I first saw Jeffrey Smith speak in a small, cramped Holiday Inn ballroom in Clearwater Florida back in 2003. His brand new book Seeds of Deception (now a best seller) had recently been released and Jeffrey’s talk that night primarily revolved around describing to a wide eyed and horrified audience the insidious proliferation of genetically modified foods that had just begun to invade our food supply.
My friend Brenda was with me (we were early raw milk warriors together) and I remember so clearly sitting completely dumbfounded as Jeffrey thoroughly and precisely described the process by which genetically modified organisms are created in the lab and the internal damage they can wreak on humans and animals alike.
Jeffrey’s crusade to alert the world to the dangers of genetically modified foods has continued unabated since that evening and he has been instrumental in spearheading Proposition 37 to require the labeling of genetically modified foods that is on the ballot in California this November.
I was absolutely thrilled and honored to be a guest along with Jeffrey on Sean Croxton’s Underground Wellness radio show a couple of months ago as part of the Real Food Summit. I was even more excited to learn that Jeffrey will give the closing address at the Wise Traditions Conference November 9-11, 2012 in Santa Clara, California. Wild horses couldn’t keep me away. I hope to see some of you there too. Jeffrey is a compelling and eloquent speaker. You will not be disappointed if you make the effort to attend. The results of the Proposition 37 vote will be known at the time of Jeffrey’s talk that day, so hopefully it will turn out to be a raucous celebration of victory!
Jeffrey has recently released another stellar work, the documentary Genetic Roulette – The Gamble of Our Lives.
“The evidence presented in the film makes the best case yet for why genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are linked to disorders such as allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, infertility, autism, and cancer, to name a few. One health practitioner, Mary Tobin, L.Ac., said the film “provides abundant evidence that eating a GMO-free diet is the single most important change Americans can make for their health.”
** You can view this important film for free for this week only: September 15-22, 2012. So, clear away 1 hour and 24 minutes from your busy schedule this week and sit down and watch it, preferably with your spouse and kids if you can. Our children need to know about this too as our actions today will most impact their generation.
Help Pass Proposition 37 to Require the Labeling of GM Foods With a Donation
Please, if you have the means, consider donating to the campaign to require the labeling of GM foods that is currently on the ballot for the November election in California. If California requires GM labeling by approving Proposition 37, the rest of the country will most likely follow suit so this California initiative has implications for us all!
It is shocking to me that in less than 10 years since the night I first heard Jeffrey speak about the dangers of GM foods, these frankenfoods have made their way into almost every processed food on the shelf. We must stop this NOW. Please watch the documentary and donate to this important cause for our children’s sake.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
|
|
{ 68 comments… read them below or add one }
Sarah, I love your blog, but please read the actual text of Prop.37. It has many exemptions and expects industry to regulate itself. Like trans-fats, as you surely know, the industry can have a small percentage of GMO’s in the actual product and still be exempt from labeling. All meat and animal products are exempt, unless the actual animal itself is genetically modified. That means, GMO corn, soy that is fed to these animals and RBGH that is pumped into them don’t require disclosure. Not to mention GMO enzymes, processing aids, medical food, and even RESTAURANT FOOD are exempt!! This bill, if passed, will give the consumer a false sense of security and will allow those who otherwise would do the research themselves to understand what they are putting in their bodies to rely on this faulty system to tell them what is safe to eat.Please check into this and let me know what you find. This is very concerning for me and my wife as she is a nutritional therapist practitioner, and published nutritional writer, and I am a small scale sustainable farmer who has managed heirloom seed crops, not to mention we have both been very outspoken about the dangers of GMO’s in our community. We want to see the end of GMO’s in our food system as much as anyone else, but this is just going to create mass confusion and chaos. We believe it is as deceptive as Trans-fat labeling, and is a step backwards for food freedom, not forwards. Please consider these words. Thank you.
But its a start at least…
I don’t agree .. Prop 37 will make progress and we are getting mowed down by the freight train of GM foods at the moment. Expecting perfection out of the gate is unrealistic.
Kind of like the person who is so overwhelmed by a messy house that they do nothing because they can’t get it all done in one shot. better to clean one corner of a single room than to continue to leave it completely untidy.
