There is heated debate over GMOs and from the latest that I've heard was a woman stating "GMO is in our foods to have a longer shelf life."
Ignorance is not always good...

“Over 85-90% of all soybeans, corn, cotton, sugar beets and canola grown in the U.S. contains Monsanto’s patented genes.”

 

You may be asking yourself,
What is GM and or GMO and why do I hear so much about it in Hawai'i?

Here are some of the answers:

GM is short for "genetically modified".  GM research manipulates DNA structures of cells with foreign DNA or synthetic genes, creating a new form of DNA, such as "recombinant DNA".

GMO is short for "genetically modified organisms".   GMOs are organisms that has been genetically altered by use of GE, "genetically engineering" techniques.

GMO tests has been done on animals and plants.  GMO products are then used for human and wildlife everyday uses, such as foods, body products, etc.

 

What was the main goal?

To improve crop protection from natural deterioration, such as viruses and insects.

 

 

Who started GMOs?

The debate is between 2 countries.  China started around the same time as the U.S. in creating GMO research.

The World leading GMO company in the U.S. is called Monsanto.

 

Who is Monsanto?

Founded in 1901, in St. Louis, Missouri, by a 30 year pharmaceutical veteran named John Francis Queeny, named his company after his wife's maiden name.
The corporation's first well-known product was the artificial sweetener saccharin.

In 1919, the company partnered with Europe's Graesser's Chemical Works and created salicylic acid, aspirin, vanillin, and rubber.

In the 1940s, Monsanto became a manufacturer of plastics, synthetic fibers, and created aspartame (NutraSweet).  They also became a top 10 U.S. chemical and global company that provides herbicide.
Herbicide: meaning a chemical substance that is used to destroy unwanted vegetation.

The herbicide "Roundup" has been number one in the U.S. and worldwide since the 1980s.  

 

 

In the Vietnam War.

Other Monsanto scientific creations was the infamous "Agent Orange" used in the Vietnam War. 

During the Vietnam War (between 1962 and 1971), "Agent Orange" herbicidal chemicals was used for the U.S. "Operation Ranch Hand".

"Operation Ranch Hand" was a U.S. military herbicidal warfare program that used the U.S. military to spray 12,000,000 U.S. gallons of "Agent Orange" chemicals on the Vietnam lands and the Eastern parts of the Cambodia lands. 

The health damages of this herbicidal chemical became endless…
Among the locals in Vietnam, one of the side effects included birth defects.

Studies were taken on Vietnam residents and Vietnam War U.S. veterans.
These increased health disorders included:

cancer (throat, prostate, lung, liver, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and soft tissue sarcoma).
nerve disorders
skin disorders
respiratory disorders
digestive disorders

(These disorders are similar to Chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium: all hexavalent chromium is regarded as carcinogenic (cancer causing) if prolonged exposure by air and by water.))

 

Any lawsuits filed against them?

Yes.

Between the years of 1949 to 1970, Monsanto was named in 50 cancer lawsuits.

 

Did Hawai'i have any GMO tests done?

Yes.  Hawaii's first GMO food is the papaya.

In the 1950s, O'ahu was the production site for papayas.  These papayas had PRV (papaya ringspot virus) which became overwhelming in O'ahu and created a move in the 1960s to Puna on the Big Island of Hawai'i, to become the next production site.

In 1987, University of Hawai'i (UH) and Cornell University of New York researchers teamed up and began to find a resistance to the papaya ringspot virus. 

In 1989, the two teams used "genetic engineering" and created a "gene gun" to give the papaya cell a "gene shot". 

In 1991, the first "genetically engineered" papaya showed resistance to the papaya ringspot virus.

In the years after the "genetically engineered" tests of the papaya, papaya fruits have mutated to grotesque forms, creating a scare to Hawaii's organic farmers. 
More than 50% of the Hawaiian papaya is genetically modified.

 

 

What is being studied now?

University of Hawai'i (UH) works on GMO research and is concocting crop research on bananas, lettuce, tomatoes, and petunias, finding ways to create a "cure" for plants.

Also approved in the U.S. is zucchinis, beet sugar, and alfalfa for GMO research.

Most recent scientific tests are done on soybeans, corn, canola, cotton seed, vegetables, and oil seeds.

 

Are there any recent GMO in the news headlines?

Yes.

Right now, the debate is on "Frankenfish" or also known as "GMO salmon".
These "GMO salmons" eat less and grows twice the size of regular salmon at a faster rate.
Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives amended a bill and put a block on the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for funding the GMO salmon.

Currently, the "GMO salmon" is still in works…

More to follow on the GMO salmon?

Website: http://reason.com/archives/2011/06/21/congress-moves-to-ban-frankenf

Website: http://greenanswers.com/news/245574/house-votes-against-frankenfish

 

 

Are there more GMO research being done?

Yes.

Here are some of the most recent ones:

Genetically modified (GM) Rice with human genes:

Website:  http://healthfreedoms.org/2011/03/24/the-rice-with-human-genes/

Website:  http://foodfreedom.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/usda-okays-rice-modified-with-human-gene-to-be-grown-on-3000-kansas-acres/

 

Genetically modified (GM) cows produces Human milk:

Website: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/geneticmodification/8423536/Genetically-modified-cows-produce-human-milk.html

Website: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/04/03/scientists-genetically-modify-cows-produce-human-milk/

 

Edible Cloned animal meat in the UK:

Website:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10859866

Website:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/8415170/Meat-from-offspring-of-cloned-animals-to-go-on-sale-in-UK.html

 

Does Monsanto do research in the Hawaiian islands?

Yes.
Hawaii now has the most GMO crops in the world.

In 2002, there are over 8,000 acres of land being used to conduct tests.

