradition in science, something that the biotech industry itself relied on in 1999 to try to counter the evidence that butterflies were endangered by GM corn.

Ironically, three years after attacking Traavik , the same biotech proponents sharply criticized a peer-reviewed publication for   not   citing unpublished data that had been presented at a conference. The paper shows how the runoff of GM Bt corn into streams can kill the “caddis fly,” which may seriously upset marine ecosystems. The study set off a storm of attacks against its author, ecologist Emma Rosi -Marshall, which   Nature   described in a September 2009 article as a “hail of abuse.”

Companies Prevent Studies on Their GM Crops

When Ohio State University plant ecologist Allison Snow discovered problematic side effects in GM sunflowers, Pioneer Hi-Bred International and Dow AgroSciences blocked further research by withholding GM seeds and genes.  

After Marc Lappé and Britt Bailey found significant reductions in cancer-fighting isoflavones in Monsanto’s GM soybeans, the seed seller, Hartz, told them they could no longer provide samples.  

Research by a plant geneticist at a leading US university was also thwarted when two companies refused him GM corn. In fact, almost no independent studies are conducted that might find problems. According to a scathing opinion piece in an August 2009   Scientific American ,

Agritech companies have given themselves veto power over the work of independent researchers ... Only studies that the seed companies have approved ever see the light of a peer-reviewed journal.”

A group of 24 corn insect scientists protested this restriction in a letter submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency. They warned that the inability to access GM seeds from biotech companies means there can be no truly independent research on the critical questions. The scientists, of course, withheld their identities for fear of reprisals from the companies.

Restricted access is not limited to the US. When a Japanese scientist wanted to conduct animal feeding studies on the GM soybeans under review in Japan, both the government and the bean’s maker DuPont refused to give him any samples. Hungarian Professor Bela Darvas discovered that Monsanto’s GM corn hurt endangered species in his country. Monsanto immediately shut off his supplies.  

Dr. Darvas later gave a speech on his preliminary findings and discovered that a false and incriminating report about his research was circulating. He traced it to a Monsanto public relations employee, who claimed it mysteriously appeared on her desk -- so she faxed it out.

GMO Contamination: Don’t Ask and Definitely Don’t Tell

In 2005, a scientist had gathered seed samples from all over Turkey to evaluate the extent of contamination by GM varieties. According to the   Turkish Daily News , just before her testing was complete, she was reassigned to another department and access to her lab was denied.

The unexpected transfer may have saved this Turkish scientist from an even worse fate, had she discovered and reported contamination.  

Ask Ignacio Chapela , a microbial ecologist from UC Berkeley. In 2001, he discovered that the indigenous corn varieties in Mexico -- the source of the world’s genetic diversity for corn—had become contaminated through cross pollination with GM varieties.  

The government had a ban against GM corn to prevent just this possibility, but apparently US corn imported for food had been planted nonetheless.

Dr. Chapela submitted the finding to   Nature , and as a courtesy that he later regretted, informed the Mexican government about the pending publication. He was called in to meet with a furious Director of the Commission of Biosafety and GMOs. Chapela’s confirmation of contamination would hinder introduction of GM corn. Therefore the government’s top biotech man demanded that he withdraw his article. According to Chapela , the official intimidated and threatened him, even implying, “We know where your children go to school.”

When a traumatized Chapela still did not back down, the Underminister for Agriculture later sent him a fax claiming that because of his scientific paper, Chapela would be held personally responsible for all damages caused to agriculture and to the economy in general.  

The day Chapela’s paper was published, Mary Murphy and Andura Smetacek began posting messages to a biotechnology listserve called AgBioWorld , distributed to more than 3,000 scientists. They falsely claimed that Chapela was biased, that his paper had not been peer-reviewed, that Chapela was “first and foremost an activist,” and his research was published in collusion with environmentalists. Soon, hundreds of other messages appeared, repeating or embellishing the accusations. The listserve launched a petition and besieged   Nature   with a worldwide campaign demanding retraction.

UC Berkeley also received letters from all over the world trying to convince them not to grant Chapela tenure. He had overwhelming support by his college and department, but the international biotech lobby was too much. Chapela’s tenure was denied. After he filed a lawsuit, the university eventually reversed its decision.

When investigators later analyzed the email characteristics sent by agitators Mary Murphy and Andura Smetacek , the two turned out not to be the average citizens they claimed. According to the   Guardian , both were fabricated names used by a public relations firm that worked for Monsanto. Some of Smetacek’s emails also had the internet protocol address of gatekeeper2.monsanto.com -- the server owned by Monsanto.