How could a measure that gives consumers a false belief that they are avoiding GMO’s possibly be construed as progress? At least right now, people know they have to do the research to know what is GM, but since everyone figures now that this passes everything will be labeled, so they’ll just go out to restaurants and eat GM food, eat eggs, and eat GM food, drink milk, and drink GM growth hormones and soy feed, etc…. That is progress? Progress is up to 5% GMO’s or TEN GM ingredients in any product and it won’t require a label? Progress is having the industry regulate itself? I don’t think giving people false hope, anda false sense of security is progress. I think it is rather regressive. Plus it just encourages people to rely on the government to tell them what is safe, and what is dangerous. Its the same mindset that keeps feeding transfats into otherwise health conscious people, because the label on their package says transfat free. Yet surely that partially hydrogenated oil that is listed in the ingredients is just what the government claims not to be in it! You know this game all too well.
How about progress is taking the 90% of people who are pro prop.37 and get them to stop buying GM foods!That’s real change that can not be co-opted like this piece of legislation. But this just gives the government more power to think for you, lie to you, and ultimately deceive you into buying things you don;t want and should be labeled. We need a revolution of individual responsibility and individual thought. No more relying on authorities or those with credentials to think for you. The info is out there people. On your blog of all places! Lets focus on teaching people self reliance.
This!
Ciao, Pavil
Bravo!! Osvaldo Vino
Right now, Kashi GoLean cereal is 100% GMO soy (fact see my post on this) and it is labeled “all natural”. It doesn’t say a thing anywhere on the label about the GMO soy and that it is in fact 100% of the product. Post Prop 37, this type of shenanigans would not be able to slide by. This is indeed progress.
So Kashi Go Lean will then only put 5% GM in their cereal and keep their label that says Natural on it. And everyone will believe it doesn’t have ANY GMO’s in it. This is progress?
And what of the cows that are injected with RBGH and labeled natural? Yes its already like that, but people are going to believe that because it doesnt have a GMO label on it that it is safe and has no GMO’s in it. Not cool.
Osvaldo, do you think that a new bill will come without these exemptions? Because voting no gets us nowhere. Personally, labeling with or without these exemptions still falls short because GMO’s should be banned. As a farmer do you want GMO crops a few miles down the road? We need to continually inform our communities the dangers that these foods pose so that we don’t stop and let life go on if Prop 37 passes. We all need to put pressure on our City and State officials urge the federal government to ban GMO’s.
I agree Ban them! All of them! If this bill labeled all of them, no exemptions, I would be going to door to door as we speak pushing for this, but that aint the case. This bill is no good. I think its worse than what we have. And I think the only answer to this problem is for individuals to take responsibility for their own lives and stop buying this stuff. 90% of the population here in California are for labeling of GMO’s. If all those people truly understood what foods have GMO’s in them and stopped buying that stuff we would truly have progress. My wife and I work all the time to stop GMo’s. I managed an Heirloom seed farm for a company that is staunchly against GMO’s. My wife has written many articles and seen many clients in her nutritional therapy practice and advised harshly against GMO’s. Lets ban them all out, or boycott. I prefer boycott. I never choose to do things at the barrel of a gun, which is what government enforcement is.
Thank you for this link. The movie was great. I’ll share around tomorrow.
Very interesting Osvaldo! I guess that’s why its still best to buy your food locally from a farmer you can trust. My husband and I just watched the film, it was very informative. You are right Sarah, Jeffrey Smith is a talented communicator. I am thankful for the Non-GMO Project verified food labeling, as I think most of the packaged food in my pantry has that label on it. Thanks for posting, I will pass this film along to friends & family this week.
Yes Sarah, doing something is better than nothing! Also, if people can learn to take responsibility for their food, this Prop 37 can be a tool to help them, but they ultimately will always still have personal responsibility. If the Prop 37 was a “perfect” proposition, then people would be right back where they started, blindly trusting the govt. for their food safety.
Thank you Sarah for supporting this issue and bringing it to the attention to people outside of CA. I have been working on the initiative. It is a true grass roots effort with mostly volunteers and not a lot of money. While I agree it is not perfect, it is a start. It is shocking how many people we talk to don’t even realize there is GMO foods in the grocery store. They think it’s something in the future that is just being experimented on in labs. This bill would give the average person, who would never take the time to research, a choice in the grocery store and a vote with their dollars. It also would give a legal avenue to hold accountable those who do not follow the law.
