--- [ ARCHIVE ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=16) # Are You Eating GMOs? In the US, the Answer is YES ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2015/064t.png)WELLNESS-At the moment there are [64 countries around the world](http://www.justlabelit.org/right-to-know-center/labeling-around-the-world/) requiring Genetically Modified Foods to be labeled. These countries include 28 nations in the European Union, Japan, Brazil, Australia, China, and Russia, to name only a few. If you do a little digging you will find myriad reasons why people want labeling, but the reason that stands out the most is -- people feel they have the **right to know** what they are consuming. Those against the labeling of GMO foods state that it will cost too much to label foods with the special GMO label, especially for smaller companies. They also refer to studies on animals that were fed non-GMO for many years prior to 1996, followed by a period of two years during which those same animals were fed GMO foods. The study points out that there have been no changes in those animals and therefore GMO foods must be safe. Big agriculture companies like Monsanto and others claim that genetically altering foods is totally safe and the fact that it makes them drought resistant and resistant to pesticides is only going to make it easier to feed our growing population. The naysayers of GMO say that big agriculture companies are not considering the long-term effects of GMO foods. They point out that there have been many drugs that have been approved by the FDA, only to be found dangerous to our health years later. Drugs like Accutane and Fen-phen were made legal by the FDA for years and only later showed signs of adverse health effects. Even drugs like Darvocet were legal for 55 years before being pulled from the shelves after being proven to be toxic to the heart. The Institute for Responsible Technology points out [65 health risks related to consuming GMO foods](http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-dangers/65-health-risks/1notes). Included in those risks are things like cancer growth, bleeding lesions, abnormal cell growth, flu-like symptoms, and digestive inflammation, to name a few. We all know that for every action there is a reaction, and to think or say that introducing changes into a particular food’s DNA and genetically modifying it will have no effect on our bodies is naïve at best. The very fact that we don’t understand the full extent of what this means -- or what it may or may not do to our bodies now or in the future -- is reason enough to label it. Without a doubt, the people that approved the drugs for market that later proved to be dangerous to our health also thought the drugs were harmless and even beneficial to our health. We deserve a choice as to whether or not we want to consume genetically modified foods. We should not fall behind all the other developed nations around the world. We should [label our foods.](http://www.justlabelit.org) *(*[***Christian Cristiano is an acupuncturist***](http://www.acupuncturebychristian.com/) *in LA, TV host of* [***Wellness for Realists***](http://bit.ly/WellnessForRealists) *and writes on wellness regularly for CityWatch. Christian can be reached at* [***323.935.3420***](http://www.proexperformance.com/#%21acupuncture/c9d0)*. twitter:* [***@CristianoWFR***](https://twitter.com/CristianoWFR)*)* -cw CityWatch Vol 13 Issue 64 Pub: Aug 7, 2015 {module \[1177\]} Written by Christian Cristiano. August 06 2015 [](https://www.addtoany.com/share) ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2015/064t.png)WELLNESS-At the moment there are [64 countries around the world](http://www.justlabelit.org/right-to-know-center/labeling-around-the-world/) requiring Genetically Modified Foods to be labeled. These countries include 28 nations in the European Union, Japan, Brazil, Australia, China, and Russia, to name only a few. If you do a little digging you will find myriad reasons why people want labeling, but the reason that stands out the most is -- people feel they have the **right to know** what they are consuming. Those against the labeling of GMO foods state that it will cost too much to label foods with the special GMO label, especially for smaller companies. They also refer to studies on animals that were fed non-GMO for many years prior to 1996, followed by a period of two years during which those same animals were fed GMO foods. The study points out that there have been no changes in those animals and therefore GMO foods must be safe. Big agriculture companies like Monsanto and others claim that genetically altering foods is totally safe and the fact that it makes them drought resistant and resistant to pesticides is only going to make it easier to feed our growing population. The naysayers of GMO say that big agriculture companies are not considering the long-term effects of GMO foods. They point out that there have been many drugs that have been approved by the FDA, only to be found dangerous to our health years later. Drugs like Accutane and Fen-phen were made legal by the FDA for years and only later showed signs of adverse health effects. Even drugs like Darvocet were legal for 55 years before being pulled from the shelves after being proven to be toxic to the heart. The Institute for Responsible Technology points out [65 health risks related to consuming GMO foods](http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-dangers/65-health-risks/1notes). Included