Genetic modification describes the process by which scientists can pinpoint the specific gene which produces a desired outcome in a crop, extract that gene, copy it and insert it into another organism.
Agreeing with the position of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM), the LIA Foundation says there is plenty of evidence of harm in GM animal studies for them to urge “individuals, especially those with autism, Lyme disease, and associated conditions, to avoid” GM foods.
The four primary GM foods are soy, corn, canola, and sugar beets. Derivatives of these foods are present in over 70 percent of food in the grocery store. The main reason the plants are genetically modified is so they can handle higher amounts of herbicide. Bacterial genes are inserted that allow them to survive doses of herbicide that would otherwise kill them.
Some GM corn varieties are also modified to produce a poisonous toxin. Genes from a soil bacterium produce an insect-killing poison called Bt-toxin. Bt is associated with allergic and toxic reactions in humans and animals.
Tami Duncan, co-founder and president of the LIA Foundation, states:
It is well-known that the rapid increase in multifaceted, chronic illnesses such as autism and Lyme disease are costly, both to the patients and to society as a whole. Children with autism often have compromised digestion, immunity, and toxin-clearing abilities. We must fully evaluate the role that GM foods may play in this alarming increase."
Even if you don't have Lyme disease or autism, it may be wise for you to avoid GM foods as well. Some of the potential health risks associated with GM food consumption include:
Digestive disorders
Laboratory animals fed GM foods developed stomach lesions, intestinal damage, and proliferative cell growth in the walls of the stomach and intestines.
Unbalanced intestinal bacteria
The good bacteria living in our digestive tracts is helpful for digestion and immunity. Excessive herbicide residues on GM crops may destroy beneficial intestinal flora. The only published human feeding experiment has revealed that the genes inserted into GM soy crops transfer into the intestinal bacteria and continue to function. Basically, this means that even after we stop eating GM foods, we could potentially still have GM proteins continuously producing in our bodies.
Compromised immunity
Animal studies with GM foods show delayed immune responses and inflammatory and immune reactions.
Allergies
Soon after GM soy products were introduced in the UK, soy allergies increased by 50 percent. Compared to natural soy, GM soy contains up to seven times the amount of a known soy allergen. GM soy and GM corn both contain at least one new unexpected allergen not found in natural crops.
Liver problems
The liver is the body’s main detoxifying organ. Mice and rats fed GM food had significant changes in their livers. In some, livers were smaller and partially atrophied. Others were significantly heavier, which could signal inflammation.
Reproductive problems and infant mortality
Both male and female animals displayed troubling reproductive problems when fed GM soy. Over half of the babies of mother rats fed GM soy died within three weeks, compared to 10 percent of the non-GM soy offspring. The GM babies were also smaller and were unable to conceive in a subsequent study. Male rats and mice fed GM soy had altered testicles, including fewer young sperm cells.
GM foods do have the potential to be advantageous in some ways. For example, crops could be modified to grow more quickly, with increased protein and vitamin levels. Or drought-resistant crops could help mitigate famine in developing countries, where inadequate rainfall sometimes leads to food shortage.
However, whatever the possible benefits for humanity, GM crops are certainly being developed for profit. Billions of dollars would most likely not be invested in gene research if there were no possibility of significant financial gains for GM crop producers.
We currently do not know enough about the consequences for human, animal and plant life of planting GM crops. More testing is needed, preferably by independent research groups rather than biotech companies, before any more genetically modified organisms should be released.
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