Doctors warn that genetically modified foods pose a serious health risk and should be avoided

June 10, 2:23 AMSeattle Nutrition ExaminerHeidi Nebel

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In May doctors at the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM)  released a position paper warning that genetically modified (GM) foods “pose a serious health risk” and should be avoided. GM foods, also known as genetically modified organisms (GMOs), are defined as organisms whose genetic characteristics have been altered by the insertion of a modified gene or a gene from another organism using the techniques of genetic engineering. This is a radical departure from traditional breeding methods and involves modifying plants to do things such as produce their own pesticides.

GM foods have only been in widespread commercial use for about 13 years and there are no human clinical trials. Animal experiments have shown significant cause for concern including allergies, serious immune dysfunction, fertility and reproductive problems, infant mortality, animal death, insulin regulation issues, and alterations to the liver, spleen, kidney and GI tract.

Due to these health risks AAEM is calling for a moratorium on GM foods and asking doctors to educate and advise their patients to avoid GM foods. AAEM also asks for long-term independent studies and GM food labeling. The main GM crops are soy, corn, canola, cottonseed and sugar from sugar beets. However, genetic modification is growing rapidly and can be seen in many other foods including papaya, tomatoes, potatoes and zucchini, to name a few. The artificial sweetener aspartame is also genetically modified giving us all another reason to avoid the toxic chemical know as NutraSweet and Equal. 

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 To date, there are no approved GM animal products but remember, non- organic meats, fish, dairy and eggs come from animals fed GM corn and soy. GMOs are prohibited in certified organic products but some still worry about possible accidental cross contamination of crops. Besides eating organic, eating local also makes it easier to avoid GM foods. So get down to your local farmer’s market today and say no to GMOs!

Change starts with you:

Sign up for the 30-day No GMO challenge  through The Institute for Responsible Technology’s Campaign for Healthier Eating in America.

Here is a non-GMO shopping guide to use in the jungle known as your local grocery store. 
 

More Info:

Check out the amazing documentary The Future of Food by Deborah Koons Garcia

Here are some recent government studies.

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