Bad News About Impossible Burger: Ushering in a Huge Wave of Genetically Engineered Foods

The AHA! Team — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 06:07:04 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – The Impossible Burger, a “plant-based burger” marketed by Impossible Foods, now appears on diners’ plates in many restaurants. Unfortunately, most people don’t know how deceptive this genetically engineered food really at impersonating meat. The company that produces this ‘franken-burger’ wants the public to believe that this product is “delicious food that’s nutritious.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The appearance of these GMO burgers signals a bigger wave of genetically engineered foods created by gene editing – a technique that natural health experts say is insufficiently tested. Many consumers – blissfully unaware of the “burger’s” GMO origins – are already chowing down on the Impossible Burger. This is despite a recent survey showing that over two-thirds of consumers say they would not knowingly eat GMO foods. Food ALERT: GMO-based Impossible Burger breaks down into dozens of untested proteins According to Impossible Foods’ own website, their burger is actually based on yeast that has been genetically engineered to resemble leghemoglobin – a substance found in the roots of soybean plants. Soy leghemoglobin, or SLH, breaks down into the bright-red “heme” protein – which causes the burger to resemble meat and (creepily) even allows it to “bleed.” When ingested, SLH breaks down into 46 other proteins of undetermined safety – proteins that are not normally found in the human body and have undergone no testing whatsoever. And here’s the kicker: although Impossible Foods didn’t need the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to sell its GMO burger, the company requested that the agency confirm it as GRAS (generally recognized as safe). The FDA – to its credit – expressed concern that humans have never consumed SLH (and may be an allergen, to boot). According to documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, the FDA stated that the current arguments in favor of the burger were “not enough to establish the safety of SLH for consumption.” But, the FDA stopped short of deeming the burger’ unsafe.’ Yet, despite the actions of the FDA, the Impossible Foods website maintains that the FDA does, in fact, validate SLH as safe. Of course, natural health experts are far from convinced of its safety. Genetically altered foods are heralded with the ability to “stop hunger” – but is the claim realistic? The Impossible Burger has been billed as lacking the environmental and ethical downsides of meat production. Genetically engineered foods such as the Impossible Burger have been touted as having the ability to help sustain the 9 billion-strong human population predicted on earth by 2050. On the surface, it sounds like a noble mission. However, natural health experts and officials at the UN and the WHO note that the world’s current hunger problem is largely due to improper distribution, inequality, poverty, and food waste. Rather than presenting a solution for world hunger, the Impossible Burger only represents the latest “twist” in high-tech GMO foods. And the repercussions of existing GMO foods are unfolding daily. GMO crops (such as Roundup Ready corn) are engineered to survive being doused with synthetic chemical pesticides, such as glyphosate and dicamba. This means they are responsible for a tremendous increase in the use of these toxic substances, which have been linked in studies to cancer, dementia, and immune problems. U.S. Right To Know, a non-profit organization dedicated to pursuing truth and transparency in the U.S. food system, points out that GMO pesticide-resistant crops have been associated with an array of disastrous effects. These include birth defects in Hawaii, cancer clusters in Argentina, contaminated waterways in Iowa, damaged farmland across the Midwest – plus much more. Remember “Golden Rice?” (or maybe you don’t). This vitamin A-enhanced GMO rice was touted almost two decades ago as “the rice that could save a million kids a year,” yet it failed to materialize on the market. This is due to the fact that breeders have yet to develop varieties that grow as well as existing natural rice strains. When one trait – in this case, the ability to produce beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A – is edited in a genome, other capabilities (such as speed of growth) may be altered, and not for the better. Maybe fooling Mother Nature is a bit harder than GMO scientists think. CRISPR technology signals a new horizon of synthetic biology “Old-school” genetic engineering, which is objectionable enough, involves the transfer of genes from one plant or animal species to another. However, CRISPR technology operates from a different angle. Also known as synthetic biology, gene editing, and gene silencing, CRISPR (an acronym for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeats) involves genes that are turned off or “silenced.” Outright gene deletion and the creation of brand-new DNA sequences are also possible with CRISPR. And, remember: the resultant products can be patented – a very profitable distinction for the biotech industry! Agrichemical giants Monsanto (now Bayer), DuPont, and Dow Chemical have all achieved licensing deals that allow them to use gene-editing technology. According to U.S. Right to Know, companies are changing or creating DNA to artificially synthesize compounds, with yeasts and algae being genetically “tweaked” to produce flavors and fragrances such as vanillin, citrus, and patchouli. Of course, this development threatens the very survival of farmers in Mexico, Africa, and Paraguay, who have cultivated natural, organic extracts for centuries. CRISPR technology is altering the fruits and vegetables appearing in produce aisles. One example is the non-browning Arctic Apple, which uses CRISPR technology to silence the gene that causes apples to brown when sliced. The Arctic Apple has already been test-marketed and is on grocery shelves nationwide. Other gene-edited products now available in grocery stores include CRISPR canola oil and non-browning CRISPR mushrooms. Is ignorance really bliss? According to recent updates from Impossible Foods, the company’s products, including the popular Impossible Burger, are widely available in both restaurants and grocery stores across the U.S. Impossible Foods has significantly expanded its distribution since its initial launch, with products now offered in thousands of grocery stores, including major chains like Walmart, Target, and Safeway. Additionally, Impossible Burgers are served in numerous restaurant chains, making them accessible to a broader range of consumers. Meanwhile, consumers looking for a humane, nutritious, and safe meat alternative are consuming the Impossible Burger with no concept of what it contains – or of the possible health effects down the road. Infuriatingly, vendors and restaurateurs have reportedly been heard to tell customers that the Impossible Burger is “non-GMO.” To make matter worse, we already have a “Franken-Fish.” AquaAdvantage salmon, engineered with the genes of an eel to promote supernaturally fast growth, is currently on the market. One sure way you can keep these imposters from ending up on your dinner plate is to buy organic, “real” whole foods. Just say “no” to the Impossible Burger – and the invasion of nightmarish Franken-Foods. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov USRightToKnow.org ImpossibleFoods.com To read the original article click here.

