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This is Why 19 Countries In Europe Just Completely Banned Genetically Modified Crops

by Joe Mobley
18 replies
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So why are these countries doing this? Two of the main reasons have to do with environmental and health-related concerns. Alongside all of these troubles (according to Reuters), some countries simply want to take time to do proper research -- flying in the face of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) decree that GMOs are completely safe. There are many who disagree with this assertion:
As part of the process, they portrayed the various concerns as merely the ignorant opinions of misinformed individuals - and derided them as not only unscientific, but anti-science. They then set to work to convince the public and government officials, through the dissemination of false information, that there was an overwhelming expert consensus, based on solid evidence, that GMOs were safe.
- Jane Goodall
This is Why 19 Countries In Europe Just Completely Banned Genetically Modified CropsREALfarmacy.com | Healthy News and Information


Joe Mobley
  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    I doubt that will happen in the US. That industry owns our politicians.
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      I doubt that will happen in the US. That industry owns our politicians.
      Very true statement.
      Things are changing here but it's a peoples movement that is creating the change. Sales of organic products are going up while sales of gmo's and pesticide laden products are going down.
      Sal and I had a conversation on FB a while back about the different boycotts that are going on at the moment of companies that use gmos and ingredients with pesticide residues in them. Many of those companies are coming out with an organic line of products now and the discussion was about weather to buy them or not. We agreed that it makes sense to buy and support their organic lines as that is really the purpose of the boycotts.
      A side effect of all that (here and around the world) is Monsanto's stock is falling and the company is downsizing, letting 2,500 employees go.
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      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

        Very true statement.
        Things are changing here but it's a peoples movement that is creating the change. Sales of organic products are going up while sales of gmo's and pesticide laden products are going down.
        Sal and I had a conversation on FB a while back about the different boycotts that are going on at the moment of companies that use gmos and ingredients with pesticide residues in them. Many of those companies are coming out with an organic line of products now and the discussion was about weather to buy them or not. We agreed that it makes sense to buy and support their organic lines as that is really the purpose of the boycotts.
        A side effect of all that (here and around the world) is Monsanto's stock is falling and the company is downsizing, letting 2,500 employees go.
        Because of the Kashi lawsuits, people are starting to put pressure on companies that are now selling organic brands to get 3rd party certified. That would be good for them to look at.

        Simple Truth - one of my favorite brands is under the gun on some of their labeling. First off, their chickens are given non GMO food - but they are not as "free range" as the brand wants you to believe. They are also under the gun right now for labeling on products with corn and canola. Yet - if customers are careful - they will find that some of the simple truth labels say organic and some don't. I won't buy the ones that aren't clearly labeled organic. Some of their chips are - some aren't. So you have to really watch what you are buying even if it's an organic brand line that you somewhat trust.

        I still do believe that it's best to buy organic products from a company that puts out new organic products to let them know the interest is there. I won't ever buy ANYTHING from Kellog's no matter how they label it because they flat out lied about Kashi. I did buy some of Campbells new organic soups, though and found them quite good.
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        Sal
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        • Profile picture of the author ThomM
          Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

          Because of the Kashi lawsuits, people are starting to put pressure on companies that are now selling organic brands to get 3rd party certified. That would be good for them to look at.

          Simple Truth - one of my favorite brands is under the gun on some of their labeling. First off, their chickens are given non GMO food - but they are not as "free range" as the brand wants you to believe. They are also under the gun right now for labeling on products with corn and canola. Yet - if customers are careful - they will find that some of the simple truth labels say organic and some don't. I won't buy the ones that aren't clearly labeled organic. Some of their chips are - some aren't. So you have to really watch what you are buying even if it's an organic brand line that you somewhat trust.

          I still do believe that it's best to buy organic products from a company that puts out new organic products to let them know the interest is there. I won't ever buy ANYTHING from Kellog's no matter how they label it because they flat out lied about Kashi. I did buy some of Campbells new organic soups, though and found them quite good.
          I always look for a third party certified label.
          As for Kelloggs and Kashi, personally I haven't bought any of their products that I'm aware of for years. Primarily because I don't eat much cereal anymore and also because there are organic options in the store that just taste better.
          Back to the OP, that's another reason why things like universal health care work in Europe and won't work here (yet). Over there they actually make an effort to provide a healthy environment and healthy foods.
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          • Profile picture of the author HeySal
            I buy mostly the certified. I only buy "organic" from simple truth. If it isn't stated explicitly, I don't even consider it. If the dark act gets passed - it will be 3rd party certified or nothing. I don't appreciate our gov giving corporations a right to lie to us. At least right now, we can still sue them for that.
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            Sal
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            • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
              Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

              I buy mostly the certified. I only buy "organic" from simple truth. If it isn't stated explicitly, I don't even consider it. If the dark act gets passed - it will be 3rd party certified or nothing. I don't appreciate our gov giving corporations a right to lie to us. At least right now, we can still sue them for that.
              Yes, gov, are experts at lying, so......


