GMO Archives - Amazing Health Advances

U.S. Approves World’s First GMO Wheat Grown with Banned Neurotoxic Herbicide

The AHA! Team — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:30:56 +0000

Stephanie Woods via NaturalHealth365 – While corporations and even our government tamper with our food, yet another addition is making its way to U.S. soil. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently approved the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) wheat. The first GM wheat in the world comes from Bioceres, an Argentinean company, and French company Florimond Desprez. While Argentina is currently the “only” place where GM wheat products are being consumed, this toxic food is heading to the United States. The movement to deregister GM wheat products is strong and relentless. It will eventually happen, likely sooner rather than later. To avoid this, it is a good idea to begin preparations now. The hidden dangers of glufosinate ammonium One of the biggest concerns about GMO wheat is that it is grown with glufosinate ammonium. This highly dangerous agrotoxin has been banned in the European Union due to its serious health risks. Exposure to glufosinate ammonium has been linked to a range of concerning health impacts, including gastrointestinal issues such as mouth ulcers, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and sore throat. Cardiovascular problems like low blood pressure (hypotension) and slow heart rate (bradycardia) have also been reported. Neurological effects can range from drowsiness, headaches, agitation, tremors, stupor, confusion, and dizziness to severe outcomes like seizures, retrograde amnesia, coma, and even respiratory failure. Additionally, respiratory complications such as hypoxia and shortness of breath pose significant threats. Given these alarming risks, it’s clear that we must actively avoid products containing this harmful chemical. Unfortunately, we cannot rely on government agencies to protect us; their actions often suggest the opposite. We must stay informed, make conscious choices, and take control of our health and well-being. Too many red flags to ignore! When it comes to GM wheat, the red flags are impossible to overlook. For starters, no publicly available studies or documentation prove its safety. Despite being heavily promoted as “drought resistant,” no credible evidence supports this claim. In fact, GM wheat hasn’t even demonstrated higher productivity compared to conventional wheat. The situation in Argentina highlights another major concern. The country’s National Commission on Biotechnology, the central authority responsible for approving GM foods, is largely made up of representatives from companies that profit from selling GMOs. With such an obvious conflict of interest, there are virtually no checks and balances in place to ensure transparency or accountability. These glaring issues make it clear that GM wheat comes with far more questions than answers. How to avoid GM wheat: Take control of your food choices Avoiding GM wheat is entirely possible with some mindful shopping habits. One of the most effective strategies is to buy organic. Foods with the Certified Organic seal are prohibited from containing GMOs, offering a reliable safeguard against genetically modified ingredients. When shopping, look for the Non-GMO Project Verified seal. While many products claim to be “non-GMO,” this official certification ensures a higher standard of transparency and accountability, giving you greater confidence in your purchases. Another essential step is to avoid processed foods. Whole, organic foods are far less likely to contain GMOs, while processed foods are notorious for sneaking them in through various additives and fillers. Whenever possible, buy directly from local farms. This supports the local economy, allows you to ask questions about farming practices, and helps to ensure you get clean, high-quality food. The reality is that the tampering with our food supply isn’t likely to stop anytime soon. Governments and large corporations often prioritize profit and convenience over nutrition and public health. That means it’s up to us to take matters into our own hands – to educate ourselves, make informed choices, and seek out healthy alternatives to the heavily processed, GMO-laden products they want to push on us. It’s time to stand firm. Every purchase is a choice, a step towards reclaiming control over our health. Push back. Choose better. Sources for this article include: Childrenshealthdefense.org Sciencedirect.com NIH.gov To read the original article click here.

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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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What Is Bioengineered Food? New Laws, Bioengineered vs. GMO

AHA Publisher — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 09:51:34 +0000

