Posted on 05/25/2011 7:15:49 AM PDT by Scythian
A landmark new study out of Canada exposes yet another lie propagated by the biotechnology industry, this time blowing a hole in the false claim that a certain genetic pesticide used in the cultivation of genetically-modified (GM) crops does not end up in the human body upon consumption. Researchers from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Sherbrooke Hospital Centre in Quebec, Can., have proven that Bt toxin, which is used in GM corn and other crops, definitively makes its way into the blood supply, contrary to what Big Bio claims -- and this toxin was found in the bloodstreams of 93 percent of pregnant women tested.
Published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology, the study explains that Bt toxin enters the body not only through direct consumption of GMOs, but also from consumption of meat, milk and eggs from animals whose feed contains GMOs. Among all women tested, 80 percent of the pregnant group tested positive for Bt toxin in their babies' umbilical cords, and 69 percent of non-pregnant women tested positive for Bt toxin.
(Excerpt) Read more at naturalnews.com ...
Quite clearly they are stating or understanding that “Bt” means Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacteria. Also that this bacteria produces an endotoxin, a protein which is naturally deadly to certain agricultural pests.
They also are making the point this is some agenda driven drivel, which it is. Reference my prior posts #11, and #13.
Scythian was making the point that industry had said the endotoxin would not end up in humans. But it (apparently, if they did the work right— and who knows) does.
So, what does a protein do when it hits PH2 acid in the stomach? It completely denatures, and breaks down, into amino acids... some of which are useful, some are not.
What the article doesn’t make clear is they say the “study” is claiming finding “protein” in the umbilical blood—not possible unless they mean amino acid . They may be stretching it a little- since a “protein” of this type would have to be “labeled” in some way to ID it to the product. Monsanto has some kind of proprietary chemical label on their product. The “proof” is the label— and just the label doesn’t mean the endotoxin is present as such, but maybe a labeled amino acid. Since the “label” is proprietary they’d have to know what it was to start with.
But even if it did show up... as many have pointed out here.. it is not present in any real level of any provable harm.
The discussion of GM crops (which are created sterile to prevent the genetic introduction to the environment) causing heirloom crops to “go sterile” is falsely premised— since sterile is sterile (unless it really isn’t which would be huge).
A grower, have to deal with this stuff all the time. And “organic” means you fertilize with manure, FR folks.
You are right to admonish folks to get up to speed. Notice these anti-monsanto people, and enviro whacks have no problem with the number of people killed by malaria since the elimination of DDT. Or the fact that alar didn’t do a damn thing to people, but made beautiful apples. There is an astounding lack of chemical knowledge, even 7th grade level.
Are you a fan of Paul Ehrlich?
Genetically modified ("GM") plants have been modified to become their own "endotoxin factories". No microorganism (specifically, no B. thuringiensis) is involved in their self-production of the "Bt" endotoxin.
Read this article. And, specifically note this:
"The ["Bt toxin"] crystals are aggregates of a large protein (about 130-140 kDa) that is actually a protoxin - it must be activated before it has any effect. The crystal protein is highly insoluble in normal conditions, so it is entirely safe to humans, higher animals and most insects. However, it is solubilised in reducing conditions of high pH (above about pH 9.5) - the conditions commonly found in the mid-gut of lepidopteran larvae. For this reason, Bt is a highly specific insecticidal agent." (Emphasis added.)
FYI, pH 9.5 is a highly alkaline condition. In the human body, pH of over 7.45 is the dangerous imbalance called, "ALKALOSIS".
The presence of "detectable trace Bt toxin" in the human body in survivable pH conditions -- is totally insignificant.
Only an ignorant or duplicitious eco-wacko pushing an idiotic agenda would claim otherwise.
Correct. (See my post #44.)
Lol, so that's your standard? Even the FDA admits they don't know the long term effects of all the drugs that have been approved, when taken at the approved dosages for long periods of time. But I guess you know the effects of long term doses of Bt and all other substances that humans might ingest.
And where this really ends up for many, maybe even most consumers, is that government is again dictating what people must accept, and so far has even refused labeling requirements for GMO foods. It's just more big government taking away people's choices, which seems to be almost epidemic with Obama and other big government types. It's amazing that anyone at FR defends this neverending, statist urge to take away people's choices.
And there are other areas where big government refuses to provide informative labels that consumers desire.
You are very unconvincing. And you try to sound convincing by throwing out irrelevant blather that has little to do with this specific issue.
Do you have evidence that there is now more sensitive testing equipment than when food industry spokesmen said that the Bt would not end up in the body of humans?
And you really love the absurdity that because one substance is ingested in water or food, that no one should be concerned about other, additional substances that could be ingested that way.
Lots of blather and little that's relevant from you.
It's about big government taking away choices and dictating what information people are allowed to have to base decisions upon.
Uhhhhhhh....what happens AFTER they're born? Does it go away?
And the big problem is that the seeds contained in the produce is not propagatable (if that's even a word).
That means you can't grow your own vegetables from the seeds contained in these foods.
When you combine that with legislationt that increasingly disallows people from growing their own background gardens (why do you think the media makes such a big deal out of MoBama's garden), the result is way too much power in the hands of too few sources.
At least in the article they call it “babies” here, instead of the usual sub-names used to distract.
To protect intellectual property - which under the Constitution they have a right to do.
