GMO Primer

Some Basic information about Genetically Modified Organisims.

Salt Lake Tribune | MaryJane Butters | Living out here at the end of my dirt road, I welcome spring with simple rituals around my small farm. One of my favorites involves turning rows of earth into a new garden and sowing heirloom seeds I've saved from last season's harvest. These are things I know to be good.

Every detail, from the perfume of enlivened soil to the sight of tiny green leaves sprouting toward the sun, appeals to my senses and are perfect little gifts. It's all part of a cycle that has been circling throughout the eons, assuring the fruition of nature's many gifts and making this planet a veritable paradise. I don't need to know the science behind every little miracle; it's enough that I can count on them happening, each in their own sweet time.

It's my faith in Mother Nature's wisdom that spurs a knee-jerk skepticism every time I hear news of technology tampering with a system that has been working wonders since the beginning of time. In particular, I am floored by the whole genetically modified food idea. It's a concept that has crept into our kitchens and threatens to devour the concept of food as we know it. Pandora's box had nothing on GMOs. If you're still a little mystified by what it all really means, you're not alone. That's why I started digging up a different kind of dirt-- the nitty-gritty on genetically modified foods and how they are affecting the way we eat.

What does GMO mean?

The initials GMO stand for "genetically modified organism." It also goes by the alias GE, or "genetically engineered." GMOs are the result of a process that takes crops from the field to the laboratory, where scientists splice them with things like animal genes and pesticides. Completely different than natural crossbreeding, genetic modification means that genes are actually removed from one species and inserted into another. For example, genes from an arctic flounder, which has "antifreeze" properties, may be spliced into a tomato to prevent frost damage. GM crops also are manufactured to produce their own pesticides. One such pesticide, the Bt toxin, kills many species of insect larvae indiscriminately, not just crop-damaging pests. Imagine the implications of mass insecticide: Without pollination by insects, most plants would be unable to reproduce at all.

Health hazards

On May 19 2009, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine called for a moratorium on GM foods. They stated that "several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food," including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, insulin regulation problems and changes in major organs. Ohio allergist Dr. John Boyles reported, "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."

Corporate control

Giant corporations make huge profits by patenting GM seeds as corporate property. In her book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, author Barbara Kingsolver shed light on this disturbing example. In 2001, a Canadian court ruled that farmer Percy Schmeiser owed Monsanto more than $15,000 plus damages after his fields were found to be growing the company's genetically engineered canola. Pollen from neighboring fields was the source of the contamination. But because Monsanto owns the patent, the farmer was liable for growing the crop.

A fragile food supply

Perhaps the worst news is that genetic engineering ultimately threatens our entire food supply. Insects, birds and wind can carry genetically altered seeds into neighboring fields and beyond. Pollen from these plants can cross-pollinate with natural crops and wild relatives. Not only will supposedly safe plants start harboring strange and even dangerous potential, they'll also become susceptible to the same diseases. In one fell swoop, a simple fungus could wipe out fields for miles.

How to spot GMOs

Since GMO food is not labeled, you have to shop smart. Buying 100 percent organic is the best safeguard against GMO ingredients. If organic isn't an option, be wary of these primary GM suspects:

• Soybeans or anything that contains soy derivatives

• Corn and its derivatives

• Canola oil

• Cotton fabric or food oil

• Potatoes and its derivatives

• Dairy products, meat and eggs (GM animal feed)

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You may also be interested in reading:

Canadian farmers opposed to GM wheat: survey
Food Inc.
The Genetic Conspiracy
The Future of Food
The World According to Monsanto - A documentary that Americans won't ever see
Shopper's Guide to Pesticides
USDA unable to weed out unapproved modified foods

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