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August 30, 2007
"One of the largest human trials in history."
I went through a phase, around second grade, when all I would take for lunch was peanut butter and jelly (creamy, and mint jelly, please. The green kind. Yes, I did get made fun of). My little sister is seven years younger than me, and by the time she was in second grade she and her classmates weren't allowed to bring PB&J for lunch because there were other students with severe peanut allergies.
The story isn't uncommon, as AllergyKids President Robyn O'Brien points out in this Healthy Child, Healthy World blog post.
Today, at least 1 out of every 17 children under the age of three has a food allergy with at least 5 million American children suffering from this condition (though these statistics are from 2002, over five years old).
O'Brien posits that the rise in child allergies may be connected to a decade-old form of genetic engineering which allows for neurotoxins to be engineered into the foods we, and our children, eat. The effects of consuming these neurotoxins have not been subject to long-term study. What studies are being done on childhood food allergies are funded by the processed food industry.
Not only that, but
In the United States, our regulatory agencies do not require these genetically engineered ingredients to be labeled.So, unlike other developed countries, we have not been informed that almost 70% of our corn, 90% of our soy and 75% of our processed food now contain
neurotoxins, novel proteins and allergens.
O'Brien's post is a compelling call to action to stop what she calls "one of the largest human trials in history." Go have a read, and when you're done there, go snack on something organic -- because in this country, that's the only way you can be sure your food isn't genetically modified.
Comments
Good Post. I totally agree with the labeling. How can anyone in their right mind object to calling things what they are?
A couple of points:
1) There are two types of allergic reactions usually seen to food. The first is the IgE-mediated, traditional, fast, life-threatening type (think peanuts and bee stings). The second type takes much longer and is confined to the gut (vomiting, nausea, diarrhea,...etc). The first isn't as much concern with GM crops because the mechanism is well known and the testing is pretty good for this. The second type isn't well understood so it continues to be a problem. The implication is that the rise in peanut allergy is likely caused by some factor not related to GM-crops. The rise in many other food allergies likely have links to GM crops (corn is a good example)
2) EHP did a good mini-monograph a while back on GM foods and allergies.
3) For a bit of a mind/ethics twist, a GM peanut has been made that eliminates the protein that causes the IgE mediated allergic reaction. Would this be welcomed by the non-GMO crowd? Tough call but I would be in favor of it with a bit of testing looking at other allergy reactions.
4)Calling Bt endotoxin a neurotoxin for humans really isn't correct. It would have to survive the gut environment intact and have receptors in the intestine and nervous system. It never makes it to the target so it's not a neurotoxin.
Mint Jelly? I judge you. ;)
Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam sandwich is still a lunch favorite of mine. Mmmm....
Posted by: AngryToxicologist | August 31, 2007 11:32 AM
AngryTox- You're so useful! Thanks for clarifying, especially about the difference between peanut allergies and other types of food allergies. Presumably gluten is another that some think may be linked to GMOs?
Yeah, every so often I still get serious cravings for mint jelly, but mostly I stick with strawberry jam now. Although the peanut butter has switched to crunchy. Mmm, peanut butter...
Posted by: Amanda | August 31, 2007 11:43 AM
AH THE BENEFITS OF A CAPITALIST SOCIETY...I CAN MAKE MONEY KILLING PEOPLE SLOWLY AND ALSO INVEST IN HOSPITALS AND DIALYSIS FOR THEM(MONEY FOR RETIREMENT) AND BY THE TIME THEY GO TO SUE US..WE WILL HAVE LOBBIED CONGRESS FOR LIABILITY PROTECTION---SINCERELY,
MCDONALDS,KRAFT & SARA LEE
P.S. THIS YEAR LETS MEET IN THE SEYCHELLES- :"I HEAR THEIR ORGANIC SEAFOOD IS WONDERFUL THIS TIME OF YEAR" LEONA HELMSLY TOLD ME!
Posted by: beth helm | September 1, 2007 3:42 PM