All about genetically modified seeds and the REAL story of the effects of GMOs. BtCorn, Roundup ready soybeans, BtCotton, and Roundup ready canola are the most common. If you read food labels you will find that corn and soy are in almost everything. I always thought canola oil was one of the "healthy" fats; now I know better.
GMO products have been linked to various negative health effects from allergies to cancer. They have never been tested for safety beyond ninety day studies until a French scientist did a two-year study on rats. The rats fed GMO grain developed horrendous cancers and 70% of them died before their natural life-span was up. The GMO industry has tried to smear this scientist's reputation and say his methodology was faulty but it isn't working very well.
GMOs are banned in many countries around the world yet have the full backing of the FDA and the U.S. government. In fact, the U.S. government pressures these other countries to allow GMO products in. Personally, after reading even half of this book and doing further reading online, I think the GMOs should be banned worldwide and GMO pushing companies should be fined into oblivion for what they are doing to unknowing consumers.....using us as guinea pigs for something that should never have existed in the first place.
In addition to the adverse health effects of GMOs the increased use of herbicides is creating "super" weeds. Farmers may think they have the world by the tail because they can spray their fields and the weeds are all gone. But just wait, soon the sprays won't work any more and stronger, more poisonous chemicals will be introduced or farmers and their families will be back to walking their beans & corn, chopping out the weeds with machetes like we did in the good old days. Back to using cultivators. (Do younger farmers even know what those are?) If BtCorn kills insects do you really think it's not doing harm to the animals and humans who eat it? I'm afraid our farmers have been hoodwinked and they've joined in whole-heartedly because they've been promised bigger profits. In America money talks.
Really I should just stick to reading my mysteries. It would be better for my blood pressure. What good does it do to know about stuff like this? Big business and the U.S. government says it's all good for us. So it must be, right????
See what others are reading at Patchworktimes.
This is one major reason why we try to grow all our own vegetables, but canola oil? and yes, spray or pesticide on the grass, into the ground, then cattle graze later, it must all get into the food chain at some time. Frightening. Cheers from Jean
ReplyDeleteScarey reading for sure--and makes one s l o w down and read the labels when shopping! I guess the desire for money (and the more the better never mind the lack of ethics!) rules the roost!! Well, we just have to try to be conscious and careful...Julierose
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing this book to my attention. It's one I will indeed read. Cheers,
ReplyDeleteSusie
Definitely grow our own - if we can still find heritage seeds! I don't know that organic helps much if the seeds are the same starters, either.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the book review. I'm putting on my list of books to read.
ReplyDeleteI'm a retired librarian, so I am happy I've found your blog! Like Jean in the first comment, I try to grow as much of my own produce as I can and buy the rest at Farmers Markets. There is also a healthy bartering system here in the countryside! Thanks for the review.
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