Monsanto, with their unlimited dollars has already started running ads against the proposition. Donations to the campaign would help to air more ads to counter those put out by Monsanto.
If it is organic, is it non gmo? I was buying corn torilla from trader joes because it only had corn, lime water & salt but I realized it was not organic so it is probably gmo corn?
So far, yes — buying organic is NonGMO at least for now. I am concerned in the future as organic keeps getting watered down as time goes by.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: Genetic Roulette: The Movie You Need to See About GM Foods
I believe Trader joes tortillas are gmo free. Check their website
*All* of the Trader Joe’s brand foods are non-GMO. I don’t think that guarantees that any off-brands sold in their store are, but if it’s “Trader Joe’s” it’s sourced from non-GMO ingredients . http://www.traderjoes.com/about/customer-updates-responses.asp?i=4
@Osvaldo Yes that is indeed progress. The vast majority of people won’t ever do “research’ .. the enlightened people will still not buy Kashi but at least my neighbor who will never do the work to avoid GMOs will not be buying a cereal that is 100% GMO. 5% is MUCH better than 100%. You sound like these folks I’ve been arguing with for years that turn up their nose at raw milk that is 95% grassfed and the cows get some grain. They think raw milk is only good if it’s 100% grassfed. This is rubbish and it is this type of perfectionism that kills real progress. This is an imperfect world and if we can reduce GMOs in an “all natural” cereal from 100% to 5% that is HUGE leap.
@Osvaldo the extreme point of view never wins. You have to work with baby steps in a republic. Maybe one day you or I can be dictator and a stricter view will hold sway. Dictatorships work the way you describe.
its not that everything has to be 100% all the time, but with legislation it can’t be completely deceptive. My point is that the enlightened folk will think that GMO’s are all labeled, not do the research, and fall into buying stuff they do not want to consume.
Well you know what Sarah, fuck you, I was polite to you, I did not infer anything about you, I am not a dictator or supportive of dictators. I am advocating personal responsibility. So fuck off you mean spirited bitch. Way to piss off your readership with BS accusations and inferences of their character. No critical thinking allowed here obviously…
You need therapy
Huh? You just lost your argument, Os…….
Wow, just as I was beginning to think that your point was valid…you blew it, and at the same time..you made Sarah’s point CLEAR. Now, you have fallen into the 5% bracket with your hostile and rude response. Why did you do that? You were very articulate and seemingly intelligent and then you acted like a Cretan. Apologize and show that you are a real man, not just another “Sheriff of the Universe.” Critical thinking does NOT require everyone to agree; just be civilized when you don’t.
If Prop 37 wasn’t really progress, why are Monsanto and other big companies like Kelloggs spending millions to defeat it? Because they know it IS progress against GMOs.
@Osvaldo Well, I didn’t start blogging to make people comfortable. I did it to get people to think and saying Prop 37 isn’t progress is just plain false. Nice language by the way.
He just showed his true colors and ignorance with his language. Now, I’ve discounted everything he said. Good grief!
Ok, I have no idea why the entire conversation between Sarah and Osvaldo from Facebook is not showing up here. I suggest everyone head over to Sarah’s Facebook page to check it out. Sarah, I have been a longtime reader of your blog and have always seen you as a reasonable, level-headed person. But I am absolutely disgusted at the the way you acted in this conversation. My husband is advocating personal responsibility, and you imply that he’s advocating a dictatorship??? Because he doesn’t want to vote for legislation that would deceive consumers into believing their food is GMO free? I’m sorry, but that’s crazy. The fact is, none of the people you are calling “enlightened” because they avoid GMOs have read the actual text of the proposition. All of the people I have personally spoken with are shocked to learn that restaurant and food bar food is exempt. These people are campaigning in support of Prop 37 because they believe it would label ALL GMOs! In fact, I have not spoken to a single person who knew that there were any exemptions. And these are people who are completely anti-GMO and strictly avoid them in their own diets. Had I not informed them, they would have gone about their business, eating at restaurants, having no idea that the food could theoretically be 100% GMO.
