Processed Meats Too Dangerous for Human Consumption

• Beef jerky
• Bacon
• Sausage
• Hot dogs
• Sandwich meat
• Frozen pizza with meat
• Canned soups with meat
• Frozen meals with meat
• Ravioli and meat pasta foods
• Kid’s meals containing red meat
• Sandwich meat used at popular restaurants
• Nearly all red meats sold at public schools, restaurants, hospitals, hotels and theme parks

If sodium nitrite is so dangerous to humans, why do the FDA and USDA continue to allow this cancer-causing chemical to be used? The answer, of course, is that food industry interests now dominate the actions by U.S. government regulators. The USDA, for example, tried to ban sodium nitrite in the late 1970′s but was overridden by the meat industry. It insisted the chemical was safe and accused the USDA of trying to “ban bacon.”

Today, the corporations that dominate American food and agricultural interests hold tremendous influence over the FDA and USDA. Consumers are offered no real protection from dangerous chemicals intentionally added to foods, medicines and personal care products.

You can protect yourself and your family from the dangers of processed meats by following a few simple rules:

                 1   Always read ingredient labels.

                 2   Don’t buy anything made with sodium nitrite or monosodium glutamate.

                 3   Don’t eat processed meats served by restaurants, schools, hospitals, hotels or other institutions.

And finally, eat more fresh produce with every meal. There is evidence that natural vitamin C found in citrus fruits and exotic berries (like camu camu) helps prevent the formation of cancer-causing nitrosamines, protecting you from the devastating health effects of sodium nitrite in processed meats. The best defense, of course, is to avoid eating processed meats altogether.

You may not want to eat genetically modified (GM) foods, but chances are, you are eating them anyway. There are urgent reasons why we need to ban them altogether.

7 REASONS TO NEVER EAT GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS

1. Increased Pesticide Use

 US government data shows that in the US, GM crops have produced an overall increase, not decrease, in pesticide use compared to conventional crops.

“The promise was that you could use less chemicals and produce a greater yield. But let me tell you none of this is true.” -- Bill Christison, President of the US National Family Farm Coalition.

2. Have Been Shown To Be Dangerous To Your Health and Unsafe To Eat
Genetic modification is a crude and imprecise way of incorporating foreign genetic material (e.g. from viruses, bacteria) into crops, with unpredictable consequences. The resulting GM foods have undergone little rigorous and no long-term safety testing. However, animal feeding tests have shown that GM foods have toxic effects, including abnormal changes in organs, immune system disturbances, accelerated ageing, and changes in gene expression. Very few studies have been published on the direct effects on humans of eating a GM food. One such study found unexpected effects on gut bacteria, but was never followed up.

It is claimed that Americans have eaten GM foods for years with no ill effects. But these foods are unlabeled in the US and no one has monitored the consequences. With other novel foods like trans fats, it has taken decades to realize that they have caused millions of premature deaths.

GM foods are an imminent threat to humanity's food supply. Besides the ethical concerns, genetic pollution is self-perpetuating. It can never be reversed or cleaned up. Genetic mistakes will be passed on to all future generations of a species. Wind, rain, birds, bees, and insect pollinators have begun carrying genetically-altered pollen into adjoining fields, polluting the DNA of crops of organic and non-GM farmers. This has been happening all over the world for more than a decade. Theoretically, it genetic pollution continues, it could obliterate the world's natural organic food supply. Use of herbicide-resistant crops will also lead to a accelerated increase in the use of herbicides,resulting in even greater pollution of our food and water with toxic agrochemicals.

“We are confronted with the most powerful technology the world has ever known, and it is being rapidly deployed with almost no thought whatsoever to its consequences.” -- Dr Suzanne Wuerthele, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) toxicologist

3. GM Foods Are Hidden In Animal Feed

As a spokesperson for Asgrow, a subsidiary of Monsanto, said, "If you put a label on genetically engineered food, you might as well put a skull and crossbones on it." The GM industry has got around the problem of consumer rejection of GM foods by hiding them in animal feed. Meat, eggs and dairy products from animals raised on the millions of tons of GM feed imported into Europe do not have to be labelled. Some studies show that contrary to GM and food industry claims, animals raised on GM feed ARE different from those raised on non-GM feed.  Other studies show that if GM crops are fed to animals, GM material can appear in the resulting products and affect the animals’ health. So eating these “stealth GMOs” may affect the health of consumers.