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Studies Confirm, Harm From GMO Foods Is Real – Here Is How to Avoid Them

AHA Publisher — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 07:31:50 +0000

Wendy Miller via NaturalHealth365 – When the concept of genetically modified foods was first discussed, the intent was positive. Because, according to some scientists, GMO technology was supposed to help farmers grow more food to “feed the world” and we were told that genetically manipulated food was the same as their natural counterparts. Ultimately, many people bought into the notion that this “new way” of growing food would help end the worldwide hunger crisis. Yet, once GMOs began to be produced and studied, certain things came to light that offered proof that they may not live up to the image created for them. In fact, evidence clearly showed that consuming genetically modified foods increased the risk of digestive problems like, leaky gut syndrome. What Are GMOs, Anyway? According to conventional “wisdom,” genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are created with the same genetic structure as their natural counterparts. Because they are genetically identical in every way. Yet, researchers like, Stephanie Seneff, PhD would warn you not to be fooled by such naive assumptions. In addition, Big agriculture-controlled food researchers, would like you to believe that GMO foods contain the same vitamins, minerals, and proteins as the natural foods they are designed after. Sadly, some of the world’s largest chemical companies have convinced too many farmers that GMO seeds are designed to grow food much faster and produce more viable foods for harvest. On the surface, it sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Well, there is much more to this food story than most people ever hear. Are GMO and Non-GMO Foods Really the Same? The fact is: the human body is not able to tolerate them as well as their natural counterparts. This (alone) defeats the value of consuming GMO foods. In fact, some studies show that consuming GMOs – as a primary food source – may inhibit your ability to absorb nutrition from the foods you eat or benefit from certain types of medications. In other words, over time, the more you eat GMO foods, the greater your risk of nutritional deficiencies. In studies performed on animals, GMOs actually seemed to increase the risk of potentially harmful diseases. In fact, these findings are so disturbing that many countries across the globe have banned GMOs from being introduced into their countries. FDA “Relaxes” Truth in Labeling Laws – Now What? One of the biggest problems with GMOs is that the FDA allows food manufacturers to avoid labeling certain foods as GMO-based. So, how is the average consumer ever going to know the true nature of the food they buy?! No doubt, “informed consent” is not a top priority for government “health” agencies. With those labeling restrictions lifted, it is difficult to determine what foods contain GMO ingredients and which ones do not. We need to demand more from our elected officials to change this reality. Here Is How to Avoid GMO Foods and Eat a Natural Diet GMOs are continually introduced in more and more commercial (processed) foods. How can you tell which foods contain GMOs? Sadly, that can be a difficult task – for many uninformed consumers – since the FDA has relaxed the standards applied to food labeling laws. But, there’s still hope. (keep reading) If you want to avoid GMOs in your diet, you can start by shopping locally. Go to your local farmer’s market and look for organic farmers that are dedicated to using non-GMO seeds to grow their food. Just ask them, I’m sure they will be happy to tell you. (If not, don’t buy from them.) Better yet, start a small organic garden of your own. If you live in areas where it’s easier to buy from a supermarket, purchase the brands you trust, especially those labeled 100% USDA organic. This will greatly improve your health, as you avoid toxic foods that can destroy your digestive health and immune function. The debate over GMOs is sure to continue. But, as more and more studies are performed, it will become clearer what issues may arise from the use of GMOs. Don’t wait for conventional science to catch up with common sense. Use your purchasing power to buy only organic (non-GMO) foods and ensure a healthier lifestyle for years to come. The rewards are worth the effort. GreenAmerica.org NaturalHealth365 NaturalHealth365 To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Bad News About Impossible Burger: Ushering in a Huge Wave of Genetically Engineered Foods

Studies Confirm, Harm From GMO Foods Is Real – Here Is How to Avoid Them