Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) – are they safe?
People in over 60 countries across the world can choose whether or not they buy GMO foods, because labeling is required. In the United States, corporations have successfully lobbied to keep us in the dark about what we’re eating. In 2005 the Blauvelt Dominican Sisters called for “a moratorium on the planting of GE (genetically engineered) crops pending environmental and human safety studies. Until such time as this technology is proven safe, all foods containing GE ingredients should be labeled.”
Over these years we have joined hundreds of thousands of citizens in an effort to get GMOs labeled. That work continues. You may have heard GMO providers insist that GMOs are safe to eat. The truth is genetically engineering our food supply carries risks to farmers, the environment, and people living near the fields that are heavily sprayed with the herbicide RoundUp, which the World Health Organization has called a probable human carcinogen.
Unbelievably, the U.S. government has approved GMOs for our food supply based on data they received from the companies that sell GMOs. How safe does that sound?
The GMO controversy also threatens animals. GE salmon has already been approved by the FDA without serious research to rule out risks to consumers, wild fish, and the environment, as well as the potential diminishment of the nutrition of salmon.
Those in the food industry with a vested interest in selling more GMOs, insist that GMO labeling would drastically increase food costs for American families. However, independent studies reveal otherwise. One such study commissioned by the Consumers Union estimated the annual median cost of labeling GMOs per person would be $2.30.
U.S. food companies are already labeling their GMO foods overseas in 64 countries that have GMO labeling laws. In fact, companies like Campbell’s and General Mills have recently announced their plans to label their genetically engineered products in the U.S., proving that labeling isn’t too hard to manage.
There is no consensus on the safety of GMOs. Media reports that claim they are safe do not report on the growing number of scientists who claim the evidence shows a potential for harm to both consumers and the environment. So “Until such time as this technology is proven safe, all foods containing GE ingredients should be labeled.”
The Senate is back this week and they are under more pressure than ever to Ban GMO labels. Food & Water Watch has a petition asking our Senators to support GMO Labeling. Please sign their petition here: Click here: Petition - Stop Monsanto's Dream Bill! - Food & Water Watch
The state of Vermont has a GMO labeling bill, which will become effective on July 1, 2016. There is a great effort to stop that bill. Monsanto, the producer of the pesticide RoundUp, has a “Dream Bill” to stop state labeling of GMOs, and there are senators who support that bill.
Polls say that 90% of the people in the U.S. want genetically engineered ingredients in our food to be labeled. We cannot let Monsanto and its allies prevent the labeling of GMOs. We have a right to know what’s in our food!
Make your voice heard.
Sign the petition: Click here: Petition - Stop Monsanto's Dream Bill! - Food & Water Watch
Sister Ceil Lavan, OP