Guest guest Posted March 26, 2005 Report Share Posted March 26, 2005 the last line reads "It's left up to the good nature of Monsanto or DuPont or other companies to do the right thing," Are we laughing yet? ~~Flo ------- Are you eating genetically modified food? Survey: Most are but few know much about it Thursday, March 24, 2005 Posted: 11:35 AM EST (1635 GMT) http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/diet.fitness/03/24/genetic.foods.ap/index.html TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) -- Can animal genes be jammed into plants? Would tomatoes with catfish genes taste fishy? Have you ever eaten a genetically modified food? The answers are: yes, no and almost definitely. But according to a survey, most Americans couldn't answer correctly even though they've been eating genetically modified foods -- unlabeled -- for nearly a decade. "It's just not on the radar screen," said William Hallman, associate director of the Food Biotechnology Program at the Rutgers Food Policy Institute, which conducted the survey. Today, roughly 75 percent of U.S. processed foods -- boxed cereals, other grain products, frozen dinners, cooking oils and more -- contain some genetically modified, or GM, ingredients, said Stephanie Childs of the Grocery Manufacturers of America. Despite dire warnings about "Frankenfoods," there have been no reports of illness from these products of biotechnology. Critics note there's no system for reporting allergies or other reactions to GM foods. Nearly every product with a corn or soy ingredient, and some containing canola or cottonseed oil, has a GM element, according to the grocery manufacturers group. In the Rutgers survey, less than half the people interviewed were aware GM foods are sold in supermarkets. At the same time, more than half wrongly believed supermarket chicken has been genetically modified. So far, non-processed meat, poultry, fish and dairy products, and fruits and vegetables (both fresh and frozen) are not genetically modified. GM food first hit supermarkets in 1994, with the highly touted Flavr Savr tomato, altered to give it a longer shelf life and better flavor. It flopped, in part due to disappointing taste, and disappeared in 1997, said Childs. By 1995, farmers in several countries had planted millions of acres of GM corn and soybeans, and processed products containing them were in grocery stores. Genetic modification of crops involves transferring genes from a plant or animal into a plant. Nearly all GM changes so far are to boost yields and deter insects and viruses, cutting the use of pesticides, thus making farming more productive and affordable -- a particular aid to developing nations. More than 80 percent of the soy and 40 percent of the corn raised in this country is a GM variety. Global plantings of biotech crops -- mostly corn and soybeans and much of it for animal feed -- grew to about 200 million acres last year, about two-thirds of it in the United States. The one billionth acre will be planted this spring, according to the Biotechnology Industry Organization. Debate over safety Experts say within several years there will be new GM foods with taste and nutrition improvements: cooking oils with less trans fat, tastier potatoes and peanuts that don't trigger allergies. At North Carolina State University, one of the biggest U.S. plant breeding programs, scientists are developing drought-tolerant wheat and are a couple years from field testing GM peanuts that have no life-threatening allergens, said Steven Leath, associate dean for health research. At Rutgers University's agricultural college, plant biology professor Nilgun Tumer and colleagues modified potatoes to better keep their flavor when processed as french fries and to limit browning when sliced, but she said farmers haven't adopted the new varieties. Now her team is trying to give tomatoes a gene to make a compound that helps prevent cancer and osteoporosis. Lisa Lorenzen, a liaison to the biotech industry at Iowa State University, said most Americans haven't worried about GM foods because they trust the regulatory system. She said many Europeans oppose GM foods because they don't trust governments that wrongly insisted for years that the beef supply, tainted by mad cow disease, was safe. Opponents say genetically modified foods could cause allergic or toxic reactions and harm the environment. Worries include the mixing of GM crops with regular ones either by handlers, or pollen -- already documented -- and GM foods being sold where they're not approved. On Tuesday, a Swiss biotech company said it mistakenly sold U.S. farmers an experimental, unapproved GM corn seed, and tons of the resulting corn was sold between 2001 and 2004. U.S. government agencies say there was no health or environmental risk. In 2000, recalls, lawsuits and public uproar followed disclosure that StarLink GM corn, approved only for animal use, had gotten into taco shells and chips. University plant scientists, industry, the Food and Drug Administration and numerous European science agencies say GM foods are safe. "Nobody's been able to prove that anyone's even gotten the sniffles from biotechnology," Childs said. But Margaret Mellon of the Union of Concerned Scientists, said there's no system to track health problems caused by GM foods. Her group, along with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, has long pushed for labeling -- only required when GM products have properties different from ordinary foods, such as a higher nutrient content. They contend consumers deserve a choice if they want to avoid GM foods and they also want government regulation. Currently, companies developing GM foods voluntarily send their data to the FDA, but there's no official approval before products go on sale. "It's left up to the good nature of Monsanto or DuPont or other companies to do the right thing," said Gregory Jaffe, director of the biotechnology project at CSPI. