Monsanto Protection Act 2013: What You Need to Know About Genetically Modified Foods

Jiffy, Healthy Choice, Orville Redenbacher: are you stocking your cabinets with genetically modified food?

So last week, you may have noticed a lot of noise on Facebook about the passing of a sneaky rider attached to the spending bill that protects biotech giant Monsanto. I’m going to go ahead and say that anyone who doesn’t think this is scary business is nuts. What’s even more nuts is the fact that a bill like this — which essentially shields highly controversial companies like Monsanto from federal courts should something be found harmful in their genetically-modified seeds — just slipped through. GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are so dangerous that they’ve been banned by dozens of countries including the U.K., Japan, Australia, and the entire European Union, but here in the U.S., GMO food doesn’t even have to be labeled!

Last year the American Academy of Environmental Medicine issued a statement concluding that “There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects. There is a causation.” These adverse health effects include infertility, immunity problems, accelerated aging, allergies, disrupted insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the GI system. And children are the most susceptible to the problems. Scary stuff. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, GMOs cause all sorts of serious problems for the environment and non-GM crops, farmers, and developing countries. Makes total sense that we protect the agra-giants that manufacture these mutant seeds, right? (Not even a little bit.)

The good news is the “Monsanto Protection Act” will be up for reconsideration in another six months, so hopefully enough of a stink will have been raised by then to make it disappear. But unfortunately, even if the earmark goes away, GMOs won’t; yet another reason to be a conscientious consumer. It’s become easier to identify which companies use GMO ingredients. Boycott those companies. If enough people do, it hits companies like Monsanto where it hurts: in the wallet. To get you started I’ve included a sample list of popular kid-friendly products to avoid, as well as some links to more info on GMOs and their evil ways.

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These companies use Monsanto products:

  • Betty Crocker
  • Campbell’s
  • Capri-Sun
  • Carnation
  • Cheetos
  • Chef Boyardee
  • Doritos
  • Duncan Hines
  • Fritos
  • Green Giant
  • Healthy Choice
  • Heinz
  • Hellman’s
  • Hershey’s Nestle
  • Jiffy
  • Keebler
  • Kid Cuisine
  • Lay’s
  • Lipton
  • Minute Maid
  • Morningstar
  • Nature Valley
  • Ocean Spray
  • Orville Redenbacher
  • Pop Secret
  • Power Bar Brand
  • Prego Pasta Sauce
  • Pringles
  • Quaker
  • Ragu Sauce
  • Ritz
  • Tostitos
  • Triscuit
  • V-8
  • Wheat Thins

More reading:

» More from Mama Greenest blog
» Ask Mama Greenest a question
» Find a Hudson Valley healthcare provider or rescource
» Find a Hudson Valley kids resource

 

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