By Dean L. Jones, CPM<\/p>\n
A genetically modified organism (GMO) has had its genes altered using genetic engineering techniques, whereas, such organisms include bacteria, yeast, plants, fish, and mammals.\u00a0 There is a new packaged food labe<\/strong>ling initiative on the ballot this year with Proposition 37.\u00a0 A Yes on Prop 37 will require labeling on raw and processed food offered for sale to consumers if made from plants or animals with genetic material changed in specific ways.\u00a0 Some common GMO crops are alfalfa seeds, canola, cotton, papaya, sugar beets, and zucchini.\u00a0 An example of being sugar alert is that sugar beets are used to make food ingredients like high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) which is often included in processed foods.<\/p>\n Should Prop 37 pass GMO foods sold at the retail level will need to be clearly labeled as genetically engineered.\u00a0 Specifically, a Yes on Prop 37 will require that raw foods, such as fruits and vegetables produced entirely or in part through genetic engineering be labeled with the words \u201cGenetically Engineered\u201d.\u00a0 This is a simple addition to packaging, but yet the main opposition not surprisingly comes from the world dominant Monsanto Corporation.<\/p>\n It is bad enough that over 600 million pounds of candy was given away to children this Halloween, and the packaging should read GMO ingredients to help us make better decisions. The Monsanto Corporation will be changing the genetic makeup of a lot of agricultural so as to be immunized to bugs while growing.\u00a0 If a plant is immune to nature, surely it will have some mutant like effect on humans if consumed.<\/p>\n These few words added to packaging are nothing compared to what it should have in the way of information.\u00a0 Take a 20-ounce glass of cola, which contains the equivalent of 16 teaspoons of sugar in the form of HFCS.\u00a0 The labeling does not mention that this is nearly three times the maximum daily processed sugar intake recommended by the American Heart Association.\u00a0 Nonetheless, once ingested, the pancreas organ rapidly begins to create insulin in response to the processed sugar.\u00a0 The rise in blood sugar is quite rapid where within 20 minutes, the blood sugar spikes, and the liver organ responds to the resulting insulin burst by turning massive amounts of sugar into fat.<\/p>\n A full disclosure label would possibly state that after 40-minutes, your pupils dilate, your blood pressure rises, and your liver dumps more sugar into your bloodstream.\u00a0 Then, around 45-minutes, your body increases dopamine production, which stimulates the pleasure centers of the brain and after 60-minutes, you will start to have a blood sugar crash, and you may be tempted to reach for another sweet snack or beverage.\u00a0 That would be a long label, where Prop 37 is simply requesting Genetically Engineered, so packaged food manufactures can word up and disclose real truth.<\/p>\n