Science and Debate is Silenced

The attacks on scientists have taken its toll. According to Dr. Chapela , there is a de facto ban on scientists “asking certain questions and finding certain results.” He says, “It’s very hard for us to publish in this field. People are scared.” He told   Nature   that young people “are not going into this field precisely because they are discouraged by what they see.”

New Zealand Parliament member Sue Kedgley told a Royal Commission in 2001: “Personally I have been contacted by telephone and e-mail by a number of scientists who have serious concerns about aspects of the research that is taking place ... and the increasingly close ties that are developing between science and commerce, but who are convinced that if they express these fears publicly ... or even if they asked the awkward and difficult questions, they will be eased out of their institution.”

University of Minnesota biologist Phil Regal testified before the same Commission, “I think the people who boost genetic engineering are going to have to do a mea culpa and ask for forgiveness, like the Pope did on the inquisition.” Sue Kedgley has a different idea. She recommends we “set up human clinical trials using volunteers of genetically engineered scientists and their families, because I think they are so convinced of the safety of the products that they are creating and I’m sure they would very readily volunteer to become part of a human clinical trial.”

To learn more about the health dangers of GMOs, and what you can do to help end the genetic engineering of our food supply, visit   www.ResponsibleTechnology.org .

To learn how to choose healthier non-GMO brands, visit   www.NonGMOShoppingGuide.com .

About the Author

International bestselling author and filmmaker Jeffrey Smith is the leading spokesperson on the health dangers of genetically modified (GM) foods. His first book,   Seeds of Deception , is the world’s bestselling and #1 rated book on the topic. His second,   Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods , provides overwhelming evidence that GMOs are unsafe and should never have been introduced.  

Mr. Smith is the executive director of the   Institute for Responsible Technology , whose   Campaign for Healthier Eating in America   is designed to create the tipping point of consumer rejection of GMOs, forcing them out of our food supply.

Sources:

   Chickens Not Fooled by GM Crops

   Could Monsanto Be Responsible for One Indian Farmer's Death Every Thirty Minutes?

   Doctors Warn: Avoid Genetically Modified Food

 

Dr. Mercola's Comments: 

Together we CAN get GMOs banned from the US. Europe was able to do it over a decade ago without any government assistance. All they did was educate the consumers, and that was enough pressure on the food industry to drop their ploys.

If we band together as an effective army we will be able to do this. Please understand that the VAST majority of people in the US do not want GM foods, so this is an EASY battle to win. All we have to do is a bit of organizational work.

So let me tell you how we are going to achieve the removal of GMOs in the US.

October is   Non-GMO Month , and you’ll receive a lot of important information about genetically engineered foods this week.  

GM Food... Feeding the Hungry or Population Control? 

April 2010 Scott Salem-News.com  ;  

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/april262010/gm-food-as.php   

(Around 75% percent of our processed foods contain some form of GM ingredients.)

If you doubt that Genetically Modified (GM) foods threaten your body, here is a recent report from Russian biologists. They conducted what they thought would be a “routine” study of the long-term effects of the consumption of GM soy feed among a hamster population. For the first generation, the only untoward effects seemed to be constipation. The second generation didn’t seem too much the worse for wear either. But the third generation showed serious ill effects and turned out to be completely sterile.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Today Salem-News reports that a joint experiment by Russia’s National Association for Gene Security and the Institute of Ecological and Evolutional Problems has revealed that hamsters fed genetically modified (GM) foods produce grandchildren that are unable to produce fourth generation offspring.

Scientist Alexei Surov described the experiment, in which they monitored the behavior, weight gain and birthrate of several groups of hamsters. Upon birth of the second generation they noted slower rates of growth and sexual maturity. The next generation was unable to produce [ 1] .

Genetically modified foods will feed the hungry. I guess that’s one way of putting it. You could also call it population control. Technically, the final result would be an end to world hunger. They didn’t lie. Who are they? Please refer to my Salem-News story “While We Were Sleeping...GM Food and the Brink of No Return”. [2]

Russian scientists are not the only ones that have warned of noted health effects caused by genetically modified foods. Let us not forget that the scientists that were fired after they discovered serious health effects in animals after feeding them GM food products.

Believing in the potential of GM foods, UC Berkeley's Ignacio Chapela and Arpad Pusztai , a plant genetic modification expert from Scotland Rowett Research Institute, were commissioned to conduct the first independent study on animals fed GM foods.

