What is a GMO?
A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose
genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. Genetic
modification involves the mutation, insertion, or deletion of genes.
Genetically engineered crops are crops that are altered with inserted genetic
material to exhibit a desired trait.[1]
GMO
OMG is a documentary which offers a glimpse into the life of a concerned father and film-maker. His two young boys and baby girl take a road
trip with him to navigate the confusing roadmap of our food. His main question at the beginning of the
film is: “Are GMOs safe?” If they are in 85% of America’s food
(unlabeled), he wants to know what the health and environmental effects are for
the sake of his absolutely adorable offspring.
The
evasiveness of Monsanto corporation employees is comical. Until it’s dismal. No one will answer a worried parent as to the
studies conducted by Monsanto itself on lab rats. The 3-month study has been the basis for
World Health Organization and other agencies in deeming GMOs generally safe for
consumption.
Seralini,
a French scientist in Caen, conducted a lab experiment on the same breed of rat
Monsanto used. Rather than stopping at 3
months, he followed the effects of GMO food on the rats, as well as Roundup pesticide
traces on rats. The female rats began to
grow large tumors and suffered effects on their pituitary glands in months
4-5. The male rats suffered damage to
their kidneys and livers along the same timeline. Within one day of this study being published,
London scientists (all heavily supported by biotech companies) began to attack
the methods of Seralini’s article.
Jeremy,
director and reporter of this film, has a wonderful question. If there is any merit at all to the findings
of Seralini’s research, why blindly refute the study and continue on with our
ingestion of genetically modified food?
Shouldn’t this spur a second (and much more thorough) look at the health effects – closer
scrutiny over a longer period of time?
This is our health we are talking about.
But it becomes clear very quickly that health is not the goal
here; it is money. Lots and lots of
money for large corporations who conducted these initial rat studies and refuse
to publish the raw data.
Jeremy
does a beautiful job of showing the balancing act of feeding his family. He filmed Halloween on his family’s street on
the heels of some bleak conversations about GMOs in the American diet. There were closeups of his children in precious costumes, taking candy from neighbors, and sucking on lollipops. The heart of his documentary, to me, is
here. In a country where GMOs are
prevalent in our food production and our food is unlabeled, it makes it nearly
impossible for us to choose wisely as parents and to still experience cultural
events. When we act with the
precautionary principle, are we sacrificing identity in our culture? Do we then opt out of all the communal activities that revolve around food? This is
a choice parents and individuals should never be forced to make. 
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