What is a gmo
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This document discusses genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and provides information on what GMOs are, how they are created through genetic engineering techniques, their presence in food systems, and health and environmental concerns about GMOs. It notes that while GMOs are widespread in the US food supply, many other countries have imposed restrictions or bans on GMOs due to uncertainties about their safety. The document advocates for mandatory labeling of foods containing GMOs so that consumers can make informed choices. It also provides information about identifying non-GMO foods through the USDA Organic seal or the Non-GMO Project verification label.
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What is a gmo
- 2. A$genetically$modified$organism$is$an$organism$whose$ genetic$make$up$has$been$altered$using$genetic$ engineering$techniques.$ A$GMO$is$a$plant$or$animal$that$has$been$genetically$ changed$by$scientists$to$improve$its$ability$to$grow$in$nonC native$environments,$resist$pests,$endure$extreme$weather$ conditions,$yield$more$food$(like$milk$in$cows),$or$display$ other$desired$characteristics.$$ $GMO$is$a$new$version$of$a$food,$plant,$or$animal$created$ by$scientists$through$genetic$engineering$(GE)$techniques.$
- 5. Genetic$engineering$differs$from$traditional$breeding,$ which$consist$of$techniques$such$as$hybridization$and$ selective$breeding.$$$ An$example$of$a$hybrid$plant$is$the$boysenberry,$a$cross$ between$a$raspberry,$blackberry,$and$sometimes$ loganberry.$$ Examples$of$selective$breeding$include$mating$only$the$ healthiest$beef$cattle$or$saving$the$seeds$of$only$the$most$ delicious,$most$pestCresistant$tomatoes$for$next$year’s$ crop.$$ For$over$10,000$years,$these$traditional$breeding$methods$ have$been$a$significant$part$of$agriculture$and$have$been$ used$to$domesticate$and$increase$yields$of$nearly$every$ plant$and$animal$used$in$agriculture$today.$
- 6. Many$shoppers$are$wary$of$eating$genetically$engineered$ products$and$are$concerned$that$GMO’s$are$not$in$our$ best$interest.$$ Basic$laws$of$nature$prevent$plants$from$breeding$with$fish$ or$bacteria.$We$have$little$to$no$experience$or$history$with$ these$kinds$of$combinations.$$ The$process$of$creating$GMOs$is$highly$unpredictable$and$ untested;$it’s$assumed$that$if$the$original$food$was$safe,$ the$genetically$modified$version$will$be$too.$$ As$a$result,$new$allergens$may$be$introduced$into$common$ foods,$and$longCterm$effects$of$eating$GMOs$remain$ uncertain.$
- 7. Genetically$modified$foods$have$been$linked$to$toxic$ and$allergic$reactions,$sick,$sterile,$and$dead$livestock,$ and$damage$to$virtually$every$organ$studied$in$lab$ animals.$$ GMO$crops$such$as$Bt$cotton$produce$pesticides$ inside$the$plant.$This$kills$or$deters$insects,$saving$the$ farmer$from$having$to$spray$pesticides.$$ The$plants$themselves$are$toxic,$and$not$just$to$ insects.$Farmers$in$India,$who$let$their$sheep$graze$on$ Bt$cotton$plants$after$the$harvest,$saw$thousands$of$ sheep$die!$
- 8. The$effects$on$humans$of$consuming$these$new$ combinations$of$proteins$produced$in$GMOs$are$ unknown$and$have$not$been$studied.$$ See$more$under$GMO$Health$Risks.$ Watch$,$What$is$a$GMO:$http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=jPtLgtUnLhw$
