What Is This?

The transgenic industry particularly as it relates to GMO food has led to one of the most persistent debates about mandatory labelling. How can consumers make a conscious choice if they can’t understand the components that are in the food they are about to purchase or how these mysterious ingredients may affect your health or the health of your family.

Transgenics

Transgenics is all about genetic engineering. It refers to a collection of techniques used to isolate genes from one species and transfer them to another. The result is a new life form whose altered genetic material expresses a particular characteristic that originated from the 'donor' species. Often referred to as recombinant DNA technology, the resulting organism is said to be "genetically modified,"(GM) "genetically engineered,"(GE) or "transgenic." GM products include medicines and vaccines, foods and food ingredients, feeds, and fibers.

Modified Atmospheric Packaging(MAP)

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) involves controlling or modifying the atmosphere surrounding the product to slow spoilage by coating the food with an ‘edible film’ to increase shelf life.

These types of coatings present several potential health hazards, the most severe of which is the potential to promote the growth of food borne pathogens if misapplied. Essentially, by spraying a substance on the fresh produce, which forms a thin film, oxygen levels can be limited, which slows down the ripening process.

Carbendazim

Carbendazim is a fungicide of major concern. It is suspected that the chemical has hormone disrupting effects. It has been highlighted by Friends of the Earth as one of their ‘filthy four’ pesticides as it could be harmful to human health and the environment.

Developed by chemical giants, BASF (now part of Bayer) and Dupont, carbendazim is used to control a broad range of diseases on arable crops which include cereals, oilseed rape, fruits, vegetables and ornamentals.
The global market is worth over $200 million at user level -- equivalent to over 12,000 tones of active ingredient.

Salmonella Bacteria

Salmonella is closely related to the Escherichia genus and are found worldwide in cold- and warm-blooded animals (including humans), and in the environment. They cause illnesses like typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, and foodborne illness.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause salmonellosis, a foodborne illness.

Bt Toxins

Bt toxin is produced by Bacillus thuringiensis in an inactive form (protoxin), which is transformed to its active form (delta-endotoxin) in the guts of certain insects. The active toxin binds to receptors in the gut, killing the insect. There are different forms of Bt toxin that are specifically active against certain groups of insects.

Glyphosate

Glyphosate is a systemic herbicide used to kill weeds. It is a post emergent herbicide that is non-selective. Meaning it will kill all green plants that you apply it to including grass, broad leaf weeds and some woody plants.

Gluphosinate Ammonium

Glufosinate-ammonium is a broad-spectrum herbicide, in use in relatively small quantities since the 1980s. Its use is being increased by the recent development of a more than 100 varieties of transgenic plants, genetically modified to be tolerant of it.

It carries unacceptable risks to humans, especially the neurological development of the foetus, to agricultural biodiversity, and to the environment.

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

Most of us would be surprised to learn that the majority of sweeteners used in processed food comes from corn, not sugar cane or beets. Developed in the 1970s, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has the same sweetness and taste as an equal amount of sucrose from cane or beet sugar but it's considerably cheaper to make than sugar.

Triclosan

Triclosan: Chemical Name: 2,4,4'-Trichloro-2-hydroxydi-phenyl ether. Other names: Microban® - when used in plastics and clothing- IrgasanDP-300, Lexol 300, Ster-Zac, Cloxifenolum, Biofresh® when used in acrylic fibers. And it's in your toothpaste.

Endocrine Disruptors

The endocrine system regulates every function of the body. It consists of the thyroid, pituitary and adrenal glands, the pancreas, the ovaries and the testes, all linked to the hypothalamus in the brain. The hypothalamus is like the mainframe computer of the body sending signals to glands that provide instructions for creating hormones, which are the natural chemical messengers that tell your cells what to do. The endocrine system is instrumental in regulating mood, growth and development, tissue function, and metabolism, as well as sexual function and reproductive processes.

The endocrine system is all about hormones and glands. As the body's chemical messengers, hormones transfer information and instructions from one set of cells to another. Although many different hormones circulate throughout the bloodstream, each one affects only the cells that are genetically programmed to receive and respond to its message. Hormone levels can be influenced by factors such as stress, infection, and changes in the balance of fluid and minerals in blood.