You might feel that you are saving your neighbors from themselves by supporting Prop 37. But what of all the folks who already avoid all GMOs and will end up eating far more than 5% GMOs when they eat out, just because they were led to believe that all GMOs are labeled in California? Do they not matter? I just feel that two wrongs don’t make a right. Does that mean I support a dictatorship? I seriously cannot believe you said that. After all, advocating for personal responsibility and NOT relying on the government to tell us what is true about health is about as far from a dictatorship as you can get. Care to explain your reasoning?
Your comparison of my husband’s position to those who think dairy cows should be 100% grass-fed is ludicrous. Maybe if the farmers were deceiving their customers into a false belief that their milk was 100% grass-fed, your comparison would make sense. For the record, both I and my husband are happy to drink milk from healthy cows that have eaten some grain.
Question: if you are so gung-ho about Prop 37, why are YOU not educating your readers about the pitfalls inherent in Prop 37? Or had you read the bill before you proclaimed your unwavering support for it? I have not heard a SINGLE word from any Prop 37 supporters about the exemptions. What gives? Why does everyone believe all GMOs would be labeled?
Laurel, this is a fine reply with good common sense !
Laurel, your thought process is anal. you should go live in the rainforest where you don’t have to deal with reality.
Seemed tame enough to me. Just that people banty around terms: don’t take things literally….
I mean Sarah’s responses were tame enough: nothing to become offended about.
It takes FB awhile to send over the comments … it only happens a few times a day. The entire thread has posted now including all the obscenities that were hurled at me are included LOL.
If anyone is offended by Osvaldo’s obscenity laced rant, let me know. I will happily delete it but I thought folks should see it.
My comments were nothing but civil. Hard hitting? Yes, but I don’t soft shoe my approach, never have and never will – particularly when a patently false argument like “Prop 37 does not represent any progress” against the advancement of GM Foods is suggested. Such extreme and perfectionist types of views get you nowhere and will never be passed with our type of political system. Hence, my analogy of a dictatorship which was a very appropriate point given the discussion.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: Genetic Roulette: The Movie You Need to See About GM Foods
You may consider Prop 37 to be progress, but that is your opinion, not a fact. I am personally opposed to deception, and I do not feel that a deceptive proposition is progress at all. I cannot vote for something that would deceive consumers no matter how much lesser of the two evils it appears on the surface. At least right now people know they have to research it themselves if they care about avoiding GMOs. Ultimately it is no different than trans fat labeling. Do you feel that was progress too? That products can say “Trans Fat Free” yet still contain trans fats?
I stand by my assessment of your dictatorship comment. The idea that we could never pass a real bill to label all GMOs is absurd. After all, that is what everyone thinks they are voting for anyway, right? That is the whole reason why Prop 37 has so much support, because people believe they are voting to label all GMOs. I have not spoken with a single person who realized all GMOs would not be labeled. Everyone I have talked to has been shocked and outraged to learn about the exemptions. So I really don’t see why you feel it would take a dictatorship to do that. The support is already there.
Since you did not answer my question about whether or not you had read the bill (and why you haven’t mentioned the exemptions to your readers), I’m forced to conclude that either a) you did not read the bill before you endorsed Prop 37, or b) you read the bill and were aware of the exemptions, but failed to inform your readers about the true nature of the measure. Either of these is totally unacceptable in my opinion. And it is further unacceptable to continue to promote Prop 37 without telling people the full story. If you really started blogging to get people to think, you could at least give your readers all of the information so they can be sure their thinking is *informed*.
Part of the reason I am so upset to learn the truth about Prop 37 is that I donated money to the OCA to get this on the ballot, and I signed the petition too. I feel totally betrayed to learn that only some GMOs will be labeled, not all. Had I known that it would be some watered down BS, I never would have donated.
If Monsanto is paying attention (and I’m sure they are), they certainly will know how to pass any bill they want. All they have to do is fund the opposition, and everyone will say “We have to vote for it because Monsanto is against it, so it must mean progress.” I honestly think Monsanto realized there was a genuine grassroots movement to label all GMOs, so they co-opted it and watered down the proposition so it wouldn’t be such a threat to them. What else could they do? I mean, if they know the thing will pass (and I believe it will), would we really expect them to NOT try to co-opt the movement and steer it in a better direction for them? With Prop 37, things like Aspartame, which Monsanto owns, will still be in products that are not labeled GMO.
