Frankenfish Coming Soon?
By Jackie Christensen, MSHH, HHP, MH, NC

Individual states bare the right to enact laws pertaining to the GMO salmon approval and as the FDA nudges closer to approving genetically engineered salmon lawmakers in California and Alaska are introducing bills that would require the frakenfish to be clearly labeled to alert consumers. Alaska has also introduced a bill that would ban the cultivation of genetically engineered animals in Alaskan waters. Additional states such as Oregon and Washington are expected to introduce similar bills if the federal government approves genetically engineered salmon.

AquaBounty Technologies’ is pursuing FDA approval to market an engineered Atlantic salmon which includes genes from the Chinook salmon to double its growth rate. Consumer groups who are petitioning the salmon say that the way they are created alters the nutritional value; therefore they should be treated as a food additive which would require more scrutiny in the review process. GMO animals are currently categorized as a new animal drug, which includes the same classification and regulations required for veterinary drugs, which are obviously not intended for human consumption.

The FDA has opposed labeling foods from GMO crops because they have not been altered in their characteristics or nutritional content. The FDA is currently reviewing AquaBounty’s application for FDA approval of Aquadvantage salmon. If approved it would be the first genetically engineered animal for human consumption available on the market, paving the way for others to follow.

All GMOs are patent based products. Once a fisherman produces GMO fish or their waters become contaminated with the frankenfish they will have to purchase it to use it. We have already seen complications in this area with GMO seeds contaminating non-GMO gardens.

Adequate testing of GMO products by the FDA is still lacking. However, according to Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter, the company’s own study showed that genetically engineered salmon may contain increased levels of a hormone linked to breast, colon, prostate and lung cancer.

Sources:
Cacciola, Jessie. “GMO Salmon: Soon to Be Banned in Alaska? – Slashfood.” Food News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. <http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/03/gmo-salmon-soon-to-be-banned-in-alaska/>.
Zabarenko, Deborah. “GMO Salmon: US Consumer Groups Petition FDA For Tougher Probe Of Engineered Salmon.” Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/08/gmo-salmon_n_1261536.html>.

The Basics on Food Facts
By Jackie Christensen, MSHH, HHP, MH, NC

Going to the grocery store can be an overwhelming experience as we are inundated with flashy labels that make bold and tantalizing promises. As a consumer it is challenging to make good and healthy choices. Manufactures have a variety of terminology at their disposal to allure customers into taking their product home. Some of the words used on packaging labels are regulated while other words can be used without discretion. Some label teases include fortified, enriched, added, extra, and plus, such terminology is misleading because the consumer is lead to believe they are purchasing an item that is nutritious. In reality fortified means that vitamins and minerals have been removed through processing and chemicals have been added to replace them, look for 100% whole-grains to avoid fortified foods. Fruit drink is another label to avoid. The word drink means little or no real fruit and a lot of sugar, closer to a soda than juice. Instead look for products that advertise 100% Fruit Juice. Natural is another term that is loosely used. The manufacturer may have started with a natural source, but once it is processed the food may not resemble anything natural. Look for a label that touts organically grown, pesticide-free, or no artificial ingredients on the label. Trust only labels that say Certified Organically Grown. Processed products that contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients can use the phrase made with organic ingredients. Products labeled organic must consist of at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt).Sugar-free or fat-free can also lead one to assume the product is low-calorie, but generally the manufacturer has compensated with other unhealthy ingredients and the product may not have fewer calories than the real thing.

For a manufacturer to advertise a product as low such as low fat or low sodium it legally must have less than 5% of the daily value. For a product to bear good source on the label, such as a good source of calcium it must contain 10-19% of the daily value. To be labeled as high such as high in fiber the product must contain more than 20% of the daily value.

Be mindful of the serving size. If you regularly the whole box or bag and there are several serving per container make sure to adjust the caloric intake and daily percentages to your level of consumption. When there is a limited amount of time available for grocery shopping, check the serving size, nutritional facts, make sure it is organic, compare a few items and pick the best one.

Sources:
Nutrition Facts, Calories in Food, Labels, Nutritional Information and Analysis – NutritionData.com. Web. 19 Jan. 2012. <http://nutritiondata.self.com/>.

GMO Label Initiative in California
By Jackie Christensen, MSHH, HHP, MH, NC

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) run rampant in today’s produce, meat and commercial food items. Even stores that were thought to be health food grocers such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods carry GMO products. California is making a significant attempt to end manufactures that slip GMOs into their products by requiring all GMOs to be clearly labeled. On November 9, 2011 the grassroots organization Committee For the Right to Know along with many other consumer health organizations such as Organic Consumers Association, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap, Center for Food Safety, Mercola.com, Nature’s Path, Natural News.com, LabelGMOs.org, Food Democracy Now, and the Institute for Responsible Technology, submitted the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act to the State Attorney General for title and summary as an initiative for the November 2012 election. This initiative would put the requirement of labeling GMO foods on the ballot. GMO foods would be labeled similar to the nutritional food facts label. The bill has been carefully written so that there will be no added expenses passed down to the consumer and according to a public opinion poll, 90% of the population would vote to have GMOs labeled.

GMOs can be found in both plant and animal products and contain DNA that has been genetically altered. This is done so they can withstand an extremely high amount of pesticides and growth hormones, so they can grow at an abnormally rapid rate. They have been referred to as the Frankenstein of the food chain and have not been appropriately researched for human consumption. Studies have shown that consuming GMO foods can create autoimmune imbalances in the human body such as allergies and cancer. Children are especially vulnerable because their immune systems are not fully developed.

It is estimated that as much as 85% of the corn grown in the United States is genetically engineered. Some manufactures that use GMO ingredients include Nabisco, Betty Crocker, Bisquik, Duncan Hines, Jiffy, Pillsbury, Hershey’s Pepperidge Farm, and Wonder.

Fifty countries have already implemented compulsory laws for labeling genetically engineered foods, but nowhere in the United States are GMOs regulated. Soon California voters will have the opportunity to vote on the initiative and if it passes activists believe it will put an end to the manufacturing of GMO food in the US.

Sources:
Adams, Mike. “Death Blow to GMOs? California Ballot Initiative Calls for Mandatory Labeling of All Genetically Engineered Foods.” Natural Health News. 3 Oct. 2011. Web. 29 Dec. 2011. <http://www.naturalnews.com/033763_GMOs_California_ballot_initiative.html.
Larry, P. “California Ballot Initiative to Require Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods Submitted to Attorney General.” Label GMOs, Genetically Modified Foods – California Committee For The Right to Know – A 2012 Ballot Initiative Campaign. 9 Nov. 2011. Web. 29 Dec. 2011. <http://www.labelgmos.org/initiative_filed_with_the_state>.
“Organic Consumers Fund: Support the California GMO Labeling Ballot Initiative.” Organic Consumers Fund: Grassroots Action and Lobbying for Health, Justice, and Sustainability. Web. 29 Dec. 2011. <http://organicconsumersfund.org/label/>.