The FDA’s 1992 ruling on Genetically Modified Organism food safety is a case study in the political corruption of science. At the time, the head of the Food and Drug Administration,Michael Taylor, ignored the concerns of the FDA’s own scientific staff in an absurd ruling that requires further investigation. Michael Taylor, it turns out, was previously the top lawyer for a little company called Monsanto, where he would later return as their Vice President, and through the “revolving door” of Washington corruption, Taylor is now installed as the current “Food Safety Czar” (sic) under Obama.
A 1998 lawsuit produced 44,000 internal FDA documents, where the real findings of its scientific staff were made public. Here the FDA’s own scientists cited dire concerns that Genetically Engineered “foods” could produce allergies, toxins,new diseases and nutritional problems. They urged caution and extensive safety studies before releasing new “food”products to the general public. The political operatives, like Michael Taylor, ignored the science in favor of an unjustified assumptions: that new engineered foods were substantially the same as non-GMO varieties and that no oversight or safety testing requirements would be imposed.
GMO “Frankenfoods” are created by inserting genes from another species (plant or animal) into the very fabric of the organism. The sources of these newly-inserted genes can be fish, insect – a spider – a poisonous plant species, perhaps in the future even a human being. Often the purpose of this genetic engineering is to make the plant more resistant to toxins that would otherwise kill it, or conversely, to make the plant itself more toxic so that it acts as a pesticide/food all in one.
Numerous studies feeding these creations to animals show alarming results. Tumors, organ failures, decreased organ development, reproductive problems and even death have been documented for twenty years now. The introduction of new GMO “foods” is strictly monitored across the world, and tested for safety, and these “foods” are mandatorily labeled in 49countries today.
But not here.
Monsanto and their partners in crime are now spending over$33 million to propagandize the public in California so that they can maintain this system of non-oversight and an “anything goes” culture. They do not want Prop 37 to pass because it will alert the people that they are not eating foods produced by nature, but by a laboratory. This could certainly impact their sales, their bottom line. They would prefer you remain ignorant and just eat whatever they decide to concoct in the laboratories and the strategic board rooms of large corporations.
Luckily for you and your children, a sizable movement of concerned citizens and scientists is doing everything they can to alert you of the very real and present dangers associated with genetically altered “foods.” Please vote YES on Prop 37 this November 6th,and at least gain the right to know what you are eating and what you are feeding your kids.
Joe Giambrone is a writer, filmmaker and a Shasta College communications student who’s a member of college newspaper staff. He is married and has a daughter.
