The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) published a position paper on May 8, 2009 advising all physicians to caution their patients to avoid eating any genetically modified foods. No scientifically independent human safety studies have been performed on genetically modified foods. They called for a moratorium on GM’s, long term independent studies and labeling. They stated “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with genetically modified foods including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system.” Their conclusion was “There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects. There is a causation. The strength of association and consistency between GM foods and disease is confirmed in several animal studies.” The rise in ailments of animals fed GM foods parallels the rise of these ailments in human populations.

Genetically modified Bt corn and cotton plants are particularly dangerous. They produce a pesticide (known as Bt) in every cell of the corn or cotton plant. When bugs eat them, this pesticide kills them by exploding their stomach. Bt is short for “Bacillus thuringiensis”-a soil bacteria with pesticide properties found in small amounts in nature. In GM plants, this toxin is thousands of times more concentrated. Since it is part of every cell in the plant it is a pesticide that cannot be washed off.

Animals who have eaten this variety of corn or cotton have died by the thousands. Autopsies reveal blackened intestines and livers. Investigators concluded the animals had died of a toxin, most likely the Bt toxin. In a followup study all the sheep fed Bt cotton died within 30 days versus the control group where none died.

Touching or wearing a GM cotton product may also be a risk. Farm workers throughout India where bt cotton was introduced have become ill with rashes and flu like symptoms. Transdermal absorption of toxins likely caused their illness. In studies done on female rats fed GM soy, most of their babies died within three weeks versus the control group where only 10% died. In another study, where rats were fed GM tomatoes, 30% developed bleeding stomachs. People who are not allergic to corn or soy can react to GM corn or soy. They contain proteins not found in the original plants.

The most dangerous finding yet on GM foods is that their genes are capable of transferring to the DNA of bacteria found inside human intestines. This new GM bacteria will keep reproducing itself inside the intestines. In other words, after eating a GM food even once, it may indefinitely go on transforming the bacteria in your gut into a toxin with pesticide qualities. As the intestinal tract is the largest part of the immune system, genetic alteration in the gut flora can create a wide range illnesses, including rare or new diseases. According to AAEM doctors, animal studies repeatedly demonstrate significant immune malfunctions. Since large scale introduction of GM foods began in 1996 inflammatory diseases like allergies, intestinal problems and asthma have all significantly increased. The most at risk segment of the population with any toxin is children.

In the early 1990’s scientists at the American Food and Drug Administration warned about these same problems. The scientific consensus was that these foods were inherently dangerous and could be capable of creating hard to detect allergies, new diseases, gene transfers and a vast number of health problems. They cautioned that many diseases take a long time to develop, making their origins hard to detect. But the White House ignored their own FDA scientists warnings and ordered management at the FDA to promote GM foods. Monsanto lawyer Michael Taylor was then hired to write the FDA’s policies on genetically modified organisms! That policy states “genetically modified organisms are substantially equivalent to natural foods and therefore do not require any safety studies” The policy denied knowledge of any scientific concerns. Once the policy was in place, Monsanto rehired Michael Taylor as their Vice President.

This same policy is in effect today despite a January letter to the incoming Obama administration from FDA scientists. They wrote that FDA managers “ordered, intimidated and coerced FDA scientists to manipulate their research results in clear violation of federal law.” Scientists who did not comply with managers requests faced “the threat of disciplinarian actions.” (ie: firing) They claim they were forced to violate the agencies founding mandate - to protect public health.  Illegal suppression of their data had been going on for years on all kinds of research.  The driving force behind this interference was political.  Previous administrations both Republican and Democratic put pressure on FDA management to favor the interests of industry. Scientists urged the new Obama administration to fix “a fundamentally broken” FDA. Unfortunately,  Obama’s “Food Safety Working Group” has so far made no statement of intention to tackle the GM issue.

Globally over the years “Consumer Right to Know” laws have been shot down in favor of protecting big business interests. On the same day the AAEM issued  their warning to doctors about GM foods, the international body that determines global food labeling policies was meeting in Calgary Alberta. The 37th session of the Codex  Committee on Food Labeling yet again stalled on the decision over labeling GM foods. Disregarding the clear cut wishes of it’s own citizens Canada and the United States voted against labeling. Australia, New Zealand and Argentina were also on the “consumer is too stupid to understand” side.  Incredibly the United States argued that labeling GM foods is inherently deceptive! Why? Because it would mislead consumers into believing GM foods are different from other foods simply due to their method of production.

With world governments and big business failing to protect consumer health, knowledge and personal action are your best protection. The most common plants to be GM are soy, corn, canola oil, cotton, sugar beets, potatoes, tomatoes and Hawaiian papaya. Buying organic is one strategy to protect yourself. However cross-contamination is always a possibility, so you may unknowingly be consuming a genetically modified food. Growing your own food, buying from small local farmers you trust, or avoiding these products altogether are other options. Telling your friends and family about what you have learned may be the fastest way to promote large scale change. In other countries consumer avoidance of GM products has resulted in the food industry removing GM ingredients from their products.