Studies showed stunted growth, impaired immune systems, bleeding stomachs, abnormal and potentially pre-cancerous cell growth in the intestines, impaired blood cell development, misshaped cell structures in the liver, pancreas and testicles, altered gene expression and cell metabolism, liver and kidney lesions, partially atrophied livers, inflamed kidneys, less developed organs, reduced digestive enzymes, higher blood sugar, inflamed lung tissue, increased death rates and higher offspring mortality as well [3] .

The world is watching as Monsanto and the U.S Government promote the growth and continued expansion of their genetic modification program. They have patented the pig, the salmon and other species and genetically engineered their genes to produce offspring with more meat.

Here is the Voice of Russia report from Moscow:

Russia has started the annual Days of Defense against Environmental Hazards from the 15th of April to the 5th of June with the announcement of sensational results of an independent work of research.

Scientists have proven that Genetically Modified Organisms are harmful for mammals. The researchers discovered that animals that eat GM foodstuffs lose their ability to reproduce.

Campbell hamsters that have a fast reproduction rate were fed for two years with ordinary soya beans, which are widely used in agriculture and contain different percentages of GM organisms. Another group of hamsters, the control group, was fed with pure soya, which was found with great difficulty in Serbia because 95 percent of soya in the world is transgenic.

Concerning the experiment carried out jointly by the National Association for Gene Security and the Institute of Ecological and Evolutional Problems, Dr. Alexei Surov had this to say.

“We selected several groups of hamsters, kept them in pairs in cells and gave them ordinary food as always,” says Alexei Surov .

“We did not add anything for one group but the other was fed with soya that contained no GM components, while the third group with some content of Genetically Modified Organisms and the fourth one with increased amount of GMO. We monitored their behavior and how they gain weight and when they give birth to their cubs. Originally, everything went smoothly. However, we noticed quite a serious effect when we selected new pairs from their cubs and continued to feed them as before. These pairs’ growth rate was slower and they reached their sexual maturity more slowly. When we got some of their cubs we formed the new pairs of the third generation. We failed to get cubs from these pairs, which were fed with GM foodstuffs. It was proved that these pairs lost their ability to give birth to their cubs,” Dr. Alexei Surov said.

Another surprise was discovered by scientists in hamsters of the third generation. Hair grew in the mouth of the animals that took part in the experiment. It’s unclear why this happened.

The researchers cannot understand why a programme of destruction is launched when animals take GMO foodstuffs. They say that this can be neutralized only by ceasing to use these foods.

Consequently, scientists suggest imposing a ban on the use of GM foods until they are tested for their bio-security . The results of Russian scientists coincide with those of their colleagues from France and Austria. For one, when scientist proved that GM maize was harmful to mammals, France immediately banned its production and sale.

The scientists who carried out the experiment say that it’s too early to make far-reaching conclusions about the health hazards of GMO. They insist that there is a need to carry out comprehensive research.

They suggest implementing the project, “Safety Gene Technology” at the innovation centre , “Skolkovo” which is being set up near Moscow.

[1]   Russia Says Genetically Modified Foods are Harmful - Salem-News.com

[2]   While We Were Sleeping... GM Food and the Brink of No Return - April Scott Salem-News.com

[3]   "Seeds of Destruction, The Hidden Agenda of Genetic Manipulation" Review of F. William Engdahl's Book

-----------------------------------------------

A recent poll, conducted by the U.S. Consumers Union, found that two-thirds of US consumers would be concerned if they thought that GM ingredients were in organic food. There is overwhelming public opinion support for GM labeling, and more than 80 public health, environmental, and agriculture organizations are working to ensure genetically modified foods are labeled as such. Who is working in the opposite direction? The GM and food producers of course– and their powerful ally the US government.

GM Foods 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/09/jeff-smith-interview-gmo-week.aspx

Jeffrey Smith, founder of the  Institute for Responsible Technology , is leading the movement to eliminate genetically modified foods in the United States. 

Here, Smith offers an update on this important mission to protect your health, and that of your children and grand-children

Sources:

   Video Transcript

  

 

Dr. Mercola's Comments: 

 

Together we CAN get GMOs banned from the US. Europe was able to do it over a decade ago without any government assistance. All they did was educate the consumers, and that was enough pressure on the food industry to drop their ploys.

If we band together as an effective army we will be able to do this. Please understand that the VAST majority of people in the US do not want GM foods, so this is an EASY battle to win. All we have to do is a bit of organizational work.

So let me tell you how we are going to achieve the removal of GMOs in the US.

October is  Non-GMO Month , and you've been receiving a lot of important information about genetically engineered foods this week. 