in those risks are things like cancer growth, bleeding lesions, abnormal cell growth, flu-like symptoms, and digestive inflammation, to name a few. We all know that for every action there is a reaction, and to think or say that introducing changes into a particular food’s DNA and genetically modifying it will have no effect on our bodies is naïve at best. The very fact that we don’t understand the full extent of what this means -- or what it may or may not do to our bodies now or in the future -- is reason enough to label it. Without a doubt, the people that approved the drugs for market that later proved to be dangerous to our health also thought the drugs were harmless and even beneficial to our health. We deserve a choice as to whether or not we want to consume genetically modified foods. We should not fall behind all the other developed nations around the world. We should [label our foods.](http://www.justlabelit.org) *(*[***Christian Cristiano is an acupuncturist***](http://www.acupuncturebychristian.com/) *in LA, TV host of* [***Wellness for Realists***](http://bit.ly/WellnessForRealists) *and writes on wellness regularly for CityWatch. Christian can be reached at* [***323.935.3420***](http://www.proexperformance.com/#%21acupuncture/c9d0)*. twitter:* [***@CristianoWFR***](https://twitter.com/CristianoWFR)*)* -cw CityWatch Vol 13 Issue 64 Pub: Aug 7, 2015 {module \[1177\]} [![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental%202026%20final.jpg)](http://medentalspa.com/) ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png) ## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays First Name [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)") [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2") --- ## Featured CityWatch Stories [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/fd/064h-fdb0b507.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12) ### [Remembering Ken Draper: CityWatch and Transparency Are his Legacy](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12) LA WATCHDOG - Ken Draper, the editor and publisher of CityWatch for more than 20 years, passed away on August 8, 2022… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0f/061a-0f1ada2f.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398) ### [Brace Yourself For A Worse Housing Crisis](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398) PLANNING WATCH - The California State Legislature will soon vote on the following draft legislation. Please carefully… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/54/064j-54f0ecbd.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9) ### [Be Prepared to Protect Our Democracy in November From a Trumpian Plot](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9) BE AWARE - Back in the days when conservatives were so hungry for media platforms that they’d come on progressive shows… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/ab/063e-ab3b1ba1.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396) ### [Nithya Raman Loses the Homelessness Gavel — Her Record Explains Why](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396) THE BOTTOM LINE - Raman wants Los Angeles voters to promote her to mayor. Before handing her the keys to City Hall, v… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/75/064a-75d5dbb3.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425) ### [Your Boss Owns Your Workday—Not Your Brain](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425) THE NEURAL WORKPLACE - California must protect workers before workplace surveillance crosses the final frontier: the hu… --- ## [ ARCHIVE ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=16) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Apr-2018/034e.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15339:early-intervention-and-jobs-are-key-to-stemming-chronic-homelessness-in-los-angeles&catid=16)### [Early Intervention and Jobs are Key to Stemming Chronic Homelessness in Los Angeles](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15339:early-intervention-and-jobs-are-key-to-stemming-chronic-homelessness-in-los-angeles&catid=16) ### [Tucker Carlson and Gay Rightwinger Blame California Wildfires On Hiring LGBTQ People](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18755:tucker-carlson-and-gay-rightwinger-blame-california-wildfires-on-hiring-lgbtq-people&catid=16) ### [Anti-LGBTQ Veep Just Can’t Stop Talking about Mayor Pete](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17690:anti-lgbtq-veep-just-can-t-stop-talking-about-mayor-pete&catid=16) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Apr-2018/033j.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15316:news-pulse-corrupt-system-reason-for-not-voting-in-2018-majority-wants-more-than-two-parties&catid=16)### [NEWS PULSE: ‘Corrupt System’ Reason for Not Voting in 2018 … Majority Wants More Than Two Parties](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15316:news-pulse-corrupt-system-reason-for-not-voting-in-2018-majority-wants-more-than-two-parties&catid=16) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Jan-2016/1404d.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10245:dead-dog-set-on-fire-sparks-fears-for-strays-in-los-angeles&catid=16)### [Dead Dog Set on Fire … Sparks Fears for Strays in Los Angeles](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10245:dead-dog-set-on-fire-sparks-fears-for-strays-in-los-angeles&catid=16)