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.Flo, LouisianaIt matters not... Who you love, Where you love, Why you love, When you love, Or how you love, It matters only that you love.~ John Lennon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 26, 2005 Report Share Posted March 26, 2005 Actually, I’m trying not to cry! Flo [fgarig] Saturday, March 26, 2005 1:57 PM To: herbal_Remedies Herbal Remedies - Are you eating genetically modified food? (article 2) the last line reads " It's left up to the good nature of Monsanto or DuPont or other companies to do the right thing, " Are we laughing yet? ~~Flo ------- Are you eating genetically modified food? Survey: Most are but few know much about it Thursday, March 24, 2005 Posted: 11:35 AM EST (1635 GMT) http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/diet.fitness/03/24/genetic.foods.ap/index.html TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) -- Can animal genes be jammed into plants? Would tomatoes with catfish genes taste fishy? Have you ever eaten a genetically modified food? The answers are: yes, no and almost definitely. But according to a survey, most Americans couldn't answer correctly even though they've been eating genetically modified foods -- unlabeled -- for nearly a decade. " It's just not on the radar screen, " said William Hallman, associate director of the Food Biotechnology Program at the Rutgers Food Policy Institute, which conducted the survey. Today, roughly 75 percent of U.S. processed foods -- boxed cereals, other grain products, frozen dinners, cooking oils and more -- contain some genetically modified, or GM, ingredients, said Stephanie Childs of the Grocery Manufacturers of America. Despite dire warnings about " Frankenfoods, " there have been no reports of illness from these products of biotechnology. Critics note there's no system for reporting allergies or other reactions to GM foods. Nearly every product with a corn or soy ingredient, and some containing canola or cottonseed oil, has a GM element, according to the grocery manufacturers group. In the Rutgers survey, less than half the people interviewed were aware GM foods are sold in supermarkets. At the same time, more than half wrongly believed supermarket chicken has been genetically modified. So far, non-processed meat, poultry, fish and dairy products, and fruits and vegetables (both fresh and frozen) are not genetically modified. GM food first hit supermarkets in 1994, with the highly touted Flavr Savr tomato, altered to give it a longer shelf life and better flavor. It flopped, in part due to disappointing taste, and disappeared in 1997, said Childs. By 1995, farmers in several countries had planted millions of acres of GM corn and soybeans, and processed products containing them were in grocery stores. Genetic modification of crops involves transferring genes from a plant or animal into a plant. Nearly all GM changes so far are to boost yields and deter insects and viruses, cutting the use of pesticides, thus making farming more productive and affordable -- a particular aid to developing nations. More than 80 percent of the soy and 40 percent of the corn raised in this country is a GM variety. Global plantings of biotech crops -- mostly corn and soybeans and much of it for animal feed -- grew to about 200 million acres last year, about two-thirds of it in the United States. The one billionth acre will be planted this spring, according to the Biotechnology Industry Organization. Debate over safety Experts say within several years there will be new GM foods with taste and nutrition improvements: cooking oils with less trans fat, tastier potatoes and peanuts that don't trigger allergies. At North Carolina State University, one of the biggest U.S. plant breeding programs, scientists are developing drought-tolerant wheat and are a couple years from field testing GM peanuts that have no life-threatening allergens, said Steven Leath, associate dean for health research. At Rutgers University's agricultural college, plant biology professor Nilgun Tumer and colleagues modified potatoes to better keep their flavor when processed as french fries and to limit browning when sliced, but she said farmers haven't adopted the new varieties. Now her team is trying to give tomatoes a gene to make a compound that helps prevent cancer and osteoporosis. Lisa Lorenzen, a liaison to the biotech industry at Iowa State University, said most Americans haven't worried about GM foods because they trust the regulatory system. She said many Europeans oppose GM foods because they don't trust governments that wrongly insisted for years that the beef supply, tainted by mad cow disease, was safe. Opponents say genetically modified foods could cause allergic or toxic reactions and harm the environment. Worries include the mixing of GM crops with regular ones either by handlers, or pollen -- already documented -- and GM foods being sold where they're not approved. On Tuesday, a Swiss biotech company said it mistakenly sold U.S. farmers an experimental, unapproved GM corn seed, and tons of the resulting corn was sold between 2001 and 2004. U.S. government agencies say there was no health or environmental risk. In 2000, recalls, lawsuits and public uproar followed disclosure that StarLink GM corn, approved only for animal use, had gotten into taco shells and chips. University plant scientists, industry, the Food and Drug Administration and numerous