Tomorrow, October 10 th ( 10/10/10) is  Non-GMO Day , so I'm pleased to bring back Jeffrey Smith, the real leader behind this movement to eliminate GM foods from the US market, for another interview.

This month, Jeffrey's organization,  Institute for Responsible Technology , is launching a plan to bring their message to the necessary numbers of people to create a tipping point that can effectively drive GM foods off the market. Nearly 400 retail stores selling natural products around the country are already actively promoting the information about choosing healthier non-GMO products.

The  Institute for Responsible Technology  (IRT) has created a variety of tools that will make it easier for you to choose non-GM foods, and this is the way to eradicate GMO's from your local store. If no one wants to buy them, stores can't sell them, and will simply stop ordering them. Food manufacturers will have to adjust and quickly change their ingredients or risk losing their business. 

It's really that simple! 

Remember, you as a consumer is still at the top of the food chain.

The Tipping Point is Near -- The Time to Join is NOW!

In this interview, Jeffrey shares some of the history of his organization and what they've gone through over the last 15 years to get to this point, and why it's so important that we all act now. 

"In [the beginning of] 1999, the biotech industry… was still anticipating that they could replace 95 percent of all commercial seeds with genetically engineered seeds within five years… But a single high profile GMO food safety scandal erupted in middle of February 1999.

Dr. Arpad Pusztai … has been gagged and told that if he talked about what he knew, he would be sued. Well, by an order of parliament, his gag order was lifted and he could finally talk about how he discovered that genetically engineered foods were inherently unsafe and could create all sorts of damage -- just from the process itself, irrespective of what gene you put in. 

Seven hundred and fifty articles were written within a month, and within 10 weeks virtually every major food company committed to stop using GM ingredients in Europe because it had become a marketing liability. 

They weren't instructed to do that by the government. They were instructed to do that by consumers at the top of the food chain."

How many Americans do we need to convince to avoid eating genetically modified foods to achieve the same victory in the US? 

We believe it's only about FIVE PERCENT of US shoppers!

So, changing the shopping habits of about 5.6 million households may be sufficient to eliminate GMOs in the US. 

That is our goal!

We already have these numbers on our side. About 28 million Americans buy organic on a regular basis. Eighty-seven million Americans think GMOs are seriously unsafe. A hundred and fifty nine million Americans, the majority, say they would avoid GMOs if labeled!

Unfortunately, no labeling is required, making your commitment to avoid GM foods all that more complicated. But that's where we come in. 

How You Can Help Others to Avoid GMO Foods

Most people want to avoid GMO foods but it is virtually impossible to do so, since the government prevents GMO labeling.

However, Jeffrey Smith has compiled a resource for you to avoid the government block of information. It is the free  Non-GMO Shopping Guide . We realize that with the challenging economy it is very difficult for many to donate money to help this cause, so we are merely asking for your time and connections with your family and friends.

You can really help by making this message go viral. So if you are convinced that GMO foods should not be in the US, please send this information to everyone you know; post it on Facebook and Twitter… 

You can also print out the  Non-GMO Shopping Guide  and give it to your friends and family. 

If you feel more ambitious you can also  order the Non-GMO Shopping Tips brochure  in bulk, and bring them to the grocery stores in your area. Talk to the owner or manager and get permission to post them in their store. 

Who Will You Share this Information With?

We have the tools right now to make a national movement quicker and more complete than any time in history. One important part of this message is that buying organic whenever you can is not enough to actually ban GM foods… 

Instead, what is needed is the consensus that "I buy organic whenever I can, but if I don't buy organic, I buy non-GMO." 

Remember, this also includes dairy from cows treated with rBGH , as it is a genetically engineered growth hormone, and the artificial sweetener aspartame, which is derived from GM microorganisms. 

If those of you who already buy organic whenever possible also  always avoid GM foods  when you  can't  get organic, then we can reach the tipping point.

You can help nurture this consumer mindset by bringing information to your local natural food store owner, so that she can share it will all of her customers as well. IRT has created a  complete Retailer Campaign Kit  for this purpose.

You can also share information with your child's school, your health care providers, and food manufacturers. The IRT has created information kits for all of them, available here:

·           Heath care provider kit 

·           Parents and Schools educational material

·           Manufacturers information kit 

Please remember to share this with your friends and family, but do so lovingly. You don't want to make yourself a pest and risk your relationship with them. But believe me, this is a MUCH easier sell than getting them to stop smoking or eating less sugar since most do not want GMOs anyway, and it doesn't involve giving anything up.

You may even want to share this information with your church or religious leaders. As Jeffrey says, 

"There are certain religious groups that think the genetic engineering process itself violates God's laws. So 'GMO' for them really means, 'God Move Over' and not 'Genetically Modified Organism.'"

