The Damage GM Foods Can do to Your Body

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The Damage GM Foods Can do to Your Body

A project to develop genetically modified, pest-resistant peas has been

abandoned after tests showed the peas cause lung damage in mice.

Protein Kills Pea Weevils

Field peas are susceptible to pea weevils, which lay their eggs on pea pods. The

gene for a protein capable of killing pea weevil pests was transferred from the

common bean to the peas. This protein does not normally cause allergic reactions

in mice or people.

Structural Changes

But when the protein is expressed in the pea, its structure becomes subtly

different from the original. Researchers say that this indicates a potential for

unpredicted and unintended effects due to such structural changes. In this case,

it was probably caused by differences in the ways that the two plants produce

proteins.

Lung Damage

Trials showed that the GM peas were almost completely resistant to pea weevils.

But mice injected with the protein showed a hypersensitive skin response, and

those exposed to it in airborne form developed airway inflammation and lung

damage. The effect was the same whether the protein was taken from raw peas or

cooked peas.

In the early 1990s, a similar situation

happened when researchers engineered a new strain of soy bean by adding a gene

taken from brazil nuts. But that project ended when it was discovered that the

hybrid was likely to trigger a major attack in people with brazil nut allergies.

New Scientist November 21, 2005

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8347

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Dr. Mercola's Comment:

For a long while, I've been warning you about the blight of genetically modified

(GM) crops on our world's food supply, always concerned about their effect on

your bodies and health.

Now, we have another clue about their potential dangers.

Luckily, this study -- a rare glimpse into enstein-like crop combinations

gone bad -- was conducted by a national research organization. Had a private

company like Monsanto been involved in this study, you would most likey have

never heard a thing about it.

Chances are very good you've eaten GM foods: At least seven out of 10 items at

your neighborhood grocery store contain them. That said, there's some steps you

can take that will help you steer clear of them:

Reduce or Eliminate Processed Foods. Some 75 percent of processed foods contain

GM ingredients. There are many reasons why processed foods are not optimal for

your health -- for instance they often contain trans fat, acrylamide and little

nutritional value -- so avoiding them will not only help you to cut back on the

amount of GM foods you are consuming, but will also boost your health. Read

produce and food labels. GM soybeans and corn make up the largest portion of

genetically modified crops. When looking at a product label, if any ingredients

such as corn flour and meal, dextrin, starch, soy sauce, margarine, and tofu (to

name a few) are listed, there's a good chance it has come from GM corn or soy,

unless it's listed as organic. Buy organic produce.

Buying organic is currently the best way to ensure that your food has not been

genetically modified. By definition, food that is certified organic must be free

from all GM organisms, produced without artificial pesticides and fertilizers

and from an animal reared without the routine use of antibiotics, growth

promoters or other drugs. Look at Produce Stickers. Those little stickers on

fruit and vegetables contain different PLU codes depending on whether the fruit

was conventionally grown, organically grown or genetically modified. The PLU

code for conventionally grown fruit consists of four numbers, organically grown

fruit has five numbers prefaced by the number nine, and GM fruit has five

numbers prefaced by the number eight. Finally, if you feel you can't afford to

buy organic foods, please read Colleen Huber's excellent piece on how you can do

so on your current budget.

Related Articles:

Genetically Modified (GM) Foods Prepare a Takeover

Prominent Scientists Form Group to Counter GM Food

GM Foods Recalled in Japan