About

Genetically Modified Foods

 What are GMOs?
When a gene from one species (eg. bacteria) is
artificially introduced into a different & often
unrelated species (eg. cotton), a Genetically
Modified Organism (GMO) is formed.

An example:
A gene from a fish was put into a tomato
Types of Genetically Modified Crops:
Herbicide Tolerant Crops Insect Resistant Crops
i.e poison drinkers i.e poison producers
Are Genetically Modified Foods good?
Myths Promoted by the Bio-tech
Industry:
GM crops produce higher yields than natural crops.
This will help us feed our growing population.

False!!
• Genetically Modified foods DO NOT have a yield
increasing gene!

• The Union of Concerned Scientists, USA

concluded after an in-depth study that
GMOs do not increase yield; in fact, on average,
yields decrease.

On the contrary..
• “…eco-farming projects in 57 nations
demonstrated average crop yield gains of 80%
by tapping natural methods..” UN Report by Dr.
Olivier De Schutter
By using GMOs , farmers will end up using
less pesticides and thus decrease costs.

False!
 In Herbicide Tolerant GM crops, Glyphosate
(pesticide) use has increased from less than 5
million to more than 50 million pounds per year
(USDA, 2003)
 Farmers spray more pesticides
because they know that the plant
is resistant, but the weed is not.
Herbicide Tolerant Crop producers are
also herbicide producers.

For example: Roundup Ready Soy seeds are

made by Monsanto, which also makes the herbicide
RoundUp.
GM Crops are said to be “substantially equivalent”
to Non-GM crops, so there is no compromise on safety
& health.

False!
Insect Resistant crops (Bt crops) have a pesticide
INSERTED IN them!

Since it is within, it cannot even be washed away.

Most GM studies have been conducted by the
Biotech industry..
 Rats fed GM Soy

Right: 20-
Left: 19-day day old rat
old rat from from GM Soy
Non-GM Soy fed group
fed group

2005 Study by Dr. Irina Ermakova

 Mortality of rat pups
60

More than 50% mortality

50

40
%

30

20
Less than
10%
10
mortality

0
1
Contrоl GM-soy Protein-isolate Тrad-soy
GM soya

Study on GM Soy (2005) by Dr. Irina Ermakova

Mice ate Bt corn (90 days)

Indicators for
liver and kidney toxicity,
blood pressure problems,
allergies,
infections or disease, higher
blood sugar,
and anemia

Study by Monsanto.
Rats refused
to eat the
GM tomato Yuk!
Many animals avoided GM feed
when given a choice
“The Andhra Pradesh Government has
advised farmers not to allow animals to
graze on Bt cotton fields after four institutes
reported the presence of toxins in them.”
The Hindustan Times, 17 June 2007
Bt Cotton farmers in India
have reported itching all over
the body, eruptions, wounds,
discoloration.
 FOUND:
The Only
Human Genes from
Feeding the modified
Study on crop
GM Crops transferred
to intestinal
bacteria
 If Bt IMPLICATIONS:
genes They might
transfer turn our
intestinal
bacteria
into living
pesticide
factories
FDA declares GMOs no different
“The agency is not aware of
any information showing
that foods derived by these
new methods differ from
other foods in any
meaningful or uniform way.”
“Statement of Policy”
May 29, 1992

Food and Drug Administration

 Secret FDA documents
indicate that reports done by
the FDA’s own scientists
contradicted this statement.
American consumers are unaware of
eating GM..

As far as you know, have you

ever eaten genetically
modified foods?
•No........................................60%
•Don’t Know...........................15%
•Yes.......................................25%
Institute for Responsible Technology, America
 GM in India

Bt Cotton is the only GM crop grown in India

 Bt Brinjal was placed on a 2 year
moratorium because consumers opposed
it!
There are 55 crops in the pipeline for
clearance..
 The proposed Biotechnology
Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI)
Bill

This Bill will allow quick clearance of GM crops by

just a handful of people.
In India, labeling is NOT possible since most
foods are not packaged.

Consumers will lose their Right of Choice

 In Andhra Pradesh,
3000 villages with 6 lakh farmers
have adopted ORGANIC farming
and have said
NO to Pesticides and NO to GM
The future of our agriculture and food is in
our hands.. Act NOW!