GMOS and Your Health

GMOS and Your Health

GMOs are showing up everywhere—in our environment and our food. Learn more about what GMOs are and reasons we avoid recommending them in your food and your pet's food.

This Sunday's Meetup was on Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs), or organisms that have undergone a DNA modification—what they are, their effect on our food, and what you as a consumer can do to avoid the dangers of GMO products.

GMOs are showing up everywhere—in our environment and our food. Did you know the most recent food source that was approved for gene mutation is salmon? This fish has been approved for human consumption without any labeling laws. You may unknowingly purchase this product because there are no laws that state it must be labeled and identified as such to the consumer. GMO companies include Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta, Bayer CropScience, Dow Chemical, AquaBounty Technologies, and Oxitec.

First approved by the FDA in 1982, GMOs contained Humulin (insulin), which was different from other insulins because of genetically-engineered E. coli bacteria. GMO foods, however, did not hit the market until 1994 with the introduction of the Flavr Savr Tomato. This tomato had a longer shelf life than other conventionally grown tomatoes on the market. By 1999, GMO crops were planted on over 100 million acres worldwide. 

There are many reasons to avoid GMOs, some are: 

  • Disrupts our gut function
  • Increases allergies
  • Disrupts DNA, causing mutations
  • Slows growth
  • Our bodies are unable to digest these chemicals and altered proteins
  • Cancer
  • Antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms
  • Reduces nutrition found in foods

Currently, countries such as Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Peru, South Australia, Russia, and Switzerland have BANNED GMO crops. And it's important to remember that foods that are non-GMO may still contain GMOs depending on pollination or if the animal ate GMO products.

Your best bet to avoid GMO products is to buy from small family-owned companies. Organic is great, but so is local. Get to know your farmers and where your food is coming from. Some products we support and recommend are:

Trust Avoid
The Honest Kitchen Pedigree
Sojos Royal Canin
Raw Bistro Merrick
Champion Pet Foods Science Diet
Party Animal Blue Buffalo

 

It's as important to us what we put in our pet bodies as what we put in our own. Ask us about GMOs and other product recommendations the next time you are at The Pet Beastro.

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