Summer is just around the corner — 20 days to be exact and that means barbecues and fresh corn on the cob. When I was a kid, my parents bought me a freshly barbecued corn on a stick when we went to the county fair. I’m sure the possibility that that corn could be hazardous to my health, never crossed their minds. Today, 90% of fresh corn is genetically modified but consumers do not know that because the corn is not labeled as such. In 2012 a French study was done to see if there were any adverse health affects from eating genetically modified corn (gmo). This is their conclusion written in the International Journal of Biological Sciences:
“…We therefore conclude that our data strongly suggests that these GM maize varieties induce a state of hepatorenal toxicity. This can be due to the new pesticides (herbicide or insecticide) present specifically in each type of GM maize, although unintended metabolic effects due to the mutagenic properties of the GM transformation process cannot be excluded… Our analysis highlights that the kidneys and liver as particularly important on which to focus such research as there was a clear negative impact on the function of these organs in rats consuming GM maize varieties for just 90 days.”
I was shopping in Sprouts today and noticed that fresh corn is already for sale. I asked the produce manager if the corn was gmo and he said that “yes” it was and that they cannot find gmo-free corn anymore. He also told me that they have not been able to find organic corn for the last two years. He blamed it on Ethanol. I did some research about that and yes, farmers are planting gmo-corn crops to be used for Ethanol. Whether farmers plant gmo-corn for fuel or for consumption, they do so because they have been told by a Monsanto salesman that their crops will produce larger yields, have less weeds and pests — what has actually happened is that farmers are now dealing with, “super weeds” and the disappearance of monarch butterflies. There are also reports that gmos have created “super worms” — so much for the promise of better yields.
Last year Wal-Mart began selling Monsanto’s sweet corn variety containing the Bt pesticide. It was the first time, Monsanto marketed gmo corn as fresh produce, rather than an ingredient for processed foods. Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and General Mills refused to carry the corn. Shopping for fresh non-gmo corn can be problematic and it’s not something one can grow in their patio garden. Did you know that Bt gmo corn is regulated by the EPA? That should give some nay-sayers some pause…food being regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency instead of the FDA? Its like having a pesticide and food all-in-one. Yum!
Monsanto is not the only bio-tech company selling Bt corn — Syngenta, a Swiss company was found guilty for killing cattle that were fed their gmo corn and then covered it up.
The good news is, I did find two local farms in Southern California that sell gmo-free produce, including corn. They both have produce stands where shoppers can buy a variety of fresh produce and fruit. Manassero Farms is located in Irvine, and De La Costa Farms is in Carlsbad and Encinitas.
If consumers want to know what they are eating they have to speak up when they are in the grocery store. Tell the manager to buy gmo-free produce and to label the processed foods on their shelves. Apples are next on the list of gmo foods that will soon be in stores and they will all be unlabeled. Lots of moms give their kids apples and apple juice — don’t you want to know which apples are gmo and which are not? We cannot depend on the FDA to do their job, but we can speak with our wallets. Believe me, managers take notice of what their customers are buying. They tally those register receipts and at the end of the day — the foods that don’t sell are replaced with foods that do.
This just in…. Food Democracy Now posted on their Facebook page that Monsanto has given up on selling gmos to Europe!
http://www.dw.de/monsanto-gives-up-fight-for-gm-plants-in-europe/a-16851701
Thanks for the research Inge.
All of the activists need to do their best to take that next step and both eat from and promote these rare non G.M.O. farms. Identifying problems is easy, taking the next step is far more responsible. Are you thinking of making any literature/fliers for this info that you just wrote about here. I would be happy to help you distribute printed info or pay for some black and white fliers.
That’s a good idea DE…let me ask these w farms…maybe they will be willing to make the flyers…are you thinking of just copying the post or promote the farms on their own?
You have no idea people. His facts are a irrelevant. A family corporate farm is one where the principle stockholders are related by blood or marriage. To say that 95% of all farms are corporations may not be far off, but these farms are still family farms but for tax purposes have become incorporated and are owned by multiple family members, not government farms as you say.
Well, how ever you think the word can best be sent out in a simple way. Maybe some graphics on the top half of the flier and then some basic facts about GMO health concerns an then followed by the Orange County farms that are available. That’s what came to my mind at least. l
I now grow my own blue corn that is from certified organic seeds. Monsanto would just assume they own all the seeds in the world and that we have to buy everything from them. That’s why they are doing this. Monsanto needs to be stopped. They are the biggest threat to humanity there is. Imagine all food being intellectual property of Monsanto. Imagine all people being intellectual property of Monsanto because they opted to purchase gene therapies from them. Imagine our government subsidizing them and giving them corporate welfare the whole time. Monsanto needs to be taken out of business.
Alex…do you sell your corn? Do you know any other co-ops or farmers markets that sell non-gmo corn? I want to put together a list of farmers in so-cal that grow food. There are so many people looking for non-gmo that I think sellers at farmers markets would benefit from putting a sign “All produce is non-gmo” on their tables.
No, I don’t sell it. I just started a backyard garden. Very first season I have planted anything. It just seems like one more way to say FU to Monsanto. I buy pretty much everything organic in the stores though and only eat at organic restaurants.
Not sure where you live but here are two local organic farms:
http://www.tanakafarms.com/
http://southcoastfarms.com/
Here are some great organic seed companies:
http://www.seedsavers.org/
http://www.seedsofchange.com/
http://www.botanicalinterests.com/
As far as restaurants go:
Native Foods
Au Lac
Avanti Cafe
Mother’s Market
118
Au Naturaw
and a few others are non-GMO and mostly organic.
I stopped eating corn altogether because of the gmo. Thanks for the info!
I work at 2 certified farmers market. Everything we sell is non gmo and has been grown with no pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, or chemicals. She doesnt want to bring corn because people get all freaked out by the worms it has,too bad people don’t know… My farmers come from Visalia. It’s a blessing to know where my food comes from and how it’s grown. Plus it’s so fresh. Even organically grown foods can be sprayed with pesticides. You really have to be able to trust your farmer. But the taste says it all!
Hey Summer wondering if you still work at the farms. Do you have their contact info, would like to find out if I can get some of their produce