GMO's, A Possible Link To Autism?

Recently, my friend Doreen Granpeesheh asked me about a documentary I watched titled The World According to Monsanto/Controlling Our Food, which gives extensive information on the dangers of genetically modified (GM) foods and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). She thought there may be a link to autism; I didn’t even think about it until she mentioned it.



Consider the prevalence of food allergies among children with autism. The fact that the incidence of autism has exploded in conjunction with the introduction of GMOs into the American diet may be a red flag that something is amiss. Highlighted in the documentary was another possible link to autism which came about in research done by the Rowett Institute in Scotland to assess the safety of GMOs per British health and safety regulations. Their research showed that "rats that had eaten GMO potatoes developed gut problems and an immune response". Since the study, GMOs have been banned in European countries.



Strangely, the U.S. government required no extensive testing of GMOs for safe consumption; they equated ingesting DNA material (found in GMOs) with something we do all the time with no problem. As a result, the FDA never subjected GMOs to the same level of testing that food additives are subjected to.



We're eating more than just foreign DNA; what about the toxic pesticides sprayed on the plants that have been genetically modified to resist the poison? A recent documentary film titled Roundup investigated the toxic effects of Monsanto’s pesticide of the same name that is included with their GM seeds as a farming package. Tests indicated that the chemicals in Roundup, when ingested, are linked to the early stages of cancer.



Government deregulation is also partially to blame. In fact, along these deregulation lines, there are no laws forcing GM produce to have labels indicating its "less than natural" GMO status. If the vegetables you’re purchasing are not labeled as organic, you’re probably eating GMOs--70 percent of food in grocery stores have GMOs in their ingredients. The damage has been done by introducing GM foods and GMOs into our diet without extensive testing. Americans have been duped once again by the U.S. government and we’re paying the price in health risk and disease. Hopefully, through public awareness, some modicum of change will start to occur. Margaret Mead said "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Something to think about...genetically modified, "food for thought."