You’ve probably heard of the biotech agricultural corporation, Monsanto. They are responsible for the much debated, possibly cancer-causing weed-killer Roundup. They are also one of the biggest names in genetically modified organism technology to date. GMOs are incredibly controversial but to outline the basics they are plants or animals that are modified, usually to be more resilient to the environment. GM crops are often easier to maintain and resistant to both pests and weed-killers and produce crop yields that are often more bountiful than their non-GMO counterparts. GM crops are often able to be sprayed down with more resilient and potent chemicals and still produce beautifully. Let’s think about that last part for just a second. Stronger chemical resistance encourages stronger chemical usage. Though the available information is quite varying in its conclusions for or against GMOs, it should be noted that the rise of GMOs correlates with a rise in infertility, liver disease, cancer, antibiotic resistance, gastrointestinal issues and food intolerances. Correlation is not causation but it is something to consider. Additionally, the bottom line in any industry is usually money and GMOs are cheaper to produce so the profit margin for a company like Monsanto is much greater.
GMOs aside, are there other reasons to believe that a company like Monsanto might not have the consumer’s wellbeing at the top of their list? One big red flag no matter who you are is that while data is finally coming into the light that confirms a traceable link between Roundup and other glyphosate products and a multibillion dollar settlement is currently being hammered out, Monsanto is busy starting a very similar cycle all over again with their more recent herbicide, dicamba. As you might guess, dicamba is already being linked to multiple forms of cancer, including but not limited to leukemia, liver cancer and mantle cell lymphoma. Only time will tell if this product is allowed to exist on the market for a couple decades before significant formal and social pushback.
Let’s say you do look at the available information and decide that GMOs and Monsanto owned products are not for you. What is your next step? As with minimizes the possibility of food fraud or any contamination in the supply and demand chain, the biggest thing you can do to protect yourself is to buy local! After that, educate yourself on the companies that are sourcing their ingredients responsibly. Next time we will talk about how about a dozen companies actually produce the majority of the food options we see on grocery shelves but for now, here is a list of companies that are openly affiliated with Monsanto for your convenience.
If you are interested in reading more about the Roundup cases, click here and here. For more information on dicamba, right here!