Korea Halts US Wheat Due To GMO Contamination

Seoul – South Korea has halted imports of U.S. wheat, about half of the country’s total wheat supply, amid the discovery by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) contamination.

The culprit is a specific GMO strain called Round-Up Ready Wheat, which contains in-grown pesticides from the bio-tech industry leader Monsanto. Never approved for U.S. farming, this “frakenwheat” was tested in 2005 on more than 100 fields across 16 U.S. states, when and where the contamination is believed to have occurred.

U.S. Farmers are therefore suing Monsanto for this contamination. One law firm, Susman Godfrey L.L.C., stated: “We believe Monsanto knew of the risks its genetically-altered wheat posed and failed to protect farmers and those crops from those risks.” In response, Monsanto is suing over 400 farmers and 50 small businesses for over 23 million dollars for “stealing” Monsanto’s patented GMO strains.

Part of the problem is the “revolving door effect” between the bio-tech industry and government regulators. The Ecologist reported that Michael Taylor, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner, who had worked on labeling regulations for rBGH (a drug for dairy cattle), had worked previously as a Monsanto lawyer. Furthermore, a WikiLeaks report stated that the U.S. government has threatened “military-style trade wars” against nations rejecting GMOs.

Recently igniting anti-GMO sentiment was a two-year Cain University study in France, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology. The study published controversial photos of huge tumors in rats that were fed Monsanto GMO and/or Monsanto herbicide for at least 90 days.

In Russia, the National Association for Gene Security discovered increased infertility in hamsters that were fed GMO soy. Dr. Alexey V. Surov, an author of the study, explained that researchers gave hamsters varying amounts of GMO, none, some and maximum. Results showed that after three generations of eating GMO, the hamsters were almost infertile.

The Reversing Autism Foundation believes a potential link exists between autism and GMOs. They say bio-pesticides may be causing intestinal problems, which can affect behavior. An Atlantic Monthly report says one in 90 U.S. children has autism and 70 percent of those children have gastrointestinal (gut) issues, such as stomach inflammation and/or chronic constipation. The NY Times reports about one in 36 children has autism in South Korea.

The Institute for Responsible Technology released this statement: “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GMO food, including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation (diabetes) and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system.”

According to a Global Citizens Report, GMOs require more pesticides, produce smaller yields and possess none of the draught or salt-resistant traits the bio-tech industry had promised. Could bio-tech actually be used to genuinely improve food? Radio talk-show host Alex Jones says yes; however, he goes on to say that it is not being used in that manner.

Speculation aside, there is little doubt that the momentum of the GMO debate is turning against the industry, and the popularity of organic foods and farmer’s markets are growing. Even where GMOs are still prevalent, private chain stores like Whole Foods are mandating GMO labeling. There was a time not long ago when organic food was simply considered “food.”