Genetically Engineered Foods pose Higher Risk for Children

Genetically Engineered Foods
Pose Higher Risk for Children

Children face the greatest risk from the potential dangers of GM foods:

     Young, fast-developing bodies are influenced most
      Children are more susceptible to allergies
     Children are more susceptible to problems with milk
     Children are more susceptible to nutritional problems
     Children are in danger from antibiotic resistant diseases

        Young, fast-developing bodies are influenced most

Children's bodies develop at a fast pace and are more likely to be influenced and show the effects of genetically modified (GM) foods. That is why independent scientists used young adolescent rats in their GM feeding studies. The rats showed significant health damage after only 10 days, including damaged immune systems and digestive function, smaller brains, livers, and testicles, partial atrophy of the liver, and potentially pre-cancerous cell growth in the intestines.

Children are more susceptible to Allergies

Children are three to four times more prone to allergies than adults. Infants below two years old are at greatest risk-they have the highest incidence of reactions, especially to new allergens encountered in the diet. Even tiny amounts of allergens can sometimes cause reactions in children. Breast fed infants can be exposed via the mother's diet, and fetuses may possibly be exposed in the womb. Michael Meacher, the former minister of the environment for the UK, said, "Any baby food containing GM products could lead to a dramatic rise in allergies." GM corn is particularly problematic for children, as they generally eat a higher percentage of corn in their diet. Further, allergic children often rely on corn protein. Mothers using cornstarch as a talc substitute on their children's skin might also inadvertently expose them via inhalation.

Children are more susceptible to problems with milk

Milk and dairy products from cows treated with the genetically engineered bovine growth hormone (rbGH) contain an increased amount of the hormone IGF-1, which is one of the highest risk factors associated with breast and prostate cancer. The Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Medical Association called for more studies to determine if ingesting "higher than normal concentrations of [IGF-1] is safe for children, adolescents, and adults." Sam Epstein, M.D., Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition and author of eight books, wrote, "rbGH and its digested products could be absorbed from milk into blood, particularly in infants, and produce hormonal and allergic effects." He described how "cell-stimulating growth factors . . . could induce premature growth and breast stimulation in infants, and possibly promote breast cancer in adults." Dr. Epstein pointed out that the hormones in cows could promote the production of "steroids and adrenaline-type stressor chemicals . . . likely to contaminate milk and may be harmful, particularly to infants and young children."

Children are more susceptible to nutritional problems

A 2002 report by the UK's Royal Society, said that genetic modification "could lead to unpredicted harmful changes in the nutritional state of foods." They therefore recommended that potential health effects of GM foods be rigorously researched before being fed to pregnant or breast-feeding women, elderly people, those suffering from chronic disease, and babies. Likewise, according to former minister Meacher, unexpected changes in estrogen levels in GM soy used in infant formula "might affect sexual development in children," and that "even small nutritional changes could cause bowel obstruction."

Children are in danger from antibiotic resistant diseases

Children prone to ear and other infections are at risk of facing antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, due to the use of antibiotic resistant genes in GM food. The British Medical Association cited this as one reason why they called for a moratorium of GM foods.

GM-Free Manufacturers Campaign

When it comes to the GM issue, most food companies are motivated more by economics than by food safety. Many food manufacturers worldwide have changed to non-GM ingredients to appeal to consumer demand--make a change or lose the customer. Therefore, you as a buyer are at the top of the food chain and can move the market.

For example, when McDonald’s, Proctor & Gamble (manufacturers of Pringles), and the other major potato buyers decided not to sell Monsanto's GM New Leaf potato, it was soon taken off the market. McDonald’s and others doomed Monsanto's potato because they wanted to satisfy consumer demands. We have that power.

In the U.S., Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats, and Trader Joe's announced that GMOs would be removed from their store brands. Gerber baby foods, as well as scores of health food products, have similarly changed their ingredients.

The Power of Targeting the Food Industry
When a store or brand removes GM ingredients, it has a ripple effect through the industry. After a supermarket chain commits to eliminate GMOs, they usually send out a letter to their suppliers who, in turn, contact their suppliers, and so on. A store may have hundreds of food items, each with a list of ingredients. Hundreds or thousands of businesses can be affected, all the way back to the farm level.

To Amazon Seeds of Deception

Seeds of Deception
What the biotech industry doesn't want you to know
By Jeffrey Smith

In the explosive exposé Seeds of Deception, author Jeffrey Smith reveals how industry manipulation and political collusion-not sound science-allow dangerous genetically engineered food into your daily diet. Company research is rigged, alarming evidence of health dangers is covered up

For more information on the content of Seeds of Deception, click here.
Seeds of Deception is available in paperback and cloth editions.
Non-US editions published in Italy, New Zealand, UK, Australia, Germany, and Japan.
Click here to order.

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