Still from "Grocery Store Wars" on youtube

Although this topic is far from new, there have been disquieting developments in the debate regarding genetically modified food (GMOs, a.k.a. genetically engineered or GE), specifically with the recent ratification of GE alfalfa seeds produced by Monsanto. Here are some links to help our readers follow the story so that you can make a more informed decision on the matter.

It is always important to know both sides to the story, so first off, here’s Monsanto’s official position regarding the safety of GE foods. Keep in mind that a third party research team would, by definition, provide a more objective view of the situation, more than the company itself running the tests, or an oppositional organization. However, Monsanto does not allow any outside research. So Monsanto’s criteria for a good research study (found in the last section of their official position) holds up, except that they disregard the importance of bias in such a scientific study.

The most recent development in the debate regards the production of GE alfalfa seeds. Alfalfa is the basis for the beef and dairy industries, providing much of the feed for cattle. The GMO issue focused on alfalfa when farm owner Phil Geertson sued Monsanto for the contamination of his organic fields of alfalfa with their genetically modified variety. There is a fear that this is yet another step toward a world where the distinction between organic and genetically modified is moot.

What is even more disheartening is Monsanto’s apparently intimate relationship with the government. Such connections can be traced back decades, and only seem to be getting stronger. The worry here is related to the dire consequences of the newly passed Food Safety Act, which heavily favors large company farms over smaller, local farms (the rundown of this act can be read here). The government continues to reduce the opportunity for consumers to make informed and real choices about the food we eat.

As is to be expected, there are many who are outraged about this issue, from advocates for organic food, to those concerned about the overall effects on the environment that are a result of the government’s sanctioning of Monsanto’s actions, to members of our own Farm to Table staff. Really it is a matter of being a more conscious individual in the world. We cannot merely sit back and allow big companies and lobbyist-supported politicians dictate the paths of our own lives and the fate of the world.

Henry Kissinger is on record for saying, “Control the food and you control the people.” Although I want to resist sounding like a hippie radical (and thus, being dismissed as one), it is high time for the American people to take back control of their own health. So many people opt for the convenience of the pre-packaged meals without taking into consideration the long term effects the unpronounceable ingredients will have on our bodies and our environment. There is no rocket science to eating real, un-modified food. Just be aware and be active. Here are 7 ways you can be a more conscious food shopper, and you can also refer to the article posted last week if you want to take more direct action against the spread of GE alfalfa.

And just to end on a lighter note, here’s a fun video about the fight for organic foods.