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Is Monsanto Poisoning Babies? A New Report Begs the Question…

Is Monsanto poisoning babies? You could be forgiven for thinking so given this month’s report from the University of Sherbrooke, Canada.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a naturally occurring soil bacteria. These bacteria produce proteins which are inherently insecticidal. Because of this, ‘brilliant’ reductionist scientists eager to justify their employment — by creating new, patentable products in their employer’s biotech labs — thought it’d be a great idea to introduce them into the genes of various plant species, like corn, cotton and potatoes, and in doing so effectively making every cell of the plant toxic to insects.

Now, eating a plant whose cells contain toxic proteins is an alarming thought, as is eating an animal that has spent its life doing likewise. (Understanding the bio magnification phenomenon for the latter scenario is important here.) But, given the incredibly complicated task of pinpointing the potential collateral damage of this, Big Biotech has effectively been in the same position that Big Tobacco was in previous decades — able to defend themselves with the "there’s no conclusive link" argument that sidelines the precautionary principle to embrace the cost-externalising rationalisation that’s typical of the corporate world.

In recent years, however, more and more reports (see our GMO category to browse some of these) are finding increasingly conclusive evidence that human initiated genetic interventions in the plant kingdom are not without consequence.

Here is yet another report (PDF), summarised in the following article:

Till now, scientists and multinational corporations promoting GM crops have maintained that Bt toxin poses no danger to human health as the protein breaks down in the human gut. But the presence of this toxin in human blood shows that this does not happen.

Scientists from the University of Sherbrooke, Canada, have detected the insecticidal protein, Cry1Ab, circulating in the blood of pregnant as well as non-pregnant women.

They have also detected the toxin in fetal blood, implying it could pass on to the next generation. The research paper has been peer-reviewed and accepted for publication in the journal Reproductive Toxicology. The study covered 30 pregnant women and 39 women who had come for tubectomy at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS) in Quebec.

None of them had worked or lived with a spouse working in contact with pesticides.

They were all consuming typical Canadian diet that included GM foods such as soybeans, corn and potatoes. Blood samples were taken before delivery for pregnant women and at tubal ligation for non-pregnant women. Umbilical cord blood sampling was done after birth.

Cry1Ab toxin was detected in 93 per cent and 80 per cent of maternal and fetal blood samples, respectively and in 69 per cent of tested blood samples from non-pregnant women. Earlier studies had found trace amounts of the Cry1Ab toxin in gastrointestinal contents of livestock fed on GM corn. This gave rise to fears that the toxins may not be effectively eliminated in humans and there may be a high risk of exposure through consumption of contaminated meat. — India Today

See also.

The argument from Monsanto has always been that Bt bacteria is broken down and rendered harmless in the human gut. Not so, it appears.

The thought of insecticides running around in my veins, and even in that of my unborn child, is disconcerting to say the least.

When I tell people I prefer not to travel in the U.S. and Canada, they always ask me why. My answer is always unexpected… that I prefer not to travel in countries where most of the food is riddled with genetically modified organisms. For those who have no option — those who must live in these countries — I can only encourage you to take a stand and fight for your right to eat natural, risk-free foodstuffs. Some of you will just recommend ignoring the corporations and to grow your own instead, but, whilst that’s a definite advantage and highly recommended, it will not ensure you’re eating GM-free produce either.

And in other news: Why Is Damning New Evidence About Monsanto’s Most Widely Used Herbicide Being Silenced?

8 Comments

  1. …and here is the paper:

    https://www.fondazionedirittigenetici.org/fondazione/files/allegatonews27aprile11numero2.pdf

    Conclusions, page 5:

    On the other hand, Cry1Ab toxin was detected in 93% and 80%
    of maternal and fetal blood samples, respectively and in 69% of
    tested blood samples from nonpregnant women. There are no other
    studies for comparison with our results. However, trace amounts
    of the Cry1Ab toxin were detected in the gastrointestinal contents
    of livestock fed on GM corn [38­40], raising concerns about this
    toxin in insect-resistant GM crops; (1) that these toxins may not be
    effectively eliminated in humans and (2) there may be a high risk
    of exposure through consumption of contaminated meat.

  2. Monsanto is the epitome of everything that is wrong with modern agriculture. What worries me the most is that whilst we can reduce and reverse a lot of the damage from things like GHG’s, pesticides, fertilizers, deforestation – the threats from GMO’s may well be irreversible and worse than we can even imagine.
    There will be no penalty severe enough for the crimes they are committing against humanity and nature.

  3. My oldest son is experiencing liver and kidney problems despite being athletic and slim, severe ones.He is 27 I am convinced his refusal to stop eating food not given an organic label (I live, unfortunately, in the US) is the reason for his failing health, and it is so bad that I have to be resigned to his possible death, as well as his brother, who is being force fed such food in a mental hospital. All patients are grossly over-medicated and over-weight.
    M country’s government is parasitic and killing the host its people. The only time I ever feel anything besides despair is when I read or watch permaculture spreading.
    I am ill, severely, and have had a tragic llife. My illness was brought on by hidden social problems in my country resulting in severe and prolonged torture at newborn and continuing to formative years.
    That I can speak and read at all (for brief periods dearly bought daily) is a testament to the desire to live and create healthy designs that all life attempts to share. It is a beautiful thing at times,
    at times a trap.
    We are such interesting, creative and busy little bees, or worms or beetles or weeds or fungi or whatever.
    You guys deep up the good work. Maybe someday a generation will be born that doesn’t have to suffer as much as mine or my children.

  4. Just an add-on, my current favorite uplifter is watching Geoff Lawton in 7 food forests in 7 minutes
    on Youtube the beginning, where he is all excited and yanking up little sprouts and the very end are the best. You can hear the sounds of the birds in the background and the canopy is fantastic. Dog
    Spot in the background is good too.
    I wish I had been born in Australia.

  5. Yes Monsanto has done and continues to do irreparable damage effecting multitudes of people all over the globe. The children of Vietnam veterans are no exception. We are still trying to get to the bottom of the birth defects, auto immune and rare diseases, mental health illnesses, and learning disabilities in the children and grandchildren of Vietnam veterans. Help us find the children of American Vietnam veterans who suffer from intergenerational effects of agent orange. Join us today https://www.agentorangelegacy.ning.com
    Sharon Perry, Founder
    https://www.agentorangelegacy.com
    [email protected]

  6. A bit left of field – but does anyone know the damage caused by using Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in the form of Dipel. I’ve been under the impression it was the kinder of the pesticides when you have to resort to more convential methods. It now spruikes that it has the Landcare logo on it and organic gardening websites list it under their recommended products. Should I be rethinking its use?

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