We Deserve To Know

 

I want to preface this article by saying I am not a scientist and I’m not trying to influence your political choices. I am writing this because I care about all of you and believe we have a right to really know what we are eating.

  As some of you know my 18-year-old son, Neal, has an autoimmune disease called ulcerative colitis. For Neal to try and keep his symptoms under control, we need to determine what foods are his “trigger” foods. When does he eat that causes him to have painful symptoms?   I’m already a huge foodie and get a kick out of researching how foods affect our health but I’ve been studying even more since Neal was diagnosed. During my research GMOs are coming up more and more. I know that studies can be biased and it’s hard to get accurate information but my son's health is too important to me to not dig deeper into this.   For those of you who don’t know what GMOs are, according to the World Health Organization, “genetically modified (GM) foods are derived from organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally”. An estimated 75% of processed foods in the US contain GMOs and over 90% of our corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar beets and canola are GMOs. Most animal feed contains GMOs so the meat, chicken, and dairy we eat have been affected by GMOs.   From my research, I decided to try a non-GMO diet for Neal. Well, this turned out to be super challenging. I wish we could afford all organic foods, but unfortunately, our budget doesn’t allow that. I couldn’t determine if foods that weren’t organic had GMOs in them because they don’t have to be labeled. Some food manufacturers are putting a non-GMO label on which is great but otherwise, I don’t know.   In November, in Colorado, we will be voting on Proposition 105. “Under Prop 105, labeling genetically engineered foods would provide basic information to let us make more informed buying decisions, offering more choice and control over the transparency of our food purchasing decisions. Without proper labeling and transparency, it is difficult for doctors and pediatricians to determine where food allergies and sensitivities arise.  This initiative only requires the addition of “Produced with Genetic Engineering” on the label or container of GM foods. It is not a ban. And it does not require segregation of crops.”   Selfishly, I want this to pass because I want to know what foods to eliminate from Neal’s diet, but I also really believe we all have a right to know what is in the food we are eating. I love what Ann Wigmore says, “The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”  I want to be able to know if I am putting poison or medicine in my body.   I’m sure some of you know more about GMOs than I do so I’d love to hear your thoughts. Michelle