- 2/3 of American Crops Are Contaminated
by Bouneith Inejnema
- Sales of organic produce and food items are growing, and many believe it is due to the widespread use of genetically-modified organisms in our food supply. Who is to say that the corn flakes you are buying for your childıs breakfast are not made with genetically modified corn? The only way to ensure that your foods were free from GMOs is to buy organic - or so we thought. But now, thanks to contamination, even our organic food resources may not be free from genetically modified organisms!
According to recent reports, more than two-thirds of the conventional crops in the USA are contaminated with genetically engineered material, threatening organic agriculture and an alarming risk to human and animal health. The report states that traditional varieties of seed are "pervasively contaminated" by genetically-engineered DNA, causing farmers to unknowingly plant billions of GM seeds every year. This, in turn, spreads GM farming exponentially throughout the USA.
According to the report, the US biotech industry says that it is "not surprised" by the findings. Lisa Dry, of the US Biotechnology Industry Association, said that the industry was "not surprised by this report, knowing that pollen travels and commodity grains might co-mingle at various places".
Two independent laboratories tested assumed non-GM seeds under the auspices of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Soya, maize and oilseed rape were tested (three crops widely grown in the USA). The tests found that, at conservative estimates, half of the corn and soybeans were contaminated with genetically modified genes, while 83% of the oilseed rape were tainted.
A serious health risk is expected if drugs and industrial chemicals from the next generation of GM crops get into the traditional food supply.