- 11. Pollen$from$GM$crops$can$contaminate$nearby$crops$ of$the$same$type,$except$for$soy,$which$does$not$crossC pollinate.$$ In$fact,$virtually$all$heritage$varieties$of$corn$in$ Mexico$(the$origin$of$all$corn)$have$been$found$to$ have$some$contamination.$Canola$and$cotton$also$ crossCpollinate.$$ The$longCterm$effects$on$the$environment$may$prove$ to$be$disastrous.$$
- 12. Over$80%$of$all$GMOs$grown$worldwide$are$ engineered$for$herbicide$tolerance.$$ As$a$result,$use$of$toxic$herbicides$like$Roundup$has$ increased$15$times$since$GMOs$were$introduced.$$ GMO$crops$are$responsible$for$the$emergence$of$ “super$weeds”$and$“super$bugs:’$which$can$only$be$ killed$with$ever$more$toxic$poisons$like$2,4CD$(a$major$ ingredient$in$Agent$Orange).$$ The$longCterm$impacts$of$GMOs$are$unknown,$and$ once$released$into$the$environment$these$novel$ organisms$cannot$be$recalled.$
- 14. ost$developed$nations$do$not$consider$GMOs$to$be$ M safe.$In$more$than$60$countries$around$the$world,$ including$Australia,$Japan,$and$all$of$the$countries$in$ the$European$Union,$there$are$significant$restrictions$ or$outright$bans$on$the$production$and$sale$of$GMOs.$$ n$the$U.S.,$the$government$has$approved$GMOs$ I based&on&studies&conducted&by&the&same&corporations& that&created&them&and&profit&from&their&sale.$$ ncreasingly,$Americans$are$taking$matters$into$their$ I own$hands$and$choosing$to$opt$out$of$the$GMO$ experiment.$
- 17. The$first$genetically$modified$crops$were$corn,$ soybeans,$and$cotton,$which$were$engineered$to$ control$the$growth$of$weeds$and$resist$insects.$$ Corn$and$soy$are$two$of$the$most$common$ ingredients$in$processed$food,$these$genetically$ modified$ingredients$are$on$our$market$shelves!$ But$because$there’s$no$regulated$food$label$that$ indicates$whether$a$product$contains$GMOs,$it’s$hard$ to$tell$what$you’re$getting.$$$$$$
- 18. Majority$of$Americans$ want$to$know$if$the$food$ they’re$purchasing$ contains$GMOs!$ The$powerful$biotech$ lobby$has$succeeded$in$ keeping$this$information$ from$the$public.$$ Monsanto$C$Biggest$ Company$Creating$ GMO’s$
- 20. Studies$show$that$more$than$90%$of$Americans$support$ mandatory$labeling$of$genetically$engineered$(GE)$foods.$$ Yet$for$twenty$years$we$have$been$denied$that$right.$$ While$our$reasons$for$wanting$to$know$what’s$in$our$food$ may$vary,$what$unifies$us$is$the$belief$that$it’s$our$right.$$ Without$labeling$of$GE$foods,$we$cannot$make$informed$ choices$about$our$food.$$ The$Just$Label$It$campaign$was$created$to$advocate$for$the$ labeling$of$GE$foods.$C$See$more$at:$http://justlabelit.org/ rightCtoknow/#sthash.AVMbzu7f.dpuf$
- 21. You$can$protect$your$family$by$looking$for$the$USDA$ Certified$Organic$seal.$$ According$to$USDA$regulations,$GMOs$are$prohibited$ in$organic$agriculture$production.$$ As$a$shopper,$ask$questions$about$where$food$comes$ from$and$how$it’s$made.$$
- 23. Because$of$the$lack$of$mandatory$labeling,$the$NonC GMO$Project$was$created$to$give$consumers$the$ informed$choice$they$deserve.$ The$NonCGMO$Project$is$a$nonCprofit$organization$ with$a$mission$of$protecting$the$nonCGMO$food$ supply$and$giving$consumers$an$informed$choice.$$ http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/nonCgmoC projectCseal.html$$$
