GMO WHEAT LAWSUIT HEADED FOR THE WHEATBELT
GMO wheat was found in Oregon field earlier this year and the USDA launched an investigation into how the glyphosate-tolerant “Roundup Ready” wheat got there.
GMO wheat is created much the same way other GMOs are made, by injecting glyphosate-tolerant chemicals straight into the DNA of the seed. However, the European market will not accept GMO wheat. For that reason, it’s believed that GMO wheat testing halted.
Although Monsanto claims it had stopped its testing of growing GMO wheat eight years ago, it “magically” showed up on a small Oregon farm.
How did it happen?
But, maybe more importantly, is it happening elsewhere and consumers don’t know about it?
The GMO wheat in Oregon had only become known after the farmer spayed the field with the weedkiller glyphosate, more commonly known as Roundup. Most vegetation died, as the farmer intended, but clumps of green wheat stalks kept growing. And apparently had sprouted from grain that was leftover in the field from last year’s crop.
The farmer knew the popular Roundup Ready versions of corn and soybeans were resistant to glyphosate, and wondered if the wheat might be genetically modified as well. He contacted Carol Mallory-Smith, a weed science professor at Oregon State University to ask her opinion.
Ms. Mallory-Smith said it was highly unlikely that the wheat was genetically modified since Monsanto had supposedly stopped field trials of GMO wheat nearly eight years earlier.
However, upon inspection, the wheat was found to be genetically modified. She passed the samples to the USDA, which then launched an investigation into the GMO wheat fields found in Oregon.
Now the case has moved to Kansas, which is part of the wheat belt. It’s also closer to Monsanto’s headquarters in St. Louis.
Monsanto said it was also pleased with the consolidation decision, noting that the company continues to be confident that it properly followed protocols in ending the field testing program in 2005.
Perhaps the more important question is how many breads have GMOs added even though it may not be GMO wheat. A quick glance of the ingredient list on most processed breads reveal additives such as High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), soybean oil, and “sugar.”
Sugar could mean almost anything these days, but beet sugar or corn sugar are commonly used. And when you look at the percentages of genetically modified beets, corn, and soy, it’s easy to assume that these ingredients are likely genetically modified.
Ninety percent or more of these three crops are genetically modified. Sixteen different cases will have their day in court claiming that Monsanto didn’t take the necessary precautions to contain their GMO wheat trials.
In the meantime, many breads are silently being sprinkled with other GMOs. Wheat Belly, by Dr. William Davis covers the atrocities that have occurred to a food that was once a staple in the American diet.
The book has 4.5 stars from over 2,600 reviews. That says something.
Here’s an excerpt from the cover jacket:
“No longer the sturdy staple our forebears ground into their daily bread, today’s wheat has been genetically altered to provide processed-food manufacturers the greatest yield at the lowest cost; consequently, this once benign grain has been transformed into a nutritionally bankrupt yet ubiquitous ingredient that causes blood sugar to spike more rapidly than eating pure table sugar and has addictive properties that cause us to ride a roller coaster of hunger, overeating, and fatigue.”
As a side note, Dr. Davis claims to have healed over 2,000 patients just by getting GMO wheat out of their diet.
You don’t wait for the courts to decide if the GMO wheat disasters are Monsanto’s fault, you can opt for Ezekiel breads and sprouted grains now.
You’ll find these whole grain breads much more satisfying, more nutrient dense, and more tasty.
Brett Allen
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Brett Allen is the author of the NO GMO DIET
Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/noGMOdiet
Sources:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2013/05/ge_wheat_detection.shtml
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/07/17/202684064/in-oregon-the-gmo-wheat-mystery-deepens
http://www.capitalpress.com/article/20131022/ARTICLE/131029979
