GMOs In Pet Foods?
Mass recall of dog and cat food after pets die
The cause of these deaths is still unknown. The current theory is that its something in the wheat.
Now over the last ten years or so, we seen a lot of changes in genetic engineering. And we've seen troubling legislation. It is illegal to test for GMOs and to report them in cases where cross pollination contamination occurs. We also know that an array of medications, some of which can cause liver and kidney failure, are now being grown in food crops.
Farmers have known for centuries that wheat and corn spread their DNA through wind blown pollen.
Is this the first huge scandal to come from this practice?
posted by Weaseldog @ 5:50 AM
7 comments
7 Comments:
OT - Talk about putting a bandaid on a gunshot wound. Fraud and speculation kept the housing market sizzling, the feds can't actually think a solution which involves honesty can save it, do they? More likely throwing a cynical bone to the FBs.
I got a jar of peanut butter that was recalled, I ate two just like it before I got the word. They've known since last June that the PB was tainted, azzholz.
Genes have been proven to cross species barriers.
It happens in animals occasionally, but is very common in plants.
Essentially, a DNA based virus as it moves from host to host, reassembles imperfectly and picks up some host DNA and loses seom DNA. Even RNA viruses can pick up and leave behind plasmids (short functioning sections of DNA and RNA)
So when a virus leaves a host, it may pick up some DNA and carry to another host. If that DNA makes it into reproductive cells, then it becomes inheritable.
Often bacteria will also carry viruses and the virus will carry DNA that causes the bacterium to inject it a host whereever it travels.
Once a new gene, like for heart medication or a cholestral drug gets into the food web, it can cross species barriers. Worse, it is likely to mutate and start coding for unkown drugs that are related to the originals. So you might see the effects of the drugs change dramatically as the gene mutates.
Worse, if the drug confers pest resistance, like killing grasshoppers or making them sick, then that gene will be selected for. It will become more potent over time, evolving to become more poisonous to animals.
Plant geneticists are all very aware that this occurs.
So we may have a new rogue set of genes spreading through our food web. Genes evolving to kill.
The theory is sound, but it is illegal to collect evidence to determine if this is actually occurring.
The peanut butter story and pet food story are eerily similar.
Perhaps salmonella poisoning was a cover story for a bigger problem?
I wondered myself how the hell salmonella could get into peanut butter. Wholesale farming practices using genetic tinkering has always been a dangerous practice, but then again so are pesticides. The whole food chain is contaminated to some degree. Ominous.
Links to interviews on GMOs at Global Public Media.
http://globalpublicmedia.com/topics/gmo
Dear Alpha Dog Man,
I have complained about organic dog food at $14.00 per two week supply for the last time. I have two darling doodles, and thank the goodness in the Universe Frequencies that I did not have to deal with this. Although I ate batch #2111 peanut butter!
My heart goes out to all of the pet owners and animal lovers that are in morning and/or visiting their pets in the Vet Hospitals.
Anyway, good theory, and I think you may be correct.
Puts a whole new meaning to 'The Secret'.
Organ damage is a side effect, per the source below. Just insert wheat where it says potato. Is potato an ingredient in the dog food?
Monsanto hid study that showed GM potatoes harmed rats
27.02.2007
[suosiomittari]
(article accessed by 113 different readers so far)
(Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:05:51 -0600 (CST)) --- Monsanto hid study that showed GM potatoes harmed rats, campaigners claim
Feb 27 2007
Steve Dube, Western Mail
ONE of the world's leading biotechnology companies has been accused
of suppressing a study of genetically modified potatoes that showed
they damaged the internal organs of rats.
Campaign group GM Free Cymru said research into Monsanto GM NewLeaf
potatoes by the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of
Medical Sciences only emerged after a lengthy legal battle.
It was delivered to the company in 1998, the same year that the
variety was deregulated in the United States and at the same time as
research by Arpad Pusztai in the Rowett Institute reached a similar
conclusion. Dr Pusztai was vilified and his research funding stopped
by the UK Government.
Dr Brian John of GM Free Cymru said the study only came to light this
month after a protracted legal campaign by Greenpeace and other
consumer groups in Russia.
Biologist Dr Irina Ermakova said it showed that the GM potatoes
damaged the kidneys, liver, large gut, blood serum, testes and prostate.
"The GM potatoes were the most dangerous of the feeds used in the
trials... and on the basis of this evidence they cannot be used in
the nourishment of people."
Monsanto insisted that the company always acted transparently and
said the research had not been peer-reviewed.
Company spokesman Tony Combes said, "Monsanto acts transparently and
will continue to post on its website product safety summaries that
support the food, feed and environmental safety of our products.
"The overwhelming preponderance of scientific scrutiny during the
past decade of safe use, leaves no stone unturned in showing that
these improved crops pose no harm to humans, animals or the
environment."
Dr John said Monsanto seems to have left at least one stone unturned
by not publishing the study and checking its results.
"The approval process for GM crops is never based on peer review but
on advocacy," he said.
"But when independent scientists try to do research, biotech
companies refuse to supply the material on the grounds of commercial
confidentiality."
Gordon James of Friends of the Earth Cymru said the revelations were
"a serious indictment" of Monsanto and said the UK government should
halt forthcoming trials of GM potatoes in the UK until the research
from the Russian Academy is fully assessed.
"This news should also act as a strong incentive for the Welsh
Assembly Government to do all in its power to prevent GM crops from
being cultivated in Wales," he said.
FoE Cymru and the Farmers Union of Wales are preparing to host a
debate on GM crops, featuring speakers from both sides of the divide,
at this year's Royal Welsh Show in July.
marcus@myrealbox.com.
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