PIP: The Food Bastard

She scared me so much, I went digging around on the FDA website. What I found was not reassuring:

In the 1992 policy, FDA recommended that developers consult with FDA about bioengineered foods under development; since issuance of the 1992 policy, developers have routinely done so. In June 1996, FDA provided additional guidance to industry on procedures for these consultations (the consultation procedures). These procedures describe a process in which a developer who intends to commercialize a bioengineered food meets with the agency to identify and discuss relevant safety, nutritional, or other regulatory issues regarding the bioengineered food and then submits to FDA a summary of its scientific and regulatory assessment of the food; FDA evaluates the submission and responds to the developer by letter.

Let me highlight the high notes for you:

1. We have been feeding our children these genetically modified (GMO) foods since 1992. That’s their ENTIRE LIVES thus far.
2. Developers of bio engineered foods meet with FDA to discuss relevant safety, submit summary of scientific and regulatory assessment. Don’t you think they should have to submit substantial, irrefutable proof of a food’s safety?

With my upper lip sweating out of a combination of fear and anger, I dug around some more and was surprised to find this gem on the EPA website: PIP, Plant-Incorporated Protectants.

Plant-Incorporated Protectants are pesticidal substances produced by plants and the genetic material necessary for the plant to produce the substance. For example, scientists can take the gene for a specific Bt pesticidal protein, and introduce the gene into the plant’s genetic material. Then the plant manufactures the pesticidal protein that controls the pest when it feeds on the plant. Both the protein and its genetic material are regulated by EPA; the plant itself is not regulated.

Don’t care to read the fine print? Here it is in a nutshell… these scientists have created food seeds with the pesticide already inside them. Yes, so no matter how thoroughly you wash your food, you will never be able to rid your GMO, PIP foods free from pesticides.

I told you… SCARY.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? All those processed foods we feed our kids…. The fructose (made from GMO-PIP corn) sweetened fruit juices in all those sippy cups…

I have a friend battling breast cancer right now. She tested negative for the cancer gene. It’s environmental. She has kids: 12 and eight-year-old.

I fear that if we do not change the way we and our families eat our childrens’ generation will experience an even higher number of cancer rates. How about you?

Here is a list outlining different products and whether or not they contain GMO foods.

I’m not an expert on this stuff. I’m just learning and sharing the information.

I wish you and your family good food and good health.

{I want to thank Pam at Healthily Ever After for bringing this to my attention! Click over where you will find more information on this subject.}