GE Crops, Glyphosate, and the Deteriorating Health in the US

One of the most recent studies¹³ investigating the effect genetically engineered (GE) crops and glyphosate has on Americans' health noted that: "Evidence is mounting that glyphosate interferes with many metabolic processes in plants and animals and glyphosate residues have been detected in both. Glyphosate disrupts the endocrine system and the balance of gut bacteria, it damages DNA and is a driver of mutations that lead to cancer..."

The researchers searched US government databases for GE crop data, glyphosate application data and disease epidemiological data. Correlation analyses revealed "highly significant" correlations between glyphosate applications and the following health problems among the US population. According to the authors: "The significance and strength of the correlations show that the effects of glyphosate and GE crops on human health should be further investigated." 

Hypertension	Stroke	Diabetes
Obesity	Lipoprotein metabolism disorder	Alzheimer's
Senile dementia	Parkinson's disease	Multiple sclerosis
Autism	Inflammatory bowel disease	Intestinal infections
End stage renal disease	Acute kidney failure	Thyroid cancer
Liver cancer	Bladder cancer	Pancreatic cancer
Kidney cancer	Myeloid leukemia

Recent research¹⁴ also shows that there are significant compositional differences between GE soybeans and non-GE varieties. Glyphosate readily accumulates in the former, which means more of this toxin is making it into the body of those who consume GE foods. They also differ in terms of nutritional quality, with organic soybeans having the healthiest nutritional profile. According to the authors, "This study rejects that genetically modified soy is "substantially equivalent" to non-GM soybeans."
US food policy is also part and parcel of the problem. Not only are American taxpayers subsidizing Monsanto and junk food products via farm bill subsidies, tax payer money is also used to take away our right to local democracy through preemption, and the money is being used for lobbying for even more tax dollars through the farm bill... As noted by Bittman and Pollan in a recent Washington Post¹⁵ editorial:

"The contradictions of our government's policies around food become clear as soon as you compare the federal recommendations for the American diet, known as MyPlate with the administration's agricultural policies. While MyPlate recommends a diet of 50 percent vegetables and fruits, the administration devotes less than one percent of farm subsidies to support the research, production and marketing of those foods. More than 60 percent of that funding subsidizes the production of corn and other grains — food that is mostly fed to animals, converted to fuel for cars or processed into precisely the sort of junk the first lady is urging us to avoid."

Organic Food Resources

Here are some great resources to obtain wholesome organic food. Eating locally produced organic food will not only support your family's health, it will also protect the environment from harmful chemical pollutants and the inadvertent spread of genetically engineered seeds and chemical-resistant weeds and pests.

1. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
2. Farmers' Markets -- A national listing of farmers' markets.
3. Local Harvest -- This Web site will help you find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies.
4. Eat Well Guide: Wholesome Food from Healthy Animals -- The Eat Well Guide is a free online directory of sustainably raised meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs from farms, stores, restaurants, inns, and hotels, and online outlets in the United States and Canada.
5. Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) -- CISA is dedicated to sustaining agriculture and promoting the products of small farms.
6. FoodRoutes -- The FoodRoutes "Find Good Food" map can help you connect with local farmers to find the freshest, tastiest food possible. On their interactive map, you can find a listing for local farmers, CSAs, and markets near you.