European science agencies say GM foods are safe. " Nobody's been able to prove that anyone's even gotten the sniffles from biotechnology, " Childs said. But Margaret Mellon of the Union of Concerned Scientists, said there's no system to track health problems caused by GM foods. Her group, along with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, has long pushed for labeling -- only required when GM products have properties different from ordinary foods, such as a higher nutrient content. They contend consumers deserve a choice if they want to avoid GM foods and they also want government regulation. Currently, companies developing GM foods voluntarily send their data to the FDA, but there's no official approval before products go on sale. " It's left up to the good nature of Monsanto or DuPont or other companies to do the right thing, " said Gregory Jaffe, director of the biotechnology project at CSPI. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Flo, Louisiana It matters not... Who you love, Where you love, Why you love, When you love, Or how you love, It matters only that you love. ~ John Lennon Federal Law requires that we warn you of the following: 1. Natural methods can sometimes backfire. 2. If you are pregnant, consult your physician before using any natural remedy. 3. The Constitution guarantees you the right to be your own physician and to prescribe for your own health. We are not medical doctors although MDs are welcome to post here as long as they behave themselves. Any opinions put forth by the list members are exactly that, and any person following the advice of anyone posting here does so at their own risk. It is up to you to educate yourself. By accepting advice or products from list members, you are agreeing to be fully responsible for your own health, and hold the List Owner and members free of any liability. Dr. Ian Shillington Doctor of Naturopathy Dr.IanShillington Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2005 Report Share Posted March 27, 2005 I meant it sarcastically. I am so angered by the people who say "it doesn't matter"...there was some talk a few months back that all soybeans had been mixed with GMO soybean seeds and that would mean never having soy again...that really eats me up. I suspect if it happened it wasn't an accident. I cry too, specially since I have been supposedly growing organic corn for years and saving my seeds. Flo - Carole Eddington Actually, I’m trying not to cry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2005 Report Share Posted March 28, 2005 This is REALLY upsetting!! My Daughter has been labeled with ADD and as I think I posted previously, she was taking the meds for it. Since I started the process of dealing with it, we have changed some of most of our diet and I had already removed most prepackaged foods. But, what are you to do if the rest of the foods are filled are GM foods?? Right now, I don't live where I can grow my own and then the seeds become an issue when I can Are the companies out there who sell heirloom seeds authentic or have they been tainted in some way too? Hopefully this summer when I move, I will be able to grow my own veggies and I hope it is possible to do it without the GM seeds too. Anyone know of any really relable sources for heirloom seeds? Take care, Gina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2005 Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 herbal remedies , " kelticgirl14 " <kelticgirl14> wrote: > Right now, I don't live where I can grow my own and then the seeds > become an issue when I can Are the companies out there who sell > heirloom seeds authentic or have they been tainted in some way >too? Hopefully this summer when I move, I will be able to grow my >own veggies and I hope it is possible to do it without the GM seeds >too. > Anyone know of any really relable sources for heirloom seeds? > > Take care, > Gina ******************* I posted my " fav " organic seed links a few weeks ago here. Rather than type it all out again, I've just copied/pasted my reply from that post. You can grow lots of foods/herbs in containers, so you could feasibly start them now, and take them with you when you move.... (I have ordered from each of the companies I listed below.) Jan (from previous post) There are still many reputable seed companies that offer Non-GMO, Organic, Heirloom, Open-Pollinated seeds. (If you choose Open- Pollinated, rather than hybrids, you can save your own seeds for next season, if you take precautions to keep them from cross-pollinating) My personal favorites to purchase seeds are Seeds of Change and Peaceful Valley as they have the biggest organic selections: http://www.seedsofchange.com/ http://www.groworganic.com/ There are other companies that are members of the Safe Seed Initiative (meaning they don't sell GMO seeds), but not all their seeds are certified organic. They do offer many selections that are tho, and indicate in their catalogs which ones they are. Seed Savers Exchange at http://www.seedsavers.org/Home.asp Johnny's Selected Seeds at http://www.johnnyseeds.com/ Territorial Seed Company at http://www.territorial-seed.com/stores/1/index.cfm Each of the companies will send a free catalog if you request one, so that you can read all the seed descriptions ( & see which ones are organic/heirloom/OP) and they give tips and hints and zones for growing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2005 Report Share Posted April 3, 2005 Thanks, Jan for sending me the company names.. I will be ordering their cataloges...I really appreciate it!) Take care, Gina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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