GMOs and Glyphosate Linked to Infertility, Botulism and SIDS

USDA Deregulates GMO Sugar Beets

GMOs and Glyphosate Linked to Infertility, Botulism and SIDS

On Friday, June 1, 2012, the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it has completed the final assessment of Monsanto’s genetically engineered sugar beets that were modified to withstand continued applications of the Monsanto’s flagship herbicide, Roundup.  Since every application for deregulation of a genetically engineered crop has so far beenapproved, it surprised no one when the agency again recommended a complete deregulation.

APHIS prepared two assessments — an environmental impact statement and a plant pest risk assessment.  Both assessments were made pursuant to court orders after a lengthy legal battle with the USDA by concerned consumer and environmental groups.

The initial lawsuit, filed in January 2008, was in response to the agency’s decision to deregulate genetically engineered sugar beets. In September 2009, the district court ordered the agency to conduct a full environmental impact study. The following year, in August 2010, the same court set aside the agency’s initial deregulation decision of GE sugar beets.

The USDA’s response to the court’s August 2010 ruling was to grant industry members temporary permits that allowed continued planting of GE sugar beets, forcing environmental groups back into count to challenge the agency conduct. The district court ruled that seedlings planted pursuant to the permits must be destroyed. An Appellate Court, however,  overturned that decision in February 2011. That same month APHIS announced that it will grant Monsanto’s request for a partial deregulation allowing planting of GE sugar beets with certain limitations until the agency conducts the court-ordered assessments.

George Kimbrell, Senior Attorney with the Center for Food Safety (CFS), one of the plaintiffs in the case, told me that CFS was “disappointed” with the agency’s decision and that CFS is reviewing the 800-plus page assessments to determine if any action is warranted.  SOURCE

Selections from Natural Health News

Natural Health News: Monsanto GMO Sugar Beets Denied

Aug 13, 2010

In today's ruling the Court officially “vacated” the USDA “deregulation” of Monsanto's biotech sugar beets and prohibited any future planting and sale pending the agency's compliance with NEPA and all other relevant laws.

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/

Natural Health News: Current Status of GMO Sugar Beets

Feb 05, 2011

This Friday USDA announced that it will allow the planting of Monsanto's “Roundup Ready” GE sugar beets even though the agency has yet to finalize conducting an Environmental Impact Statement (”EIS”). The Center for ...

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/

Judge Reverses Approval for RoundUp Ready Beets

Sep 23, 2009

Noting that pollen from genetically altered sugar beets could be blown by the wind long distances to related crops, such as chard and table beets, the judge ordered the agency to produce an environmental impact statement ...

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/

Damaging Effects of Genetically Engineered Foods

From Organic Consumer's Association today-

Although genetically modified (GM) corn is banned in most of the world, it has been approved as "safe" for human consumption in the U.S. for 12 years and is now likely unknowingly consumed, in one form or another, by more than 90% of Americans on a regular basis. But a recent series of peer-reviewed studies were published in 2008 confirming previous studies indicating potentially severe health and environmental problems associated with the biotech crops. Recent alarming scientific research includes:

1) A new long term study by the Austrian government confirms previous findings that consumption of GM corn, for as little as 20 weeks, can damage the reproductive system, lower fertility rates and increase illness and death rates in offspring.

2) Researchers in Mexico reported in December that some popular varieties of GM corn negatively affect the learning response of bees. Scientists say this may be an indicator of the cause of Colony Collapse Disorder, a recent catastrophic and mysterious die-off of as much as 30% of the world's honey bee population in the past couple of years.

3) In Italy, scientists published a study that put the biotech industry in a public relations tailspin. In the study, laboratory tests showed a direct connection between consumption of GM corn and a damaged immune system.

Additionally OCA suggests that you can use these tips to help you avoid GMO ingredients and "Frankenfoods."

1) Look for products that voluntarily label themselves as GMO or GE-free.

2) Buy Organic: Products certified as "Organic" are not allowed to contain genetically modified ingredients.

3) Avoid non-organic products that contain the most common genetically engineered ingredients: corn (corn syrup, corn meal, corn oil, etc.), fructose, dextrose, glucose, modified food starch, ingredients including the word "soy" (soy flour, soy lecithin, etc.), vegetable oil, vegetable protein, canola oil (also called rapeseed oil), cottonseed oil, and sugar from sugar beets.

More more information please see OCA's site,

and read this report.