HEALTH: GMOs Pose a Risk to our Kids

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HEALTH: GMOs Pose a Risk to our Kids

 

GMOs are banned from organic food. Unfortunately, many American families eat

genetically modified (GM) food every-day, most unknowingly. Studies suggest as

much as 80% of processed foods in the US contain a component from a GM crop such

as corn starch, high-fructose corn syrup, canola oil, soybean oil, soy flour,

lecithin or cotton-seed oil (Food Policy Institute, 2005). Because children

convert more of their food into body-building material, the potential risks of

GM food may be much higher for them. Smith (2005) claims kids in the US are

regularly fed GM soy-based infant formula. The digestive capacity of small

children is less than adults, suggesting more GM DNA might survive, with more

transgenes ending up inside gut bacteria or possibly inside organs. But as very

little is done to monitor the impact of GM food consumption on humans, it may

take years (or even decades) for health problems to emerge. One of the best ways

to avoid the uncertain risks of GM for our children and

ourselves is by switching to organic food. Thousands of schools around the

world, particularly in Europe, have decided not to let their kids be used as

guinea pigs and have banned GM foods completely (Smith, 2005).

 

References:

Food Policy Institute (2005), National Survey Shows Americans are in the Dark

Regarding Genetically Modified Foods,

www.foodpolicyinstitute.org.

Smith, Jeffrey (2005), Genetically Engineered Foods Pose Health Risk for

Children, www.saynotogmos.org.

 

 

Caroline Collard

 

World's first fully certified organic skin, body, oral and health care products

www.happyandhealthy.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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