Genetic Modification of Food

It's startling when we consider the changes in food over the years - especially when it comes to the genetic modification of our food supply. Nearly 80 percent of non-organic processed foods contain GMOs.

Sir Albert Howard, the father of organic farming, predicted the escalation of chemical agriculture. He fought against synthetic fertilizers (artificial manures) during the 1930s, saying,

". . . artificial manures lead inevitably to artificial nutrition, artificial food, artificial animals, and finally to artificial men and women."

(From his book An Agricultural Testament.)

Can there be anything more artificial than taking the DNA of one organism and inserting it into another organism in order to create a desired trait? I don't need long-term studies to prove what my gut tells me. Food in its original, God-given packaging is far superior to food created by humans.

The United States does not require that GMO foods be labeled as such. More than 40 other countries do.

The organization Just Label It exists solely to see this law changed. They have petitioned the FDA to require the labeling of GMO foods, saying that Americans have a basic right to know what they're eating and the right to make informed choices about what they eat.

More than 92 percent of Americans surveyed agree that GMO labeling ought to be mandatory. If you'd like to join the Just Label It Campaign and learn how you might make a difference, visit their website.

The good news is that we have a choice about the food we eat. Admittedly, it costs more to eat organic and avoid foods that are genetically altered. But can we afford to do otherwise?