By Betty Murray
On May 25, protesters in 52 countries and 436 cities rallied against GMO giant Monsanto. Demonstrators marched in protest to genetically modified plants, and insisting that Monsanto label GMOs in food items. “Label GMOs, It’s Our Right to Know,” protest signs read.
Genetically modified foods are plants that have been modified to resist insecticides and herbicides, increase crop yields, and in come cases add nutritional benefits. These food products are proving to do more harm than good, leading to a number of dangerous health conditions. (Read more about dangers of genetically modified foods in this article.)
March Against Monsanto was organized earlier this year, and began with a rallying cry posted on Facebook by organizer Tami Canal. Hoping to get a few hundred or even a few thousand people to join her, Canal admits she was surprised by numbers of people who joined her efforts and turned out to march against Monsanto. (View the March Against Monsanto Facebook Page.)
“We will continue until Monsanto complies with consumer demand. They are poisoning our children, poisoning our planet,” Canal said. “If we don’t act, who’s going to?” (Read more in this Huffington Post article.)
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration does not require labeling of genetically modified food products — a practice that organic food companies and consumers are asking for. Some states, including Vermont and Connecticut are moving forward with efforts to require food companies to label genetically modified products. Whole Foods Markets, Inc., is working to label all GMO products in its grocery stores across the country. Whole Foods says all genetically modified foods in its stores will be labeled as such by 2018.
Betty Murray, CN, HHC, RYT is a Certified Nutritionist & Holistic Health Counselor, founder of the Dallas-based integrative medical center, Wellness and founder of the Metabolic Blueprint wellness program. Betty’s nutrition counseling practice specializes in metabolic and digestive disorders and weight loss resistance. A master of the biochemistry of the body, Betty teaches her clients how to utilize nutritional interventions to improve their health. Betty is a member of the Institute of Functional Medicine and the National Association of Nutrition Professionals.