So, BT toxin was simply a synthetic bug spray (toxic to insects) made from a protein found in bacteria in earth. Or that was its use before the days of GM corn. Now, it is inserted into plants to make them produce their own BT toxin. BT corn can contain one of many varieties of BT some of which make the plant create the toxin in its stem only while others spark every part of the plant to produce it, even the "edible" parts. So, there might be a benefit or two to having the pesticide built in (especially to large scale corporate agribusinesses that want easy cheap crops) BUT having the pesticide in each and every cell of the corn is significantly more likely to put the pesticide right into you, full force...it has been claimed that BT in GMO vegetables exposes the eater to about 5000 times as much as merely spraying the outside of the vegetables would. And the BT corn continues to produce the pesticide effect even after it is eaten as it makes a home for itself in gut bacteria and persists there.
And, the BT is not the only problem with genetically modified corn. Due to the gene blasting technique that is fraught with imprecision the BT modified genes are blasted into a dish of cells with hopes they penetrate the DNA of a few. Then, those are cloned. The peripheral DNA damage stemming from this disruption has been shown to cause a rash of unexpected allergens, toxins and "anti-nutrients". Antibiotic resistant genes are used as markers for scientists to see where the altered DNA goes within the cells. The antibiotic resistant gene is transferred to the crops and then to the population eating them.
Oddly, those living near BT corn fields are even experiencing problems just from inhaling the pollen. Now in the midwest, BT toxin from corn can be found in about one third of the regions streams. A lot more research should be done if they are ever to be proven safe. For now, it is recommended to play it safe not to wait for the damage to be so widespread that it is taken seriously.
In 2009 BT corn represented 63 per cent of all corn grown in the US. much of it is for animal feed and large major food producers but some say the percentage is much higher. Furthermore, the spread of pollen in the air makes it almost impossible for organic and non-GMO growers in the vicinity of the BT fields to maintain the integrity of their crops.
And, just so it is clear from a policy perspective, the FDA does not research or test genetically modified foods. Industry research funded primarily by Monsanto remains the primary souce of available research. The FDA seems to continue to view GMOs as substantially equivalent as their non-GMO counterparts. While never saying the GMO corn is safe (and various FDA employees have implied it is unsafe) the FDA has tried to keep out of it. The EPA does not regulate the amount of pesticide in the corn because it is in it not on it. But the EPA does limit the amount planted and require growers to plant a minimum percentage of non-GMO crop. There is a growing body of scientific evidence of the dangers of GMOs out there but bringing it to the attention of authorities is difficult. Eliminating the market for these foods is the best possible current consumer protection plan. If GMOs are rejected, corporations will have to stop growing them.
If you are shopping for corn at your local farmer's market, and yours is an all natural one, there should not be a concern but it is always worth asking...
On a separate note, a federal court ordered that genetically modified sugar beet seedlings be pulled from the ground, so progress may be on its way...(The USDA deregulated them without filing an Environmental Impact Statement.)
Some of many sources:
FDA Law Blog by Hyman, Phelps and Mcnamara http://www.fdalawblog.net
Raw Wisdom, reasons to avoid GMOs:
http://www.raw-wisdom.com/50harmful.
World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/ How to avoid GMOs: http://mercola.fileburst.com/PDF/GMObrochure.pdf
Jeffrey Smith, Seeds of Deception, various articles
http://www.seedsofdeception.com/Public/AboutGeneticallyModifiedFoods/HealthRisksBrochure/index.cfm
http://www.seedsofdeception.com/Public/AboutGeneticallyModifiedFoods/InhaledGMMaizePollenMayCauseDiseas/index.cfm
Mercola articles:
Deborah Whitman
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