January 07, 2013

By David Blyweiss, M.D.

In This Issue:

• The complicated GMO landscape abroad
• What foreign bans mean to you
• Numbers you might want to know about the Prop 37 defeat

Despite calls for recounts and accusations that voters were misled, California’s Prop 37 – which would have been the first in the nation to require companies to label products containing genetically-modified food – was defeated.

It struck a huge blow to consumers – presumably like you and me – who would like to know what we buy in the supermarket, and choose for ourselves whether we want to eat GMO foods or not.

But this issue is far from over. In fact, if you take a look at countries outside of the US, you’ll see that GMO foods are causing seismic debates around the world.

Sometimes, looking at your own country’s laws through the eyes of another can be very informative. When other countries ban foods we can readily buy here – you have to wonder why.
Or, when American companies can sell some products abroad that they can’t sell right here in the U.S.

Of course, politics, special interest groups, and other influences exist all over the world. Every case is different. But a peek outside your own country’s bubble can sometimes bring to light new science, new perspectives, and new approaches to health. When it comes to our health, we are all human, first… and members of a nation, second.

We can’t afford not to learn from one another’s mistakes, and thrive from each other’s health breakthroughs.

Bans on GMO foods around the world are complicated, at best. Some countries have total bans, such as New Zealand, and much of Europe, including France, Ireland, Austria, Hungary, Greece, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, and Switzerland.

Others have more complicated bans. Like Japan, which is largely anti-GMO, grows none on its own soil, but is one of the largest importers of GM canola from Canada. Or Germany, which bans GM corn, but the ban doesn’t extend to all GM foods. And Russia, which recently banned all imports of GM corn, citing a French study that shows rats grow massive tumors when fed a lifetime of GM corn.

Then, there is the heartbreaking story of India, which is now banning GM foods on a crop-by-crop basis after a horrifying experience with GM cotton crops. Apparently, the crops did not perform as promised, and the farmers went into massive debt to purchase the more expensive seeds – which cannot be saved and used in subsequent years but must be re-purchased every year. Newspapers in the UK reported that an estimated 125,000 farmers committed suicide as a result of this devastating crop failure, and the financial ruin it brought on.

So what does all this have to do with you? Well, a lot, actually.

You see, the base crops of the US are all largely GM now – corn, soy, and canola. China is one of the largest GM producers in the world – and one of our main trade partners. Our northern neighbor, Canada, and much of South America – which grows a lot of the food sold in the US – are also big GM producers.

Food production is a worldwide affair. We can’t help but admit that we are inextricably linked to other countries, and their decisions affect us and vice versa.

I’m not suggesting you have to keep track of the entire world on this issue. Especially since every day brings new updates, new wrinkles, new studies.

But I do think we can – and should – learn from other countries on this issue.

If nothing else, the landscape of controversy – and the lack of adequate long-term studies – should be enough to put GM foods on hold until we have a clear picture. Unfortunately, that’s not what’s facing us at the grocery store.

The onus is on each of us to decide – where do we draw the line? If you can afford to eat organic foods only, you can sidestep the decision. For now. But stay aware. If this year’s election is any indication, this issue is far from over.

Speaking of this year’s election…

While I try to stick with science, and steer clear of too much politics, here in Advanced Natural Wellness, I do think one quick fact might be enlightening to you. It’s regarding the defeat of Prop 37, which I mentioned above.

Did you know that multi-national corporations invested between $45-$48 million to defeat the proposed legislation? While consumer advocacy groups only raised a total of $8 million.

I find the David and Goliath aspect of this is unsettling. And it does lead to the inevitable question: Do we want corporations deciding what we get to know about what we eat?

I know my answer. And I can guess yours.

For those of you who might like to make purchasing decisions accordingly, I did come across the list of corporate donors, and thought you might like to know Who’s Who and how much each one contributed before your next trip to the supermarket.

Here are the top 5 largest donors – those who gave a quarter million or more. You can find out the complete list here:

Monsanto Company – $8,112,069
E.I. Dupont De Nemours & Co. – $5,400,000
Pepsico, Inc. – $2,145,400
Grocery Manufactureres Association – $2,002,000
BASF Plant Science – $2,000,000

Clearly, this is no time to lower your guard – or your standards – about what you eat. The jury is far from out on GMO foods. And the corporate money is in. Your health hangs in the balance.

You can get a listing of what companies support your right to know by clicking here. To show you the difference in companies, here’s a short list of companies that support your right to choose.

• Ambrosial Granola, inc.
• American Natural & Organic Spices
• Amy’s Kitchen
• Annie’s, Inc.
• B-Alive Natural Foods
• Beanfields Snacks
• Beanitos, The Original Bean Chips
• Bucha Live Kombucha
• Bumble Bee Health Foods
• Cal-Stevia
• Clif Bar & Company
• Country Choice Organic
• Earth Balance
• Earthbeam Natural Foods
• Eden Foods
• Elemental Superfood
• Energy Essentials Whole Plant Food Manufacturing Company
• Foothill Organic Growers
• Four Elements Organics
• Glee’s Baking and Milling Company
• Glutino Food Group
• GoMacro Inc
• Good Earth Natural Foods
• Heartsong Pasta
• Hoa’s Vegetarian & Vegan Spring Rolls
• J&H Produce, Inc.
• Jasmin’s Goodies
• Kona Coffee Farmer’s Association
• Las Hermanas Organics
• Made In Nature
• Merton’s Maple Syrup
• Mt. Eden Organics
• Naturally Yours Organics
• Nature’s Express
• Nutiva
• Organic Valley
• Pacific Foods
• Patagonia
• Pop Culture Beverage Company
• Purely Organic, Ltd.
• Rudi’s Organic Bakery
• Rumiano Cheese Co.
• Sambazon
• Scenario International LLC
• Simpli
• Sky Island Organics
• Sproutpeople
• Helena Olive Oil Co.
• Staff of Life Natural Foods
• Stonyfield Farm
• Sunfood
• Sunshine Natural Health Foods
• Teeny Tiny Spice Co. of Vermont
• Turtle Island
• United Natural Foods Inc (UNFI)
• Via Organica
• Vivapura
• Whole Living Naturals
• Whole Soy Company

In any case, it’s not the easiest decision for a consumer. What to buy, when you don’t have adequate information. What to eat, when your own country deems a food safe that 10 others won’t even allow in. Not to mention, you’re looking at a list that includes a few dozen of your nation’s top food producers, and the small fortune they recently spent to keep you in the dark.

I’m no psychic. But I’d put money on GMO foods getting more press, hitting more controversy, and gaining more consumer awareness in the year ahead.

And I’ll be sure to do my best to keep you apprised of the science, the laws, and how they affect you personally, as they do.