You define “progress” as “perfection”. They are very different and never possible in our democratic republic only in a dictatorship or some form of government where opposing opinions are squelched.
This bill is excellent progress in the right direction. Jeffrey Smith supports it and I greatly respect and trust his opinion as he is an uber expert in this topic for over a decade.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: Genetic Roulette: The Movie You Need to See About GM Foods
Yes, I find it offensive, but don’t pull it for me. I am not reading his posts now, unless he apologizes, which probably he won’t do.. Laurel, you and your husband are way too sensitive and should probably take a breath and realize that even when everyone doesn’t appear to agree, someone probably does and then you will have accomplished what you wanted. It is ok to disagree. I was giving serious thought to O’s comments and then he just ran off into the ditch.. learn from this. I appreciated your thoughts and now there are seeds planted, but don’t ever think that you are dead right on anything. Only God has that power.
hi Sarah, i have a question…i typically buy organic produce from trader joes because i know it is not gmo…however, would a local farmers market’s produce (even though rarely labeled ‘organic’) be a better option since it is local? or will that type of produce generally be gmo also?
Fortunately, the local produce I’ve come across is not GMO even if not organic. A safe bet I think at least at this point in time.
Dear All, I just watched Jeffrey’s video on Mercola’s site… (narrated by Lisa Oz)
It is clearly intelligent and well presented. Not hysterical or off-putting.
Please watch, listen very carefully to the words spoken by all those interviewed.
These are reasonable people. I am thankful for those who are watching out
for the rest who refuse to know what they are putting nto their bodies..
I consider our bodies and planet earth, sacred. Please care…
We need to gain back some dignity by being self-reliant, responsible and honest.
Blessings to all who are on their way !
Local farmers markets are great for local and fresh food, but all that wonderful sweet corn – GMO! It is up to the consumer to ask the farmer if they are using organic seed, if it is GMO Free, We can not assume local means GMO Free, you have to ask !
Cathy
@Osvaldo Vino you just revealed your true nature! and it obviously ain’t pretty!. I get your point but absolutely agree with Sarah. But because she doesn’t agree with you, you “trash” her! – how low can someone go? Not very mature, not very spiritual, not the kind of energy we need here ! Pew !
Sarah – love all your blogs – I’m totally on your page
Hi Sarah – One thing that has confused me for a long time is when I see an organic chocolate bar which contains non organic soy lecithin, is it GMO soy? I thought if it was labelled organic it wasn’t allowed to contain any GMO foods but then I read many times that as long as it is 70 percent organic it may be labelled organic.
Those organic labels are tricky. If it is USDA organic then it has to be 95% organic from what I understand. You cannot have any GMO ingredients in a USDA Organic product even if they are part of the 5% that may not be organic.
… and about Prop 37, it is HUGE progress, just the fact that it is bringing so much awareness to many people who don’t even know what GMO is and that so many companies will have to take GMO ingredients out of their products, even if it is reduced to 5%. I would rather eat 5% GMO than 100% GMO and still not know one way or the other. You have to be very well researched in this field to know exactly every ingredient that contains GMO. Even I who consider myself very well informed forget sometimes. I fed my baby a GMO papaya, forgetting that if it comes from Hawaii it is GMO. You can imagine the disgust I felt.
This is so important! Most people have no ideas how GMOs are in almost everything, and what they can do to people.
Here in California, the Biotech industry is filling the airwaves with misinformation as they attack Prop 37. The claim it will only make trial lawyers rich and hurt small businesses and small farmers. The truth is it has noting to do with trial lawyers. It only requires the labeling of GMOs.
The only people who will be hurt are people who sell GMOs. They can sell something else.
Stanley Fishman\’s last post: Good Meat Comes from Nature, Not a Test Tube
Excellent blog of yours, Stanley! Your last entry about Test Tube Meat should be required reading. As if GMOs aren’t bad enough, they keep piling on the outrages…..
Prop 37 is progress. The entire produce aisle will now have GMO labels on all GMO foods. How clear would that be to people that there is so much of this “food” on store shelves. So many people still have no idea of how toxic GMO food is and having a label saying “GM Corn” or “GM soybean oil” or “GM Soy” in processed food or whole foods will get people to research what GM food actually is and THEN they will/can start to avoid it. You cannot avoid GM products unless you know that they are GM!
