Soybeans: 91% in the US are Genetically Modified (GM)
I’ve written about the dangers of genetically modified (GM) foods in two previous posts: “Genetically Modified Foods: Unintended, Dangerous, Unpredictable Consequences” and “Genetically Modified Dairy: Dangerous Cancer Risk.” Now, a new study from Canada – “Maternal and fetal exposure to pesticides associated to genetically modified foods in Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada” – shows that the Bt insecticide, which is a component of some GM crops, has now been found in human blood. The results will be published in the peer-reviewed journal Reproductive Toxicology.
GM crops, like corn and soybeans, have been modified to resist herbicides and insects. The achieve the latter, a toxin found in the soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is incorporated into a GM plant gene, so the plant creates the toxin internally, which is then eaten by animals and people.
Biotechnology companies like Monsanto have said that these toxins get broken down in digestion, which is the same claim made for other genetically modified products, such as the growth hormone fed to cows, which has been disputed by research. See “Genetically Modified Dairy: Dangerous Cancer Risk.”
According to the article “Discovery of Bt insecticide in human blood proves GMO toxin a threat to human health, study finds,” which talks about the new study, 30 pregnant women and 39 non-pregnant women were evaluated. From the blood samples, researchers detected the Bt toxin in a “shocking 93 percent of maternal and 80 percent of fetal blood samples. And 69 percent of non-pregnant women tested positive for the toxin in their blood.”
The article goes on to say that these women were eating a typical Canadian diet, like that of the U.S., which is loaded with GM products, and hence these toxins.
Unfortunately, GM foods are very common, especially in processed foods. Dr. Mercola has a great article “Eight Foods You Should Almost Never, Ever Eat,” which lists the 8 GM foods currently in the market:
- soy
- corn
- cottonseed (used in vegetable cooking oils)
- canola (canola oil)
- sugar from sugar beets
- Hawaiian papaya
- some varieties of zucchini
- crookneck squash
Alfalfa was just approved as a GM crop by the USDA, so we should avoid that too.
The Institute for Responsible Technology has a Non-GMO Shopping Guide.
GM foods are a threat to our health and our children’s health, and it’s best to boycott all foods that contain them.