Kaiser Permanente avoids GMOs

SOURCE: Shannon Rudolph (shannonkona@gmail.com)
SUBHEAD: Kaiser Permanente, the largest managed healthcare organization in the US, has advised its members against GMOs.

By Staff on 14 November 2012 in Willamette Live -
(http://www.willamettelive.com/2012/news/corporate-giant-comes-out-against-gmos/?t=Corporate+Giant+Comes+Out+Against+GMOs)


Image above: Entrance to Kaiser Permanente offices. From (http://blogs.kqed.org/stateofhealth/category/money/page/2/).

It has come to our attention that Kaiser Permanente, the largest managed healthcare organization in the United States, has advised its members against GMOs (genetically modified organisms) in food.
In its Northwest Fall 2012 newsletter, Kaiser suggested membership limit exposure to genetically modified organisms. According to the newsletter:

“GMOs have been added to our food supply since 1994, but most people don’t know it because the United States does not require labeling of GMOs,”

Sounding like a radical organic health proponent, the huge corporate Kaiser continued, “Despite what the biotech industry might say, there is little research on the long-term effects of GMOs on human health.”

Independent studies have shown GMOs to cause organ damage in rats and the inability to reproduce, the Kaiser article said. Kaiser gave tips on how its members can avoid GMOs, including buying organic, looking for the “Non-GMO Project Verified” seal and to download the “ShopNoGMO” app.
Since corporations are required, by definition, to augment their bottom line, we think Kaiser’s efforts to encourage GMO avoidance for the members for whose health costs they must (sometimes!) pay – is telling.

Text of article in Kaiser Permanente Fall 2012 issue of Partners in Health magazine:

What you need to know about GMOs

Limit exposure to genetically modified organisms with these tips.

What do soda, canned chicken soup, margarine, and corn flakes have in common? They all contain genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.

GMOs have a piece of DNA from a different species, such as bacteria or viruses, spliced into their DNA.  Genetically engineered corn, for example, has DNA added so that it has a pesticide built right into it.  This process creates a new species of plant that would have never occurred in nature.

Where do you Find GMO's?

GMO's have been added to our food supply since 1994, but most people don't know it because the United States does not require labeling of GMO's.  As of 2012, most corn, soybeans, canola, cotton, and sugar beets are genetically modified.  Nearly 80 percent of processed food and most fast food contain GMO's.

Despite what the biotech industry might say, there is little research on the long-term effects of GMO's on human health.  Independent research has found that several varieties of GMO corn caused organ damage in rats  Other studies have found that GMO's may lead to an inability in animals to reproduce.

Here are several ways you can help limit your exposure to GMO's:

• Buy organic.  All USDA Certified Organic foods are GMO-free.
  
• Avoid foods that contain nonorganic soy, corn, and canola or cotton-seed oil.
• Look for the "Non-GMO Project Verified" seal.
  
• Ask your local market.  For example, Trader Joe's produce and Trader Joe's-labeled foods are GMO-free; Whole Foods Market's 365 Everyday Value products are sourced to be GMO-free.
  
• Download the ShopNoGMO app.

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