              I couldn't believe that WHO has said that this crap is safe, when it kills of bee's, and needs tons of roundup to grow!

              This is exactly like the scientists around the 1900's saying that radium is safe, since we have tested it for 10 years!

              As always ignore gov, and use common sense!


              If the WHO condones this, that what other dodgy things are they condoning? One comes to mind!

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              • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
                Misleading headline. 19 countries didn't just completely ban gmo crops. From the article itself:

                ...and now scientists and researchers are presenting information that has 19 new countries joining an already long list of nations to completely ban, or have severe restrictions on, GMOs — as well as the pesticides that go with them.
                Damn liberals.
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                • Profile picture of the author ThomM
                  Originally Posted by TimPhelan View Post

                  Misleading headline. 19 countries didn't just completely ban gmo crops. From the article itself:



                  Damn liberals.
                  A couple of days ago, an American commenter asked me why I kept on referring to "liberals" as "progressives". I explained that what is called "liberalism" in America these days is, in many ways, the opposite of what is called "liberalism" in Europe. In short, the term "liberalism" kept its meaning here, while it changed in America. Because I am a proud European liberal, I do not like to call American progressives 'liberals': I believe that the term liberal has been raped in the U.S. and continues to be raped every single day. American vs. European Liberalism – The Moderate Voice
                  Don't you mean damn U.S. Liberals
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                  • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
                    Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

                    Don't you mean damn U.S. Liberals
                    Whatever you call yourselves, I wish you would knock it off. Always wanting the Government to step in and stop free enterprise. Show me where in Constitution it says anything about regulating GMOs?
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                    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
                      Originally Posted by TimPhelan View Post

                      Whatever you call yourselves, I wish you would knock it off. Always wanting the Government to step in and stop free enterprise. Show me where in Constitution it says anything about regulating GMOs?
                      Hay I'm a condemlibsocteacoffeeindy and as such resent those remarks
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                      Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
                      Getting old ain't for sissy's
                      As you are I was, as I am you will be
                      You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

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                    • Profile picture of the author HeySal
                      Originally Posted by TimPhelan View Post

                      Whatever you call yourselves, I wish you would knock it off. Always wanting the Government to step in and stop free enterprise. Show me where in Constitution it says anything about regulating GMOs?
                      Actually, yeah - GMOs are being banned.

                      And - show me a country that doesn't regulate things that are proven to be poisonous.

                      Since the successful lawsuit against the company in France last month, in which two farmers successfully sued the company for their illnesses caused by glyphosate, American farm workers are filing suits so rapidly that there may soon be a torte suit against the company.

                      Quote from McDivitt law firm:
                      "We can prove that Monsanto knew about the dangers of glyphosate," said Michael McDivitt, whose Colorado-based law firm is putting together cases for 50 individuals. "There are a lot of studies showing glyphosate causes these cancers."

                      Okay - get your head around that. They knew. The EPA knew. That's not free enterprise - that's willful poisoning.

                      Maybe before you go into attack mode because someone is saying something non-statist............check out what your own state is doing about the issue. They are putting through legislation (maybe passed by now?) to label glysophate carcinogenic.

                      There's no more maybe ............it's been proven.

                      So - it's against free enterprise to allow that crap to be sprayed around our environment in levels that are destroying ecosystems, destroying wildlife, destroying humans?

                      Interesting perspective.
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                      Sal
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                      • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
                        "..are putting through legislation (maybe passed by now?) to label glysophate carcinogenic. "

                        Yes, it passed in September. Another example of California leading the country. By the way, glysophate is a chemical.
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                        • Profile picture of the author ThomM
                          Originally Posted by TimPhelan View Post

                          "..are putting through legislation (maybe passed by now?) to label glysophate carcinogenic. "

                          Yes, it passed in September. Another example of California leading the country. By the way, glysophate is a chemical.
                          Actually it is a notice of intent. It was open for public comment until Oct. 5.
                          The labeling is a great idea but this doesn't really place any restrictions on it's use. It just means companies will have to notify the public either by postings on usage areas or through product labels.
                          Now what could reduce it's use is with consumers not buying it because of the label which could reduce it with residential consumers.
                          It will be interesting to see how it works out with commercial farmers especially since the federal EPA raised the allowable limits of glyphosate on food crops.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    There's a lot of action in the GMO/political arena right now.