4. GM and non-GM Cannot Co-Exist
GM contamination of conventional and organic food is increasing. An unapproved GM rice that was grown for only one year in field trials was found to have extensively contaminated the US rice supply and seed stocks. In Canada, the organic oilseed rape industry has been destroyed by contamination from GM rape. In Spain, a study found that GM maize “has caused a drastic reduction in organic cultivations of this grain and is making their coexistence practically impossible”.

The time has come to choose between a GM-based, or a non-GM-based, world food supply.
Alfalfa is the main forage crop for dairy cows and one of the principle foods for beef cows, especially grass-fed cattle. Alfalfa is a perennial, easily lasting five years once planted. And it's bee-pollinated, which means each year, every non-GM alfalfa plant within five miles of every GM alfalfa plant will likely be contaminated by GM genes.

“If some people are allowed to choose to grow, sell and consume GM foods, soon nobody will be able to choose food, or a biosphere, free of GM. It’s a one way choice, like the introduction of rabbits or cane toads to Australia; once it’s made, it can’t be reversed.” -- Roger Levett, specialist in sustainable development.

5. Long-term Economic Disaster For Farmers

A 2009 report showed that GM seed prices in America have increased dramatically, compared to non-GM and organic seeds, cutting average farm incomes for US farmers growing GM crops. The report concluded, “At the present time there is a massive disconnect between the sometimes lofty rhetoric from those championing biotechnology as the proven path toward global food security and what is actually happening on farms in the US that have grown dependent on GM seeds and are now dealing with the consequences.”

6. GM Companies Cannot Be Trusted

The big biotech firms pushing their GM foods have a terrible history of toxic contamination and public deception. GM is attractive to them because it gives them patents that allow monopoly control over the world’s food supply. They have taken to harassing and intimidating farmers for the “crime” of saving patented seed or “stealing” patented genes -- even if those genes got into the farmer’s fields through accidental contamination by wind or insects.

Monsanto has been the largest player in the GM foods game. They have single handedly made the United States the world's biggest producer of GM foods, pesticides and herbicides. Founded in 1901, Monsanto has manufactured industrial chemicals (e.g. sulphuric acid), plastics and synthetics, and saccharin, a carcinogenic artificial sweetener. It has also produced or granted production licenses for most of the world's toxic PCB's which are now mostly banned worldwide.

“Farmers are being sued for having GMOs on their property that they did not buy, do not want, will not use and cannot sell.” -- Tom Wiley, North Dakota farmer.

7. GM Foods Will Never Solve The Food Crisis

A 2008 World Bank report concluded that increased biofuel production is the major cause of the increase in food prices. Biofuels are crops grown for fuel rather than food. GM giant Monsanto has been at the heart of the lobbying for biofuels -- while profiting enormously from the resulting food crisis and using it as a PR opportunity to promote GM foods!

“The climate crisis was used to boost biofuels, helping to create the food crisis; and now the food crisis is being used to revive the fortunes of the GM industry.” -- Daniel Howden, Africa correspondent, The Independent (UK).

NORTH AMERICA
The United States is the leader in GM cultivation and now grows mostly GM varieties of corn, canola and soy. Hawaii now grows GM papayas. Approvals have also been given for GM alfalfa, zucchinis, beet sugar and tomato varieties, though not all are currently being grown. In 2010, the US planted 66.8 million hectares of soybean, maize, cotton, canola, squash, papaya, alfalfa and sugarbeet. The largest share of the GMO crops planted globally are owned by Monsanto.

More than 30 of Monsanto's directors, CEOs, VPs, board members, managers, scientists, attorneys and consultants also hold Federal Positions within the US Government.

Canada has widespread GM crop usage. All Canadian canola is GM, as is a large portion of the country's soy and corn. Prince Edward Island tried to pass a ban on GMO cultivation but failed, and GM crops in the region are currently increasing.

Despite the fact that 233 consumer and farmer groups in 26 countries have joined the "Definitive Global Rejection of GM Wheat", Canadian MPs voted to reject stronger export rules for crops of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

SOUTH AMERICA
Even though GMO continue to face strong resistance in South America, it is widespread. One third of the 134 million hectares of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) planted globally in 2009, were in South America. Brazil and Argentina are the main producers, with 21.4 and 21.3 million hectares respectively. Of all the countries in the world that are planting genetically modified crops, seven are in South America. They include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Paraguay and Uruguay. There are also no national restrictions in Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana to the north of the continent. Between 2008 and 2009, world production of GM crops increased eight percent, while in Brazil it rose 35 percent.
Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela have all declared national bans on GM foods. Peruofficially passed a law banning genetically modified ingredients anywhere within the country for a full decade before coming up for another review. In 2008 Ecuador declared the country GMO free and will limit its biotechnology. In 2006, Venezuela banned genetically engineered crops thanks to President Hugo Chavez Frias.