If they sold GM soy to a farmer ONCE, and he could propagate his own seeds - wow - they got ONE sale out of the guy. And then when he decides to sell his seeds?
You think China or many many other nonintellectual property right recognizing nations (usually because their populace has no intellectual property worth spit) would enforce their patent - or would they purchase ONE copy of the GM crop and reproduce it - like they do with computer software?
Read the freaking HEADLINE of the article. It is about the detection of so-called TOXINS. Toxins are chemicals (regardless of their origin) and that is what my post was in response to. My comments were perfectly accurate and make perfect sense. Let's start with those facts and go from there, OK?
Good luck in...
a) conveying knowledge
b) convincing him he was (and is) wrong.
If he hasn’t learned it by now, he will not, doesn’t want to, and you cannot make him!
LOL
And why the assumption - given that Bt toxin is sprayed directly on crops - that these detectable levels of BT toxin just HAVE to be from GM foods?
Uh, yeah. It's the foundation of modern toxicology and makes sense to most people......unless you're one to wet your pants over trace amounts of benzene in the air you breathe, the water you drink and in the roasted meats you eat. Do you eat potatoes? If so, you're probably scared stupid over the fact that you're eating solanine and arsenic. Don't ever eat any lettuce, carrots or grapes because they have trace quantities of caffeic acid. Avoid nuts (aflatoxin), bread (acetaldehyde, acrylamide), mushrooms (hydrazine), orange juice (limonene) and so on. Trace amounts of dangerous chemicals in the foods you eat every day probably keep you awake at night. And, guess what? Yup, they'll show up in your blood and urine if you measure for them in ppt. Oh, the humanity!
But I guess you know the effects of long term doses of Bt and all other substances that humans might ingest.
No, but I don't go peeing my pants over benzene in my water at 5 ppb. I don't cry to mommy over trace amounts of known carcinogens in the foods I eat every day. So you'll have to excuse me if I don't go running and screaming into the night over trace amounts of Bt in our blood when not using Bt could result in the consumption of real carcinogens like fumonisins.
And where this really ends up for many, maybe even most consumers, is that government is again dictating what people must accept, and so far has even refused labeling requirements for GMO foods
Government is dictating no such thing. Almost every food you eat has been genetically modified in some way over time. It doesn't matter if it comes from grafting trees or slicing genes, fear of GM foods is irrational. Most foods would have to be labeled as GMO if you had your way. But that wouldn't serve any purpose other than to scare scientific illiterates more than they already are.
You are very unconvincing. And you try to sound convincing by throwing out irrelevant blather that has little to do with this specific issue.
You're a clown, Will. You have a long and storied history on FR of offering opinions on topics with which you are unfamiliar. This is no different. Most thinking people will agree that knowing the quantity of Bt found in the blood is critically important. The report hasn't been released yet but it is irresponsible, at the least, for Natural News to ignore this important information. I'll bet they did so because this is all much ado about nothing and they are, after all, a toxic terrorist rag dedicated to creating fear and loathing of corporations like Monsanto. Why conservatives buy into their lies and deceit remains a mystery.
Do you have evidence that there is now more sensitive testing equipment than when food industry spokesmen said that the Bt would not end up in the body of humans?
Do you have any evidence that the biotech industry misrepresented what was known to be true at the time? Do you have another source that has duplicated these findings? Do you have a source that confirms what the biotech industry said exactly about Bt and the potential for showing up in the blood? Do you have any evidence proving that the amount of Bt found in the blood is harmful in any way? Do you have any grasp of the advances we've made in developing highly sophisticated detection techniques that measure minute levels of toxic chemicals in blood and urine and how those advances have fanned the flames of anxiety?
And you really love the absurdity that because one substance is ingested in water or food, that no one should be concerned about other, additional substances that could be ingested that way.
The dosage makes the poison, just like it has since forever. Like I said before, I'm not wetting my pants over trace amounts of Bt in my blood when my body also harbors benzene from the water I drink and the air I breathe. Our ability to measure in the smallest of quantities has caused people to lose control of their bladders over all sorts of dangerous chemicals showing up in their blood and urine. All those dangers notwithstanding, we're living longer and healthier lives than at any other time in our history. Go figure.
Maybe you should stick to topics you know something about. Of course, in all the years you've posted here, I can't think of one. You?
“Our ability to measure in the smallest of quantities has caused people to lose control of their bladders over all sorts of dangerous chemicals showing up in their blood and urine. All those dangers notwithstanding, we’re living longer and healthier lives than at any other time in our history.”
Excellent post!
I'm not arguing the Constitutionality of it. I'm arguing the morality of it. And the potential for some government authoritarian figure taking over Monsanto and thereby controlling a huge part of the food production and distribution. Not that any government would arbitrarily take over a private industry.
Other than an auto manufacturer, I mean.
Or a country's health care system.
I just think it's dangerous to have one organization to have control over the production of food-bearing seeds.
That's all. Maybe my tinfoil hat is in need of calibration. I'm just sayin'.
Don't want Monsanto Bt Corn - fine - there is no shortage of fertile Corn seed you can grow.
Government would be about as effective in controlling seed importation and use as they have drug importation and use.
Try double ply tinfoil. ;)
We are losing genetic diversity.
Things are swinging the other way - and people love to cultivate and exchange “heirloom” varieties of fruits and veggies.
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