“If organic farming is the natural way, shouldn’t organic produce just be called ‘produce’ and make the pesticide-laden stuff take the burden of an adjective?” – Ymber Delecto
Organic. It’s been the heated topic of debate over the past decade and its not going anywhere. And, although the organic movement has taken off tremendously, it has also come with many misconceptions trailing behind it. “Trendy” is a label that has been slapped onto the movement along with bunching it into the same basket as “gluten-free”, “paleo” and “vegan”.
Just another label for an image-obsessed Beverly Hills rich kid.
Common misconceptions like this, have led masses to believe that organic food is only meant for the rich and those who can afford to spend $500 on Whole Foods groceries. On the other side of the coin, many have been led to believe that the organic movement is just some type of tree-hugging propaganda that stands in the way of revolutionary science. Similarly, to how Ted Cruz called supporters of organic farming, “anti-science zealots” during his campaign.
What does “organic” truly mean and where did this term come from?
In the 1940s, JJ Ronald started a magazine called “Organic Gardening and Farming”. In his magazine, he coined the term organic, using it to describe traditional, natural farming practices (without the use of newly developed chemicals) and it’s caught on ever since.
Only in recent years, has the majority of food in the US been grown through new methods of genetic engineering (along with the use of synthetic chemicals).
Many individuals have accepted the safety of genetically modified crops in blind faith, while many consume by avid choice and the majority consume unknowingly.
“If it looks like a lemon, and smells like a lemon, it must be a lemon.” Makes sense right?
Not necessarily. Just because a product can smell, look and even feel like the original, doesn’t mean it is equivalent. When the DNA of a seed is manipulated and foreign genes are inserted (originating from different fruits, vegetables, chemical creation, or even animals); that genetic structure no longer represents the genetic makeup of ‘that original lemon’, it represents something else.
This genetic inequivalence has been proven in numerous studies and was just recently reconfirmed in a study done by King’s College in London, which provided a deep molecular assessment on GMO corn vs Non-GMO corn and GMO corn + Roundup Pesticides. This study was the first and the most detailed study comparing the genetic structure of GMOs to non-GMOS on a multi-omics level.
The results in this study are astonishing and go right to battle with the claim that genetic modified organisms are “substantially equivalent” to their non-genetically manipulated counterparts. In this study the results showed a significant genetic difference between both GMO variables compared to the original Non-GMO control.
Here’s a quick summary of what they found:
These genetic differences even went as far as to reveal that the transgenic process ultimately ” caused a general disturbance in the GM plant and it is clear that NK603 maize is markedly different from its non-GM isogenic line at the proteome and metabolome levels”.
“Our results suggest that expression of the EPSPS-CP3 transgene alters the oxidative environment in cells”
“Our data correlates with previous studies, which observed higher amounts of ROS that act as free-radicals promoting oxidative stress in those transgenic plant materials. We also confirm a metabolic imbalance in energy and carbohydrate metabolism.”
Some may believe, that this scientific ability to transfer genes from one place to another is revolutionary, and the concept may be. But right now its effects have proven to be questionable, and its long-term consequences on human health and the environment have yet to be determined.
Human beings have been eating “organic” since the beginning of time, and because of this, there was no need for debate. But now, due to the unlabeled introduction of biotechnological foods in the market, it is necessary to demand transparency. Don’t you deserve the right to know what you are ingesting on a daily basis? And furthermore, spending your dollars on?
Wanting to eat authentic food is not elitist, it’s a basic human right.
Ever since the introduction of these new bio-tech foods, there has been no strict and consistent government regulation on its labeling; to inform you, the consumer, what you are truly eating. If GMO’s are so great, why not label it and convince us? Why does it have to slide under the radar, masquerading as the real deal? One reason may be the the lack of sufficient evidence rendering these newly developed foods safe for long-term human consumption.
It’s true, you’re not going to be instantly poisoned from eating a GMO on the spot. However, eating GMO’s throughout your lifetime not only means eating a genetically modified product that your genetic makeup isn’t designed to digest, but it also means consuming all the synthetic chemicals that come along with it. Ingesting those chemicals is an inevitable part of the deal, that you probably didn’t sign up for in any way but your through your dollars.
Whether you ingest it through eating, through your skincare, or from using everyday household items, these chemicals will ultimately make their way through your bloodstream and inevitably cause you problems.
Although this scientific method of farming is legal here in the United States, its practices have been banned in many countries throughout Europe and worldwide. The use of synthetic chemicals has been consistently shown through research to be environmentally toxic, neurologically toxic, and a catalyst to immune disorders and hormonal disruption.
With limited long-term scientific research, ensuring you the safety of genetically engineered products, why take the chance?
I have made the personal decision, to opt out of being a lifelong guinea pig. Instead, as a consumer, I have chosen to seek transparency.
This choice is not a trend, but rather a lifestyle. With every grocery trip I make, restaurant I go to, and spa day I indulge in, I am continuously making that conscious decision. And if this decision results in the consumption of less chemicals throughout the course of my lifetime and potentially saving myself from disease, I have decided…
I am worth it.
“Pay the farmer now or pay the doctor later. Its your choice”
For more information regarding the substantial equivalence of GMO’s and Non-GMOs, feel free to visit this scientific report published on PubMed.