The Non-GMO Project

"Now the good thing about the natural products industry today is the  Non-GMO Project movement ,"  Jeffrey says.  "A couple of years ago, the leaders of the natural food industry got together and backed a new standard for making non-GMO claims, and they called it the  Non-GMO Project .

Now there are  thousands of products enrolled in the Non-GMO Project , and you're going to start to see a little  seal on packages , just like the organic seal. 

You're also going to see something called 
Non-GMO Project Verified , meaning that the claim that something is non-GMO is now backed by a third party verified system.

In the past, if an owner of a natural products store had a lot of things that contained GMOs and a lot of things that didn't, they may be quite hesitant to start ringing the bell that GMOs were unhealthy. But now stores are becoming populated more and more and in some cases, completely, with  products that are non-GMO verified

Now you have store owners and managers and staff who are happy to shout from the rafters, our products are non-GMO and here is why."

For example, Whole Foods has now entered all of their store brand labels, the 365 brand and anything else that has the Whole Foods name, into the Non-GMO Project. They are also participating in non-GMO month. They've taken a strong leadership position to try and push the non-GMO message. 

For timely information and updates, you can  join the Non-GMO Project on Facebook , or  follow them on Twitter

Must-See Movies to Share!

The IRT has created a film called  Hidden Dangers in Kid's Meals , which is a powerful way for parents to get an initiation into the health dangers. It's only 28 minutes long, which is ideal for local access TV.

You can simply bring  the film  to your local access TV station, and sometimes they'll play it 10, 20, or even 30 times because they're always looking for material and are open to support from the community. 

There's also a video called  Your Milk on Drugs - Just Say No! , which exposes the dangers of GM bovine growth hormones. Any parent still feeding their child milk from cows injected with rBGH needs to see this film! They'll never make the same mistake again…

Another powerful video you can share with your friends and family is Jeffrey's  Everything You Have to Know About Dangerous Genetically Modified Foods lecture

"The Future of Food"  www.thefutureoffood.com/ . It will give you more information about why not to support Monsanto or GMOs.

Your Action Plan

I've already mentioned a number of different ways for you to get actively involved during Non-GMO Month. To recap, and add a few more suggestions, here is a list of Action Item for you to pick and choose from:

1.        Distribute WIDELY the  Non-GMO Shopping Guide  to help you identify and avoid foods with GMOs. Remember to look for products (including organic products) that feature the  Non-GMO Project Verified Seal  to be sure that at-risk ingredients have been tested for GMO content. 

2.        Download the Non-GMO Shopping Tips brochure  and keep it with you whenever you shop, or download the free iPhone application that is available in the iTunes store. You can find it by searching for ShopNoGMO in the applications. 

You can also  order the Non-GMO Shopping Tips brochure  in bulk and give it to your family and friends. 

3.        Urge food manufacturers to join the Non-GMO Project and become  Non-GMO Project Verified . This is currently the only way for manufacturers to get around the fact that there's no GM-labeling system. 

4.        Urge your local food retailers to  join the Non-GMO Project's Supporting Retailer Program

5.        If your budget allows support this urgent mission by generously  donating to the Institute of Responsible Technology

6.        Bring the film  Hidden Dangers in Kid's Meals  to your local access TV station, or perhaps your child's school, along with some  educational material specifically designed for teachers  and educators. 

7.        Share  Your Milk on Drugs - Just Say No! , and Jeffrey's lecture,  Everything You Have to Know About Dangerous Genetically Modified Foods  with everyone you know. Post them to your Facebook page, or email the links to your network of friends and family. 

8.        Join the Non-GMO Project on Facebook , or  follow them on Twitter

Together, We Control the Future of Our Food

Please join us in this important campaign. Do as much or as little as you can. Maybe you can't  make a donation to IRT , but you can distribute 20  Non-GMO shopping guides  to your closest family and friends. 

Plus, all orders placed through Mercola.com, starting October 6th, will receive a FREE, printed 16-page Non-GMO Shopping Guide.*

No purchase necessary. You may also download the Non-GMO Shopping Guide, for free,  here .

Please, support this urgent mission by  donating to the Institute of Responsible Technology , a non-profit organization. 

Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can reach the tipping point and push GMOs out of our food supply. 

*While supplies last. 

 

Related Links:

   All GMO Articles on Mercola.com

   Why GMOs Will Only Make the Global Food Crisis Worse

   The Health Hazards of GM Corn

   Major Threat to Human Fertility and Very Existence of Human Life on Eart