80% of US food crops contaminated & can't be exported to EU
By speakeasy
@speakeasy (4171)
United States
November 25, 2011 11:39am CST
Yes, you heard me correctly. Food crops raised in the US contain elements that prohibit them from being shipped to the EU or being used in foods that are manufactured and then shipped to EU countries.
A portion of these crops are then used as animal feed in the US, contaminating the milk, meat and other animal based foods that we eat.
Since most foods consumed in the US are actually processed, the contaminated foods found in the average American diet increases to 92% of foods being contaminated.
What are they contaminated with - genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and herbicides (Round-Up).
http://www.personalliberty.com/hot-topics/the-secret-ingredient-in-most-food/?eiid=&rmid=2011_11_25_PLA_[P11555299]&rrid=395294472
To top it all off - there is no oversight by the FDA or any other regulatory body to require that these foods even state this on their labels.
How do you feel about this?
Is it really safe for everyone to eat (infants, elderly, pregnant and nursing mothers)? Should we at least be able to see something on the label identifiying it; so, we can make our own decisions on what to buy and eat? Should it be banned completely?
3 people like this
5 responses
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
20 Jun 12
I find this really hard to believe. I know that there are GMOs in a lot of the foods we eat, but I think it is ridiculous! I think that is why there is starting to be such a big push for organic foods. I would really like to see a lot less of the processed foods and more natural stuff. It might improve the overall health of people everywhere! Thanks for sharing this information! Have a great week!!!
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
20 Jun 12
You are welcome.
Right now there are several organizations in the US fighting to stop or limit the use of both GM foods and excessive pesticides on our food. The businesses (primarily Monsanto) that have created and manufactured these products are throwing billions of dollars at politicians to prevent them from succeeding.
Unfortunately, these politicians seem to be looking at THEIR botton line; not at the health of the citizens of the US, the health of the immigrants working in these fields, or the country's economy. For the US to become healthy economically we need to produce more AND export more. When a major portion of the globe prohibits certain farming practices, continuing to use those practices limits our exports and continues to support the trade deficit.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
25 Nov 11
GMO can't be imported in EU, but some are also produced in EU. Colza seeds have been contaminated by GMO seeds, and all canola oil is for a very small part issued from GMO -- about 1% -- : it is no more possible to produce an oil with colza without GMO... In EU if a food includes some GMO, it is written on the label, but you can't compare GMO and herbicide : herbicide is always toxic, while all GMO plants are not -- but there is still a potential risk on a long term view --. To have a choice on what you eat, the least is to be informed on the label, and it is hard to believe that you have not this information in the US. Thank you for your link to this article.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
25 Nov 11
Most (not all) of the GMO crops in the US are modified to not be killed off by Round-up which is an herbicide (both seeds and Round-up are made by Monsanto). To get the Round-up resistant seeds, the farmers have to agree to use heavy amounts of Round-Up on the crops.
Since these crops are not being killed off by this herbicide and since Monsanto is requiring heavy usage by the farmers; the plants are absorbing it instead.
So, not only are we eating genetically modified foods without knowing it we are also consuming the herbicide that they were sprayed with.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
25 Nov 11
I am personally also afraid by GMO killing their natural insect predators. If a GMO corn can kill an insect, I am perplex about what it can do on a human being
. These GMOs have been marketed too fast : we don't know their effect on our health after 10 or 20 years...
. These GMOs have been marketed too fast : we don't know their effect on our health after 10 or 20 years...
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
25 Nov 11
This really scary and disgraceful that no controls are in place to correct this poison.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
25 Nov 11
If you do some reseach into Monsanto, you will find that for many years they were behind MSG and aspartame usage in foods, even though there was proof that these products cause health problems for a lot of people.
This one company has done more harm to the health of Americans and other people around the world than any other single company. They have a lot of money and a lot of pull with our local, state, and federal government. They not only lobby extensively to protect their products; they are directly involved in the American Medical Association and provide training materials to medical schools downplaying even the possibility that any of there products may have health concerns other than a rare allergic reaction.
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
26 Nov 11
Overall I think basically everything is contaminated. No one really raises foods without all the additives and even if they do the ground is not safe either. Nothing is really "natural" just a little more natural than others! lol! I am going organic when I can.. but I do not even trust that anymore!
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
27 Nov 11
As our First Lady discovered when she decided to grow a vegetable garden at the White House - the soil had been contaminated by decades of herbicides and pesticides.
Fresh soil had to be brought in just so that anything grown there would not be toxic and it still would not be considered "organic".
But, when I think of an ear of corn, I do not automaticaly assume someone has been tinkering with the genetic makeup of that corn and then saturating it with chemicals designed to kill other life forms.
@Ollanna11 (371)
• United States
26 Nov 11
It's not safe to eat the food in the market. Yes I think the manufacturers should show all the ingredients in the food. When I read the label and I see preservatives that triggers my mind. I try to eat organic when I can. They hike the prices on organic food, no fair! I believe the reason why we are able to withstand the crap they feed us is because our bodies have become immune to it. Or maybe our immune system is able to digest the toxins. If they feed us toxic waste we should be able to pay less for food, what do you think?
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
27 Nov 11
Organic costs more because it is more labor intensive and produces less per acre. That is why more farmers do not go organic.
"I believe the reason why we are able to withstand the crap they feed us is because our bodies have become immune to it. Or maybe our immune system is able to digest the toxins." But, we aren't withstanding it and our immune system is only able to handle some of it. That is why there has been a steady increase in cancer, asthma, allergies, lupus, MS, autism, alzheimers, etc. over the last 50 years. Our bodies are not able to eliminate all of it and many of these toxins buildup in our bodies over time. They are finding that babies are being contaminated in the womb - newborns are showing concentrations of toxins in their blood from the second they are born because the mothers are so contaminated; and then, more toxins are being added to them from their environment.
Not all of this comes from the food we eat (some comes from contaminated water and air). But, if the food was properly labeled at least we would have a choice. Farm produce is rarely labeled (except for country of origin) and once it is added to a processed food even that information is lost.
Preservatives are something I also try to avoid; but, that is because I am allergic to benzoates which are one type of preservative.