Jillian Levy, CHHC via Dr. Axe – As of January 2022, new food labeling laws take effect in the U.S. that replace the term “GMO foods” with “bioengineered food” instead. Believe it or not, GMO/bioengineered ingredients can be found in more than 75% of processed foods made in the U.S. Some consider these modern food production methods to be a necessary part of how we feed the world in 2022 and beyond — in order to keep up with growing demand as the population continues to climb. However, organizations, including the Center for Food Safety, believe that each day tens of millions of American infants, children and adults eat genetically engineered foods without their knowledge. New regulations and labeling laws hope to help fix this problem. So are bioengineered foods harmful or potentially healthy? Let’s find out below. What Is Bioengineered Food? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines bioengineered foods as “those that contain detectable genetic material that has been modified through lab techniques and cannot be created through conventional breeding or found in nature.” In other words, bioengineered foods are made with help from science and technology. Their genetic material is altered in a way that changes how the food is grown, usually to help produce more of the food at a cheaper cost. Are bioengineered foods the same as GMO foods? Bioengineered, or “BE” for short, is the federal government’s new way tor refer to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). While the two terms can mostly be used interchangeably, the new BE labeling laws leave out many products that are made with GMOs (more on this below). The main difference between the two is this: BE foods must contain detectable genetic material that shows up on tests, but many products made with new GMO techniques are untestable, so they don’t require BE labeling. Essentially, a food can contain small amounts of GMO ingredients, or be made with help from technology, but it still won’t bear a new BE label. What foods have bioengineered ingredients? The USDA has created an official “List of Bioengineered Foods.” The list contains 13 items that are considered bioengineered foods/ingredients: Alfalfa Arctic™ Apple Canola Corn Cotton Some Eggplant Ringspot Virus-Resistant Papaya Pink Pineapple Potato AquAdvantage® Salmon Soybean Summer Squash Sugarbeet These bioengineered ingredients are used to make many food products found on store shelves — including those that contain cornstarch, corn syrup, canola oil, high fructose corn syrup, granulated sugar and soybean oil. You’ll find the new BE label on processed foods and other products, such as: Sodas/soft drinks Baked goods Frozen meals Non-organic milk made from cows fed genetically modified soy products Tofu (GMO soy beans) Dressings made with vegetable oils (canola, soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower) Cereals Sweetened juices Canned soups Additionally, BE crops are used to make animal feed. Labeling Laws (USDA Update) Starting Jan. 1, 2022, “The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard” took effect. It requires food manufacturers, importers and retailers in the U.S. to comply with a new national labeling standard for food that’s been genetically modified. What’s the goal of the new labeling? The new BE labeling law is regulated on a federal/national level compared to a state level, which was previously the case with GMO food labeling. The main goals of the new labeling laws are to “give people more information about what they eat and standardize labels across the country,” as one NPR article explained. The USDA says, “The updated labeling should increase transparency of our nation’s food system, establishing guidelines for regulated entities on when and how to disclose bioengineered ingredients. This ensures clear information and labeling consistency for consumers about the ingredients in their food.” How will bioengineered foods be labeled? Going forward, labels on some foods will say “bioengineered” or “derived from bioengineering.” Manufacturers can also use two BE logos approved by the USDA. Something controversial about the new BE labeling is that certain foods are exempt from needing to be labeled as bioengineered, even though they do contain some genetically modified ingredients. The USDA has stated that “highly refined ingredients (like some sugars and oils)” do not require labels if the level of genetic material is below the USDA’s detectability threshold. Exemptions to the new BE labeling include: foods that are, or are primarily made with, meat, poultry or egg products (these must be the first ingredients) or foods that are primarily made with water, broth or stock (again, these must be the first ingredient listed). Very small food manufacturers with sales below $2.5 million per year also don’t need to label their food as bioengineered. Aside from foods having BE labeling, packages can include QR codes for consumers to scan so they can learn more about the products. There is also a phone number listed on some bioengineered foods for consumers to text if they want to be provided with more information about that food. Risks and Side Effects Is it safe to eat bioengineered food? From a health standpoint, bioengineered foods are not very different than GMO foods, which are still controversial. According to the National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization, there’s no solid evidence that genetically modified/bioengineered crops are harmful to human health, although not every organization agrees, including the Non-GMO Project and Center for Food Safety. The Non-GMO Project created the product verification program to help educate consumers about the risks of consuming GMO foods, for both their health and the environment, and to help preserve and build a non-GMO food supply. For example, the Non-GMO Project explains: “Planting vast areas with just a few crops erodes biodiversity, while the chemical pesticides that go hand in hand with GMOs damage soil health. Agriculture that relies on GMOs is a losing proposition.” The Center for Food Safety states, “Genetically engineered foods are different from other foods. Genetic engineering allows, for the first time, foreign genes, bacterial and viral vectors, viral promoters and antibiotic marker systems to be engineered into food.” While it has not been proven in all studies, there’s potential that genetically engineered foods may contribute to health problems such as: antibiotic resistance allergies immuno-suppression loss of nutrients Are There Any Benefits? Are bioengineered food ingredients healthy? In most cases, no. The majority of genetically modified/bioengineered foods are highly refined and processed, meaning they are low in nutrients but may be high in calories. There are not added health benefits to consuming these foods or ingredients. In other words, technology has not made them healthier foods. However, they can be appealing because they are typically inexpensive, and they are widely available. One benefit of the new BE labeling law is that it keeps consumers better informed about what they are buying and eating. The new labeling is also intended to have “the interest of minimizing costs for producers” in mind. As one article published by Piedmont puts it, “GMOs have been in our food supply for more than 20 years. They are made by scientists who have genetically introduced new traits or characteristics to an organism, allowing it to grow faster, look better, taste sweeter and resist herbicides, etc.” How to Avoid Them When grocery shopping, check for new bioengineered labels. The USDA offers two official labels for BE products that contain circular green images with two different sets of text: either “bioengineered” or “derived from bioengineering.” You’re most likely to see these labels on products made with corn, soy, canola oil and sugar, such as some cereals, frozen foods, dressings, etc. The Non-GMO Project has created its own label known as “the Butterfly” that ensures a food does not contain GMOs or bioengineered ingredients. You can look for the Butterfly label on foods if you want to be sure the food is GMO-free. The organization has stated: “Bioengineered Food labeling law is ineffective at finding GMOs and avoiding GMOs, largely because of restrictions, loopholes and exemptions. Too much falls outside of the law’s purview for it to be effective. That’s why the Butterfly remains the most rigorous, transparent and trustworthy label for GMO avoidance.” Here are steps you can take to avoid bioengineered/GMO foods: Buy food that is labeled 100 percent organic. Purchase products with the Butterfly/non-GMO label. Opt for unprocessed, whole foods that contain minimal ingredients (or only one). Purchase grass-fed beef and organic dairy products. Shop at local farmers markets, and purchase more food from small producers. Conclusion What is bioengineered food? The USDA defines it as foods that contain detectable genetic material that has been modified through lab techniques and cannot be created through conventional breeding or found in nature. Bioengineered food ingredients include corn, canola, soybeans, sugarbeets and some others. These are found in many processed and refined foods. Food producers are now required to use two logos approved by the USDA to label bioengineered food under the new national standard that took effect on Jan. 1, 2022. These labels will replace GMO labeling in most cases. While it hasn’t been proven that GMO/bioengineered foods are harmful, they are mostly highly processed products that are lacking nutrients in most cases. To read the original article click here.

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