RoundUp is the leading brand of weed killer for gardens and farms. It’s sprayed directly on weeds to kill them. RoundUp Ready corn is genetically engineered to be resistant to the herbicide glyphosate; the active ingredient in RoundUp that kills weeds. Unlike natural crops, Bt and RoundUp Ready crops produce pesticide and herbicide resistant enzymes in every cell of the plant itself and cannot be washed off. Both Bt and glyphosate have been found to accumulate in the body.
Due to a recent independent study Frito-Lay, a Texas-based company known for its different variety of chips, has been found to use Bt and RoundUp Ready corn in 100% of the corn that they use to make their SunChips product. Bt-corn has been linked to many health ailments, including signs of organ toxicity, lesions on internal organs and reproductive damage in studies on mammals. In other studies, the broken down proteins from the Bt-corn have been found in the blood and urine of not only pregnant women, but non-pregnant women as well. It's been found still lingering on the skin and nasal passages of farm workers months later causing allergic reactions. It also causes the body to overproduce antibodies, which can damage the immune system.
Many adverse side-effects are associated with RoundUp Ready crops. When eaten the high levels of glyphosate are absorbed in the body. Glyphosate has been linked to hormonal imbalances specifically affecting the sex hormones causing tumors, kidney disease, birth defects and reproductive problems. In one study the breastmilk of 3 in 10 women tested was contaminated with levels of glyphosate so high it exceeded the level the European Drinking Water Directive allows for individual pesticides. Studies have also shown sterilization in males.
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| These poor rats were fed RoundUp Ready Corn in a 90-day feeding study by Monsanto. The health effects of a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified corn, cultivated with or without Roundup application and RoundUp alone in drinking water, were evaluated for 2 years in rats. |
PepsiCo is the parent company to Frito Lay, spent a little more than thirteen million dollars, to lobby against GMO labeling on food. Not only did they know the dangers of GMO, they tried to suppress the labels so that consumers would not be aware of the poisons they were putting into their bodies when they ate their products. Many of these foods are marketed towards children, knowing that their products can be harmful and possibly life-threatening down the road.
SunChips are marketed as healthy, labeled as “100% Whole Grain”. Many products boast whole grain and consumers buy them thinking they are making health choices when it comes to their food. What SunChips fails to mention when they say “100% Whole Grain” is “100% GMO Grain”, because that’s what it is.
References:
World’s Number 1 Herbicide Discovered in U.S. Mothers’ Breast Milk
Republished study: long-term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize
Bt-Corn: What It Is and How It Works: by Ric Bessin, Extension Entomologist University of Kentucky College of Agriculture
Mesnage R, Clair E, Gress S, Then C, Székács A, Séralini G-E. Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide. J Appl Toxicol. 2011
(2007) Time- and dose-dependent effects of roundup on human embryonic and placental cells
Glyphosate induces human breast cancer cells growth via estrogen receptors.
Histopathological Changes in Some Organs of Male Rats Fed on Genetically Modified Corn (Ajeeb YG)
Immune responses in farm workers after exposure to Bacillus thuringiensis pesticides.
