GMOS FOODS ARE THE NORM - GUEST PROFESSOR DAVID ZILBERMAN (REAL)

Food And Travel Nation

Food and Travel Nation with Elizabeth Dougherty GMOS 30 YEARS LATER - HOW YA FEELING?The TRUTH about Food and Travel Original Broadcast Date: 3/31/2018

Let's step back in time. Since the early 90's, we've been told that to save water and to prevent weeds from popping up in agricultural fields, it was necessary to spray the herbicide glyphosate in the fields growing the worldwide food supply. Seemingly simultaneously, (and coincidentally, primarily produced by the same company) genetically modified seeds were introduced that would continue to produce the crops necessary to feed the growing human population, despite near continual spraying of the aforementioned glyphosate.

Genetically engineered plants produce a protein from the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacterium. This protein is toxic to certain unsuspecting insect pests who, when they get hungry, eat the plants. Bt protein is toxic to specific insects and when consumed, the Bt protein targets their gut cells, ultimately leading to the insect's death.

We're told that genetically modified foods, produced by those genetically modified plants (containing the bT protein that is deadly bugs) are perfectly safe for humans. `

So the race to "feed the world" (using genetically modified foods) and the simultaneous race to introduce new novel food products, has been underway since 1994.

On May 21, 1994, the first genetically modified (GM) food to appear on the market was the Flavr Savr tomato. It was developed by the biotechnology company Calgene and was approved for commercial sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) .

The Flavr Savr tomato was genetically engineered to have a longer shelf life and to resist rotting, thanks to a modification that slowed down the softening process of the tomato after it was harvested. Although it was initially heralded as a breakthrough, the Flavr Savr tomato was not commercially successful and was eventually discontinued.

But precedent was set and the door was open.

This marked the beginning of the commercial availability of genetically modified foods, which have since expanded to include a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and now lab-grown meat. The marketing of these products to an unsuspecting and thus accepting public, has been wildly successful. Years ago Elizabeth spoke with Professor David Zilberman from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC Berkeley. A faculty member since 1979, Zilberman has made significant contributions to various fields, including agricultural and environmental policy, the economics of innovation, biotechnology, bioenergy, and of course, climate change. Zilberman indicated in the interview that GMO foods had become "the norm" across the world. All of this was done without a vote and sold to the public as being safe for humans without any official long term human feeding studies to ensure safety. All done in plain sight. And all done with a nod and a wink from the government.

Fast forward to today. Genetically modified foods have now been on the market for 30 years. Two full generations of Americans have grown up eating nearly nothing but genetically modified foods. Because of the pricing disparity between organic and conventionally grown plants, most people have thus been priced out of eating foods that are NOT genetically modified. GMO foods have indeed become "the norm."

As mentioned earlier, no "official" long term human feeding studies were done prior to the release of that first genetically modified tomato back in 1994. Calgene did "self-certify" to the FDA that their Flavr Savr tomatoes were safe under the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) provision of FDA rules. Calgene submitted a GRAS notification to the FDA, asserting that their product was "as safe as conventional tomatoes" ... based on short-term animal studies and other safety assessments. The FDA reviewed the data provided by Calgene (which included studies on rats, but there was no extensive long-term human testing) and gave it's blessing for the birth of the entire genetically modified food industry. At that moment precedent was set and there was no going back.

And now, thirty years later, we ask the question: How Ya Feeling?

Since 1994, we've seen a significant increase in chronic health conditions. Obesity rates in the US have reached 43%. Globally, the number of diabetes cases jumped from 108 million in 1980 to 537 million in 2021. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) now affects up to 25% of the global population, and the number of pancreatic cancers and gallbladder removal surgeries have jumped significantly, particularly in Western countries. These health issues are being linked to dietary changes, including the increased consumption of processed foods often containing genetically modified ingredients.

There's not a single person who isn't suffering or knows someone who is suffering from gut-based illnesses or disease. Just as the Bt protein destroys the gut of the insects that eat it, that Bt protein is IN the GMO feeds we eat. Those insects that ate genetically modified plants died from the inside out. Sound familiar? Meanwhile, the government insists that foods made with GMOs are safe.

As mentioned earlier, that there were no "official long term feeding studies" conducted before GM foods were released to the public. Truth is, the study HAS been underway for thirty years, and you're participating whether you like it or not, and it's not looking good... for the humans. Not to beat a tired old drum, but the government insists GMO foods are safe. But based upon the declining health of America, (and the government's behavior over the past several years when it comes to public health) please understand that we don't believe them. SEE ALSO: THE FIRST MAN-MADE FOODS ARE POISED TO ENTER THE MARKET ###

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