In 2007, Monsanto (globally specializing in biotech corn crops / GMO) bought the Del Monte farms (2,300 acres of agriculture pineapple land from the James Campbell Company) in Kunia on the island of O'ahu. 
Currently in Hawai'i there are over 700+ Hawai'i full-time employees maintaining the bio-engineered crops.

 

 

Are these crops becoming U.S. federally funded?

Most likely.

In 2010, three U.S. Federal Candidates (Hawai'i Democrats) in the U.S. Congress received  "contributions" from the Monsanto corporation.
These Hawai'i Democrats are:

Inouye, Daniel K (D-HI), whom received $7,000

Hanabusa, Colleen (D-HI), whom received $1,000

Hirono, Mazie K (D-HI), whom received $5,000

Information is based on data released on April 25, 2011 by the FEC.
*credit: The Center for Responsive Politics.*

Annual salary for a U.S. Congress representative is around $165,000+.

Currently there are no answers on why these three Hawai'i Democrats in U.S. Congress received contributions from Monsanto, but some may wonder if they were being bought.

 

 

Are there any countries that are against Monsanto?

Yes.
Many countries knows the growing health dangers that these crops cause.

These countries Bans GMO (genetically modified organisms) foods and GM (genetically modified) crops:

 

• Austria (1999)
  

• Hungary (2005)
  

• Greece (2006)
  

• Venezuela (2006)
  

• France (2008)
  

• Ireland (2008)

• Luxembourg (2009)
  

• Egypt (2009)
  

• Germany (2009)
  

 

 

In the U.S.:

California

In 2008, California farmers are protected by the AB 541 bill that helps keep away Monsanto lawsuits from being filed.

These GMO FREE areas in California are:

• Santa Cruz
  

• Mendocino County

• Monterey County

 

 

What can be done to help avoid eating these contaminants in the Hawaiian Islands?

It's hard to say, being that there are over 70% of GMO chemicals in most of the U.S. foods, both processed and produced.

There are ways to try to eat the healthiest that you can.

Tips to start with:

 

• Look for "Non-GMO" labels and or "Made without Genetically Modified Ingredients.
  

 

Avoid ingredients such as:

• Corn: Such as High fructose corn syrup, glucose, fructose, and dextrose.

• Soy: Such as lecithin, isolate and isoflavone.

• Cotton: Such as cottonseed oil.

• Canola:  Also known as rapeseed oil.  Such as canola oil.

• Sugar beets
  

 

 

• Avoid buying salmon that are farm raised.  Look for wild caught salmon.

 

• Buy organic.  Certified organic products do not have any GMOs and are not allowed to.
  

• Buy 100% Cane sugar.
  

 

Shopping for Fruits and Vegetables:

 

Look for the UPC pull-up codes on the fruit / vegetable stickers and or the grocery stores display price tags.

These PLU codes is as follows:

• If the PLU code only has four numbers (usually in the 3000 - 4999 range), the fruit / vegetable is Conventionally grown.  Example: 4130 is for identifying the type of bulk produce, which is Pink Lady apples.

• If the PLU code only has five numbers, with the number 9 in the front of all the numbers, the fruit / vegetable is Organically grown. 
• Example: 94000  If you look at the PLU on the grocery stores display tag price, it would look something like this: 000-00000-94000

• If the PLU code has five numbers,  with the number 8 in front o fall the numbers, the fruit / vegetable is Genetically modified (GM), also known as GMO.
• Example: 84000  If you look at the PLU on the grocery stores display tag price, it would look something like this: 840000-00000

 

 

 

Meats and Poultry:

Currently there are no GMO meats and poultry that are sold for consumption in the U.S.

 

Non-GMO safe list:

Non-GMO Project: Founded in 2003, the Non-GMO Project is a non-profit organization that started in Berkeley, California.
In 2008, their biggest success was creating a verification safe list for Non-GMO products and Non-GMO foods.

Website:  http://www.nongmoproject.org/consumers/search-participating-products/

 

 

Non-GMO shopping guide:

The Center for Food Safety: A grassroots action network that provides information to 180,000+ members across the country.

Website:  http://truefoodnow.org/shoppers-guide/

 

Support Locally Grown Farms!

Hawai'i Organic Farmers Association (HOFA):  Founded in 1993 was created as a response to the 1990 Organic Food Production Act (OFPA), Hawai'i Organic Farmers Association (HOFA) is a non-profit organization that collaborates with Hawai'i farmers and researchers on projects related to organic and local agriculture sustainability. Provides certified Hawai'i organic farms.

Website: http://www.hawaiiorganic.org/

Where to shop for Non-GMO foods / items?

Locally Grown Hawai'i Products and Stores:

HOFA Organic marketplace list:

Website:  http://www.hawaiiorganic.org/organic-marketplace

HOFA Certified Producer Directory:

Website:  http://www.hawaiiorganic.org/organic-marketplace/certified-producer-directory

HOFA Organic Stores listed:

Website:  http://www.hawaiiorganic.org/organic-marketplace/hawaii-organic-directory

 

Down to Earth: Founded in 1977 by a group of friends in Wailuku, Maui. Their vision was to promote natural and organic products in an all vegetarian store.
Store locations is in: Honolulu, Kailua, Aiea, Kapolei, Kahului Maui, and Hilo Hawai'i

Website: http://www.downtoearth.org/

 

Now that you're aware of what GMOs are, you can learn to build a healthy habit by supporting Hawai'i local farmers, local stores and Non-GMO researchers whom keeps topics up to date. 

By supporting these organic agriculture, you are helping the environment,  good health and well-being for all!

And remember Hawai'i, to be healthy, recycle and to Think Green!