Previous posts have looked at the definition, manufacture, and a renewed saftey concern with GMO food.
Aside from the innate questions about the safety about GMO foods, there is another concern you may want to consider:
What about pesticide or herbicide residue in the foods you eat?
Think about one specific example – the use of glyphosate – the active ingredient found in the herbicide Roundup from Monsanto.
This product is typically used in conjunction with Roundup Ready seed, but is sometimes used with conventiona seed as well.
Some of the Roundup Ready GMO crops currently in use in the US market include alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton, soybeans, and sugarbeets. The herbicide is sometimes applied to the soil prior to planting, timing and frequency of application depends upon the specific crop. Depending upon the crop, it can even be used as close as three days before harvest.
The heart of this concern of mine is that I do not want to be eating food that was raised in soil that has had glyphosate applied to it, food that has been raised having glyphosate applied to it, or eat food that was raised on crops that have had glyphosate applied – perhaps even days before it was consumed as forage. There are too many concerns in my mind about the effects of long term exposure to herbicide and pesticide residue in my food, and the effect that this has on food that I eat (animals raised on herbicide and pesticide treated crops).
In addition, serious concerns have been raised about the changes to soil resulting from the use of glyphosate. Both soil biology (natural bacteria) and mineral content is being affected due to the chelating effects of glyphosate – locking up key minerals like iron, calcium, manganese, and zinc while at the same time having a negative effect on the natural occuring beneficial bacteria. As a result both harmful soil bacteria rise in population and the root structure of plants is impacted in a harmful manner.
Keep in mind that we’ve only looked at one herbicide, and haven’t even touched on the subject of pesticides in this post
Make sure you read the next post on the residual effects of herbicides like Roundup on the environment and the effect on sustainable agriculture and initiatives. If you have any questions or comments, please use the form below – I would love to hear from you.
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