Yeah, we know Monsanto is evil and deadly, and evil.....

[TalkingDog]

Did I mention evil? And that's why I have a garden.......

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/12/monsantos-gmo-corn-linked_n_420365.html

According to the study, which was summarized by Adam Shake at Twilight Earth, "Three varieties of Monsanto's GM corn - Mon 863, insecticide-producing Mon 810, and Roundup® herbicide-absorbing NK 603 - were approved for consumption by US, European and several other national food safety authorities."

"Effects were mostly concentrated in kidney and liver function, the two major diet detoxification organs, but in detail differed with each GM type. In addition, some effects on heart, adrenal, spleen and blood cells were also frequently noted. As there normally exists sex differences in liver and kidney metabolism, the highly statistically significant disturbances in the function of these organs, seen between male and female rats, cannot be dismissed as biologically insignificant as has been proposed by others. We therefore conclude that our data strongly suggests that these GM maize varieties induce a state of hepatorenal toxicity....These substances have never before been an integral part of the human or animal diet and therefore their health consequences for those who consume them, especially over long time periods are currently unknown."

Study: http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0706.htm#headingA11

[pleah]

1. K&R I have a garden, too.

[clear eye]

2. One big difference b/t eating GM corn w/ auto-produced insecticide

and normal sprayed corn, is there are periods before harvest that are supposed to exclude spraying so levels on the food will be low. When the plant produces the poison itself or drinks up a systemic herbicide, there can be no such clean up period.

Personally, I'll only eat corn products, such as chips, breakfast cereal, that are organic. I don't eat mammals, and little poultry, but I'm considering switching from free-range poultry to organic despite its costs, b/c animals generally concentrate ingested insecticides, etc. in their meat.

Of course, despite all precautions, we can't protect ourselves from corn contaminated inadvertantly from GM pollen by wind.

[OhioBlue]

3. K&R - I watch Food Inc. and parts of "the Corporation" documentary

recently - we have been making efforts to change our shopping and eating habits. We're making a lot more meals from scratch - organic veggies when we can. Hormone free dairy and free range eggs. Planning a big garden next spring.

It's hard to find a good store for organic or natural foods close to me. Luckily, we do have a freezer full of beef from a cow we had butchered - a friend raised it and it was mostly grass-fed. We are going "meatless" more often too - with beans & rice and beans, potatoes and cornbread as favorite alternatives.

[JPZenger]

4. NPR had story this evening on Monsanto's monopolistic practices

This evening (Tues.), NPR had a detailed report on Monsanto's monopolistic practices in regards to herbicide resistant seeds. They have put many seed companies out of business, and have great control over their competitors through licensing of patents. They are now releasing a more advanced set of seeds that will allow them to retain much control of the market long after their initial patent expires.

[TalkingDog]

5. I heard that. When I found this I was "surprised" that NPR hadn't mentioned it. n/t

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. NPR is becoming the Faux gnus of radio.

Their reporting is sorely lacking.
Maybe they are getting better, but I don't think so. Not in chicago.

[SPedigrees]

7. I've tried to cut everything 'corn' out of our diets

with HFCS heading the list. Tapioca flour in place of corn starch, lots of cooking from scratch. Mansanto=Poison

[clear eye]

9. GM corn's largest use is in animal feed

and animals concentrate these fat-soluble poisons in their meat. Just dropping corn won't reduce your exposure much.

[Toucano]

10. A backyard flock of chickens will help, if you´re able.

Then you control what they eat and what, therefore, you eat.

[SPedigrees]

12. This option is on the table. But not sure if the unpleasantness

of killing creatures I've looked after would be counterbalanced by the health benefits. To say nothing of the work of gutting carcasses and plucking feathers.

Then again what to feed chickens? Yes they'll eat table scraps and forage for themselves. But they still need commercial feed of some sort, and that is likely to be mostly GM corn, possibly with a smattering of Chinese melamine.

[SPedigrees]

11. Good point. We do eat more vegies and grains than meat.

And we eat a good amount of atlantic fish. But I'm sure we are getting GM corn in the meats we do eat.

[Quantess]

8. K & R