    The pesticides are being banned all over the planet. They are unsafe for humans, the environment, other species, and where glyphosate is concerned -- it was a known human toxin from the get. Somehow Monsanto got the EPA to okay it. But it's out now that they knew all along - since 1987, and they allowed it to be used anyway.

    Now Monsanto is being sued by people who are getting sick. Two farmers just won a lawsuit against the company in France, and lawsuits are now being launched all over the US. Kashi has been sued a second time for falsely claiming their cereals GMO free. The Fed court just killed the EPA decision to allow another really deadly toxin used that is a bee killer. Farmers are finding their livestock isn't doing too well when fed GMO and are turning to organic feeds and grazing again.

    H.R. 1599 passed the senate and is headed for the house. That is called the "Dark Act". It will take away states rights to demand labeling of your food for GMOs. Really? Is it "freedom" to not be allowed to know what you are eating and making your own choice? Anyone with a concern - even if you are okay with eating GMO - that your gov would take your right to know what you are eating needs to call their Reps and let them know you didn't hire them to take away your rights. This is the most disgusting piece of legislation I've seen in years. How can people call it a "free country" when you won't even be allowed to know what the hell you are eating? Good grief.
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    Sal
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  • Profile picture of the author ExcelExpert
    Being a European, if politicians of any country are looking to ban to this I would double check their reasons. i.e. follow the money.

    Some will be looking to ban on the grounds of health and nothing else, but there is also a lot or EU money at stake as well. Just about every farmer and farm in the EU are reliant on EU subsidies in some way or other. Most simply would not survive without them. If the production of these crops effects those subsidies their governments will use any convenient reason to ban them. If the EU subsidies change to favour GM crops or to benefit the GM farmer, I suspect that many of those countries would withdraw their bans.

    If you look at those 19 countries, the majority of them not exactly the richest countries in Europe so this money is really important to them.

    BTW - I'm not questioning the health claims, I'm questioning the motivation of the politicians and countries involved
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  • Profile picture of the author salegurus
    I have no problem with eating healthy/organic grown foods but can you feed those parts of the world who seem to breed like rabbits with no way or plan to feed themselves with organic foods alone?
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Originally Posted by salegurus View Post

      I have no problem with eating healthy/organic grown foods but can you feed those parts of the world who seem to breed like rabbits with no way or plan to feed themselves with organic foods alone?
      Certainly. For one organic is a more sustainable type of agriculture then gmos are. We already grow enough food to feed the world, but with commercial gmo based agriculture the distance between growers and consumers creates additional costs that places much of that food out of reach of the ones that need it. Also that type of growing is not considered sustainable as it requires the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides which in addition to adding to the cost decrease the health of the soils so additional synthetic ferts and pesticides are needed each year. To add to that because you destroy the water holding capacity of the soil, more irrigation is needed. Then there is that whole carbon sequestration thing that sustainable organic growing is so good at.
      The way to get food to the hungry is to focus on local sustainable agriculture where the seeds can be saved from year to year and the soil is improved from year to year. Not with gmo's where the seeds need to be bought from year to year and the soil is destroyed from year to year requiring more money to be spent buying seeds, fertilizers and pesticides every year.
      Here's a couple of pretty good article on sustainable agriculture.
      Sustainable Agriculture Pushing Back the Desert
      Beating back the desert in Burkina Faso, field by field | Daily Mail Online

      By the way in addition to being the smart way to feed the hungry, sustainable agriculture also has a positive effect on mans contribution to climate change where as gmo based agriculture has a negative effect. Here's what the FAO says about it.
      Organic Agriculture: Climate Change
      This is a little more in depth article on organic farming and climate change from the FAO. Environment and Natural Resouces Series No. 4
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      Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
      Getting old ain't for sissy's
      As you are I was, as I am you will be
      You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

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  • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
    Damn those "socialist" countries always putting the interests of their citizens ahead of "the market".
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