An organism that has had its DNA genetically altered or modified is known as a GMO (genetically modified organism). For example, humans discovered that if they duplicate the browning gene in a potato, it will keep it from browning. Tomatoes have even been genetically modified to resist frost using genes from cold-water fish…weird.

Indirect pollination from GMO crops to Non-GMO crops can contaminate entire farms. When a farmer plants genetically modified plants, it very easily spreads itself to nearby Non-GMO crops through pollen. Once GMO is let out into the environment, planted into the ground, eaten by animals and spread through the wind, there is no going back. There is a risk that the newly designed GMO crops can potentially lead to the extinction of natural plants that have been here for who knows how long.

We read 90% of corn, papaya, cotton, soy and canola sold in the U.S. is GMO. The Center for Food Safety said that the genetic engineering and altering of plants and animals is potentially “one of the greatest and most intractable environmental challenges of the 21st century.”

Other countries, by law, force labeling of all products containing GMO, while in the U.S. it’s a guessing game. Americans who think they’re eating right often don’t even know how abundant GMO is in their diets. We read 80% of all the food products at your average U.S. grocery store are genetically modified, plus, studies have not been made on the long term health consequences from having a diet consisting of genetically modified foods. *Learn how to distinguish produce labels here.

It is nice to know that over 60 countries have laws, bans or restrictions against GMO, but who let it happen to begin with? Already, Bayer’s (a biotech company who purchased Monsanto) is believed to own and control up to 90% of the seed on Earth…that’s our food supply folks. The reason big biotech companies are producing GMOs is not to feed the world (that would be easy to do), or improve health. It simply allows them to gain intellectual property and control over seed and the agriculture industry. The continuation of genetically modified organisms comes at the expense of our people, farmers and Mother Nature. Whoever controls the food and water, controls the world. They have turned GMO into a monopoly and it is up to us as individuals, couples and families to say no to GMO, no to Monsanto and learn the power of food.