What's the Deal with GMO Labeling?

Thanks liz west!

You're reading the Terressentials newsletter, so it's safe to assume that you care about what goes into, and onto, your body. What if a stranger offers you food that looks familiar but may, or may not, contain ingredients which may, or may not, be harmful to your health and your environment? Would you accept that food, without knowing whether or not its components are safe? The introduction of GMOs into our food supply has made this question more than just hypothetical.

Let's start with the basics. What are GMOs?

GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals whose genes have been combined with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other species in ways that could never occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding. Generally, GMO crops are engineered to withstand the application of herbicide (e.g., Monsanto's “RoundUp Ready” corn and soybeans can be sprayed with their brand of the herbicide glyphosate, known as RoundUp), or to contain an insecticide (“Bt corn” contains Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria, which kills corn worms). The first GM animal intended for human consumption (but not yet approved by the FDA), AquaBounty’s genetically engineered salmon, contains a DNA fragment from an eel and a growth hormone gene from the Chinook Pacific salmon, which allows it to produce growth hormone year-round and reach market weight in 18 months, instead of the usual three years.

How prevalent are they?

According to information compiled on www.nursedegree.net/gmo, 70% of items in American food stores contain GMOs. The top foods containing GMOs are: sugar beets (95% of US crop); soy (94%); canola (90%); cotton (90%); and corn (88%). So, non-organic food products containing these ingredients are very likely to contain GMOs.

Are GMOs safe?

It depends upon who you ask.

In the US, the FDA has ruled that GMOs are not significantly different from naturally-occurring foods. Their approval of GMOs has been based on studies conducted by the same companies that make them and profit from their sales.

However, a number of studies present evidence that GMOs ARE different and may be hazardous to human health. A 2012 study, called the Corn Comparison Report, documented significant differences in nutrient levels in GMO vs. non-GMO (organic) corn. The GMO corn was severely deficient in calcium, magnesium, and manganese. Also, the GMO corn contained the herbicide glyphosate (a.k.a. RoundUp) and formaldehyde. Other studies have found potential health hazards in GMO wheat, GMOs containing Bt toxins, and the glyphosate which enters the human body when “RoundUp Ready” crops are consumed.

GMOs are not only potentially hazardous to human health; they are damaging to the environment and may threaten the very existence of organic agriculture. Glyphosate contaminates soil, waterways and groundwater. It does not biodegrade, so it accumulates in the environment without restraint and persists in affecting soil health over time. Glyphosate, Bt bacteria, and other byproducts of GMOs degrade and deplete soils of critical minerals and beneficial bacteria, which are important for protecting crops from pests and diseases. “Super weeds” and “superbugs” resistant to glyphosate and Bt have evolved, creating new challenges for farmers. GMOs can contaminate existing species being grown organically, as pollen and seeds from GMO crops drift into nearby organic fields. GMO producers – most notably, Monsanto – have sued, for intellectual property theft, numerous farmers whose crops were infected by GMO contaminates. GMOs, and the altered DNA and chemicals associated with them, are also responsible for the destruction of bees, butterflies, bats, and other pollinators.

Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe. More than 60 countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, either restrict or ban the production and sale of GMOs. At least one survey suggests that 53% of Americans would refuse to buy genetically modified food if it were identified as such.

What's been happening in the legislature regarding GMO labeling?

A lot! Bills have been introduced in numerous states – including California, Washington, Vermont and Connecticut – which would require labeling of food products containing GMOs. Prop 37, the citizens' ballot initiative to label GMOs in California, lost by a narrow margin in November of 2012. Opponents of the bill – which include PepsiCo, Kraft, Safeway, and General Mills, each of which owns a number of well-known, so-called “natural” and organic brands – outspent supporters by almost six to one.

Since the defeat of Prop 37, support for GMO labeling initiatives has been building around the country. In January of this year, activists delivered approximately 300,000 signatures to the Washington state legislature, assuring that I-522, the mandatory GMO labeling initiative, will be on the ballot in Washington in November. In May, the Vermont House of Representatives became the first state legislative body to pass a GMO labeling bill; the Vermont Senate should vote on the bill at the beginning of the next session. And, just last month, Connecticut made history by becoming the first state to enact a law requiring genetically-engineered foods to be labeled! Maine soon followed suit; its House passed L.D. 718 by a vote of 141-4. GMO labeling bills have also been introduced many other states, including Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Arizona.

What can I do?

1.To avoid GMO food and body care products, buy USDA certified organic! Currently, the USDA organic standards do not allow for GMOs in certified organic products. Choose foods with certified organic ingredients, especially corn, soy, and canola, which are likely to be genetically modified if they are not organic. Unfortunately, “organic” does not necessarily mean “GMO-free,” since contamination of organic crops by GMOs can, and does, occur. Organic products are, presumably, less likely to contain GMOs than conventional products. Terressentials products are made with 100% certified organic ingredients, so they're as GMO-free as possible! Still, the only way to keep organic products free of GMO contamination is to eliminate genetically engineered crops entirely. So . . . 

2. Oppose GMOs! Monsanto continues to develop and test genetically engineered crops with the intention of getting them on the market quickly and without proper environmental and health reviews. Watchdog organizations like the Organic Consumers Association and Food Democracy Now! lead grassroots campaigns to pressure government agencies and politicians to listen to the people rather than the corporations. Sign up for their e-newsletters and email updates, and they'll alert you when petitions need to be signed and your government officials need your guidance!

3. Join the movement to make GMO labeling mandatory! While opinions differ regarding whether or not GMOs are safe, there should be no question that consumers should be allowed to choose whether or not they buy genetically modified products. The only way for a consumer to make an informed choice is for products to be clearly labeled. The Organic Consumer Association and Food Democracy Now! are excellent sources of up-to-date information about the GMO labeling issue. Join in their grassroots campaigns (by signing up for their e-newsletters and email updates, as mentioned above) and take action to pass a GMO labeling initiative in your state!