- 25. The$NonCGMO$Project’s$seal$for$verified$products$will,$ for$the$first$time,$give$the$public$an$opportunity$to$ make$an$informed$choice$when$it$comes$to$GMOs.$ A$2012$Mellman$Group$poll$found$that$91%$of$ American$consumers$wanted$GMOs$labeled.$$ A$recent$CBS/New$York$Times$poll,$53%$of$consumers$ said$they$would$not$buy$food$that$has$been$ genetically$modified.$$
- 27. Videos+from,+Just+Label+It:++ We+Have+a+Right+to+Know+ ttp://www.youtube.com/watch? h v=9Ep4uxbhsvI#action=share$ ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVnCn3rDGP8$ h Just+Label+It!!$ ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TghIpBG5o3s$ h
- 28. The$Non$GMO$Project$is$North$America’s$ONLY$third$ party$verification$for$products$produced$according$to$ rigorous$best$practices$for$GMO$avoidance$(for$more$ info,$click$here).$$ The$Projects$strategy$is$to$empower$consumers$to$ make$change$through$the$marketplace.$$ If$people$stop$buying$GMOs,$companies$will$stop$ using$them$and$farmers$will$stop$growing$them.$
- 29. Choose$food$and$products$that$are$NonC GMO$Project$Verified!$$ Click$here$to$see$a$complete$list$ ip+#1:+Buy+Organic$Certified$organic$products$cannot$intentionally$include$any$GMO$ T ingredients.$Buy$products$labeled$“100%$organic,”$“organic,”$or$“made$with$organic$ ingredients.”$You$can$be$doubly$sure$if$the$product$also$has$a$NonCGMO$Project$Verified$ Seal.$Read$more$about$organic$standards...$ ip+#2:+Look+for+NonMGMO+Project+Seals+Products$that$carry$the$NonCGMO$Project$ T Seal$are$independently$verified$to$be$in$compliance$with$North$America’s$only$third$party$ standard$for$GMO$avoidance,$including$testing$of$atCrisk$ingredients.$The$NonCGMO$ Project$is$a$nonCprofit$organization$committed$to$providing$consumers$with$clearly$labeled$ and$independently$verified$nonCGMO$choices.$Look$for$dairy$products$labeled$"No$rBGH$ or$rBST,”$or$“artificial$hormoneCfree.”$ ip+#3:++Avoid+atMrisk+ingredients$If$it’s$not$labeled$organic$or$verified$nonCGMO:$Avoid$ T products$made$with$ingredients$that$might$be$derived$from$GMOs$(see$list).$$
- 30. Tip+#4:+Download+our+Shopping+Guides++Use$either$IRT’s$new$NonCGMO$Shopping$ Tips$brochure$or$redesigned$NonCGMO$Shopping$Guide$to$help$you$identify$and$avoid$ GM$foods.$We$devote$an$entire$page$in$each$guide$to$help$you$uncover$hidden$GM$ ingredients$on$food$labels$that$often$read$more$like$a$chemical$periodic$table.$If$you$ have$an$iPhone,$download$our$ShopNoGMO$guide$for$free$from$the$iTunes$store.$$ $ CLICK$HERE$TO$DOWNLOAD$THE$GUIDE.$ The$eight$GM$food$crops$are$Corn,$Soybeans,$Canola,$Cottonseed,$Sugar$Beets,$ Hawaiian$Papaya$(most)$and$a$small$amount$of$Zucchini$and$Yellow$Squash.++ Sugar$If$a$nonCorganic$product$made$in$North$American$lists$“sugar”$as$an$ingredient$ (and$NOT$pure$cane$sugar),$then$it$is$almost$certainly$a$combination$of$sugar$from$both$ sugar$cane$and$GM$sugar$beets.$ $Dairy$Products$may$be$from$cows$injected$with$GM$bovine$growth$hormone.$Look$for$ labels$stating$No$rBGH,$rBST,$or$artificial$hormones.$ $$http://seedsofdeception.com/$ $$http://www.responsibletechnology.org/$