MEXICO
In January 2010, Slow Food Tehuacan Mixteca Popoloca convivium launched a campaign to protect traditional varieties of maize after the Mexican government gave the go ahead for the first legal plantings of GM corn following a decade-long battle. The convivium is concerned that modified genes could spread and contaminate genetically valuable native varieties and is working to educate family and farmer organizations about the richness of their country's biodiversity, encouraging the Mexican community to be proud of their cultural heritage and to work for its revitalization. Mexico does not have any GMO-free zones.

EUROPE
Europe is quickly becoming the most progressive continent in the world to oppose GM foods. France, Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, Latvia and Albania have all declared many regions to be GMO-free. France made an important step in the no-GMO movement by specifically defining exactly what "GMO-free" means when it comes to food labeling. Spain and Portugal are slowing advancing but they have a long way to go before declaring most of their regions GMO-free. Britain officially supports GM crops and has trials of GMOs like potatoes planted. Austria, Greece and Poland are now completely GMO-free zones thanks to public and government support.

AFRICA
Egypt and Madagascar are the only two countries in Africa to ban GMO. Any agricultural imports to Egypt must have a certificate from the country of origin that the product is not genetically modified and the rule will also apply to Egyptian exports. Madagascar banned growing or importing GMO foods due to concerns over the effect on human health and environment. In Algeria both the planting and distribution of GMO foods is illegal although import laws are lax. Other countries such as Kenya, Lesotho, Ethiopia, Angola, Malawai, Mozambique and Zimbabwe have some limited restrictions in place to ban GMO imports but with many exceptions and critics claim most of the laws are not enforced.

RUSSIA
Russia remains GMO-free. According to the official information there is no growing of GMOs in Russia for commercial purposes. So far the Federal Environmental Assessment Commission has not adopted any commercialized GM varieties for agricultural use.

ASIA
India has widespread GM cotton use. The widespread planting of Monsanto's GM cotton has led to tragedy throughout India. The Indian government even banned conventional seeds from many government seed banks in an attempt to please Monsanto (in return, the country was given International Monetary Fund loans to help its economy) and slow the nation's poverty rates. An estimated 1,000 farmers commit suicide each month in the country as a result of the crop failure and debt caused by planting the GM seeds. Farmers were convinced to spend what was often 1,000 times the cost of conventional seed on the "magic seeds" after listening to Monsanto's promises of increased yields and resistance to pests. Despite the promises, the crops were often destroyed by bollworms. In addition, the farmers weren't warned that the crops would require twice as much water as conventional cotton, leading to many crops drying up and dying. The "terminator" seeds also must be purchased again every year. For farmers used to saving seed from year to year, this was often a final financial blow that led to insurmountable debt.

With the exception of Thailand and Sri Lanka who both have GMO-free zones, all of Asia remains resistant to adopting laws to restrict imports, exports and cultivation of GMO.

NORDIC COUNTRIES
During the meeting of Nordic countries at Terra Madre 2010, delegates from Sapmi, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Faroe Islands, Greenland and Iceland discussed a statement that would describe their united position on GMOs. The result was a declaration against GMOs that the convivium leaders, members and food communities could use to lobby against the introduction of these crops, presenting it to their governments and others. Iceland has declared two GMO-free regions in the country.

AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND
All genetically modified foods intended for sale in Australia and New Zealand must undergo a safety evaluation by Food Standards Australia New Zealand, however there are no national GMO bans in either country. However there are regional bans. Tasmania's ban on the release of GM organisms to the environment will continue until 2014. South Australia has reaffirmed their commitment to ban all commercial GM crops until 2014.

The status of GM crops is constantly changing, both in the United States and around the world. Public outcry is rising against these largely untested foods and crops. The industry claims of "super yields" and an end to poverty and famine have proven to be dangerously inaccurate. Now, more than ever, is the time when our voices (and purchases) can make a real difference. It's time to support labeling initiatives which may kickstart global campaigns to slowly change our red planet to green and ban GM foods once and for all.