Would you like a side order of spleen damage?
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The health risks of genetically-modified (GM) foods have been well-documented for anyone willing to learn the ugly truth but now, we have the "first ever and most comprehensive study of the effects of genetically modified foods on mammalian health" and things are uglier than we imagined. Researchers from the Committee of Research and Information on Genetic Engineering (CRIIGEN) and Universities of Caen and Rouen have linked organ damage with consumption of three varieties of Monsanto's GM corn, Mon 810, Mon 863 and NK 603.
Gilles-Eric Séralini, a molecular biologist at the University of Caen, explains that the data "clearly underlines adverse impacts on kidneys and liver, the dietary detoxifying organs, as well as different levels of damages to heart, adrenal glands, spleen and haematopoietic system." Not surprisingly, Monsanto disputes the findings but in an e-mail to journalist Rady Ananda, Séralini explains:
"Our study contradicts Monsanto conclusions because Monsanto systematically neglects significant health effects in mammals that are different in males and females eating GMOs, or not proportional to the dose. This is a very serious mistake, dramatic for public health. This is the major conclusion revealed by our work, the only careful reanalysis of Monsanto crude statistical data."
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P.S. GM Crops Will Not Feed the Poor
A 2008 Friends of the Earth report called "Who Benefits From GM Crops" details: "The majority of GM crops are not destined for hungry people in developing countries, but are used to feed animals, generate biofuels, and produce highly processed food products--mainly for consumption in rich countries. GM crops have not increased food security for the world's poor. None of the GM crops on the market are modified for increased yield potential and research continues to focus on new pesticide-promoting varieties that tolerate application of one or more herbicides."
3 Ways to Just Say No to GMO
1. Know the Arguments Against GMOs
For starters, GMOs being resistant to pesticides means more of these chemicals can and will be used on the food that ends up on your plate.
Easy first step: Eat fresh foods because 70% of all processed food has been genetically modified.
For example, buy organic, look for "Non-GMO" labels, and avoid at-risk ingredients like corn, soybeans, canola, and cottonseed.