Hi Sarah,
I’m a new reader of your blog and I absolutely love it! I’ve just read through this entire thread of comments and I am bummed about the fact that certain readers (ahem, Mr. Vino) are missing the point entirely and instead embracing low-blow ad hominem crap.
Thank you for your integrity, your practicality, and your tenacity. You’re a great writer and a great example to those of us seeking to live healthier lives via informed, careful choices about what we put into our bodies!
As they would say here in New Zealand, “good on ya!!”
Kirsten, Sarah said that I am basically advocating for a dictatorship. I take extreme offense to that, and gave her some offensive comments to chew on herself. I don’t care if you think it is mature or spiritual, because that is only your opinion. In my humble opinion Sarah is being very disrespectful with those types of comments, saying that if I disagree with her POV that I should strive to be a dictator. Im sorry but that is offensive to me, that I had to tell her to fuck off.
Btw who has gotten more likes on this thread? Me. Everyone I talk to disagrees with Sarahs POV. Once people find out the truth, cheerleaders like Sarah will be exposed for allowing deceptive governemental practices to infiltrate our movement. A movement that should be about education and full disclosure, not partial disclosure and false education, which is what prop. 37 is.
@Osvaldo I did not say you advocating for a dictatorship! You interpreted it that way and I was just trying to make a point that a perfectionist, extreme point of view is only possible in a dictatorship. I made a typo in that comment and I’m sorry you took offense. However, it was surely no reason for your obscenity laced tirade.
How is wanting to label all GMO’s an extreme position? I doubt your readership would feel that way.
It’s extreme because there is another side to the argument that believes GMOs are just fine. Even Organic standards allow for an organic product with the USDA Label to have only 95% organic in it. Same with processed foods labeled transfat free .. a small percentage of transfats are still allowed and a zero transfats be on the label. This is the way it works in a democracy. No one is saying Prop 37 will no longer require people to do their homework. Compromise is necessary to get anything done. If we tried to do what you say, GMOs would never get labeled.
If you tried to label all products with GMO’s, it wouldnt happen? Is that what your saying? Polls consistently show that 90% or more of consumers in general support labeling GMO’s. This is straight out of the text of Prop 37 for christ sake! “Compromise being necessary to get anything done” is in my opinion a very limiting BELIEF that is crippling any real progress from happening, and enabling confusion and deception.
Yes, 90% of consumers support labeling but not to the extreme you are suggesting. Prop 37 represents a compromise of the views of the 90% of consumers who want GMOs labeled. Anyway, it doesn’t really matter because if Prop 37 passes, it will kill GMOs here like it has in Europe.
Your wrong. The 90% do support my point of view. In fact, that is what the 90% think they are voting on!
Wow, well good then Osvaldo. Since 90% of the people support your point of view and you said you live in California, I’ll be watching for an initiative organized, financed and run by you to get 100% of GMOs labeled. In fact, I’m sure Sarah will let you make everyone aware of it on her blog and I’ll be certain to vote for it. Good luck.
Thanks Gay. Maybe you’ll send some money my way to fund it! I could use a few million!
That’s my point Osvaldo. There are a lot of us who have already donated much time and money for this cause, while not perfect, it’s a start. If you are not happy with it step up to the plate.
Wow this documentary is very eye opening! Everyone needs to watch this!
no matter which link I click on, I am unable to view the movie! Help!!!
By the way, although the movie is no longer available for free, it is available to watch for a minimum donation of $2.99.
geneticroulettemovie.com
Also, it I agree that it is excellent and it is a message that needs to go out.
Just want to let others know, Target no longer supports your rights as a citizen to participate in the law making process. They no longer allow people to share proposition information near their stores. Keep that in mind when you are deciding where to spend your hard earned dollars. Please share this with others. I was there today (outside) politely handing out information on prop 37 and they asked me to leave saying it is their new store policy. Another person I spoke with said another Target in a different area did the same to them.
If you are so incline here is a list of other corporations and their subsidiaries who have donated to and support No on prop 37. http://www.anh-usa.org/boycott-companies-fighting-prop-37/
{ 1 trackback }