Corn kernels
by Catherine Haug, April 10, 2013
Monsanto and other biotech companies maintain that there is no nutritional difference between GMO and non-GMO food. “On its corporate website, Monsanto claims that approved genetically-modified (GM) crops are “substantially equivalent” to non-GMOs, meaning they are not nutritionally different from non-GMO crops.” (2)
In my opinion, that assertion is nothing but shameless, baldfaced lies, and a recent report made public by MomsAcrossAmerica (1) proves the falsity. See also NaturalNews.com (2) for more info.
Comparison of GMO vs Non-GMO Corn
Corn stalks
Note that the GMO corn used for the testing described below is Roundup-Ready Corn, which allows the corn to survive being sprayed with Roundup’s herbicide ingredient, glyphosate (see below for more about this chemical).
The following is from MomsAcrossAmerica (1).
“The claims that “There is no difference between GMO corn and Non-GMO corn” are false. … Vince from De Dell Seed Company, Canada’s only NON GMO corn seed company called me to support the march and Americans finding out about GMOs. He emailed me this stunning report, clearly showing the nutritional value difference between GMO corn and NON GMO corn. I was floored. And at the same time, not totally surprised because Glyphosate draws out the vital nutrients of living things and GMO corn is covered with it.
The important thing to note in these deficiencies is that these are exactly the deficiencies in a human being that lead to susceptibility to sickness, disorders and cancer. People who have osteoporosis are low in calcium and magnesium, people who have cancer are low in manganese. The list goes on and on. [See De Dell Seed: GMO vs Non-GMO Comparison (pdf) for more; Cat put the data from the MomsAcrossAmerica article in pdf form (4)]:
- GMO Corn has 14 ppm of Calcium and NON GMO corn has 6130 ppm. 437 X more.
- GMO corn has 2 ppm of Magnesium and NON GMO corn has 113ppm. 56 X more.
- GMO corn has 2 ppm of Manganese and NON GMO corn has 14ppm. 7X more.
Look at the levels of Formaldehyde and Glyphosate IN the corn! The EPA standards for Glyphosate in water in America is .7ppm. In Europe it is .2 ppm. Tests showed organ damage to animals at .1ppm of Glyphosate in water. This corn has 13 ppm!
You will note in the full report, De Dell Seed: GMO vs Non-GMO Comparison (NOTE: Cat copied the tables from the MomsAcrossAmerica website, and put them into pdf form), that GMO corn has a very high content (200 ppm) of formaldehyde (see below for more about this chemical), while non-GMO corn has NO formaldehyde. Dr. Don Huber (an internationally recognized plant pathologist) reports from his own research that only 0.97 ppm of ingested formaldehyde, which is toxic to animals. That found in the GMO corn (and present in livestock feed) is 200 times the toxic level. (2)
Glyphosate
This is the main herbicide in Roundup, and is sprayed directly on the Roundup-Ready crops to kill weeds in the field. This is not a one-time spraying, but rather done regularly to keep the weeds in check.
People have been led to believe that glyphosate poses no potential harm to the soil, because it is absorbed systemically by the plant. However, this is proving to be false:
“Glyphosate is a strong organic phosphate chelator that immobilizes positively charged minerals such as manganese, cobalt, iron, zinc, copper, etc. that are essential for normal physiological functions in soils, plants and animals,” explains Dr. Huber about how GMO crop chemicals literally destroy the nutrient content of GMO crops. (2)
Both the weeds and the Roundup-Ready plants absorb the glyphosate, but the genetically engineered DNA makes the Roundup-Ready plant resistant to its toxic effects. When you or any animal eats the GMO plant or its seed, you ingest glyphosate stored in the cells.
Formaldehyde (or Formalin)
This is another ingredient in Roundup, but has long been known as “embalming fluid.” Think back to your science class in school. Remember the pickled frogs and rats in jars? They are pickled in formaldehyde. The same for cats and other dead animals and humans used in anatomy classes.
Formaldehyde is also present in the glues used to make fiber board, plywood and other wood products, and also used in vinyl flooring and carpets. It is one of the chief chemicals found in “sick buildings.”
Just like glyphosate, formaldehyde is also absorbed by the plants on which it is sprayed, and is toxic to almost all of them. But Roundup-Ready plants tolerate it and store it in their cells. When you eat the plant or its seeds, you ingest the formaldehyde, too.
GMO corn in processed food
Note that the most commonly planted Roundup-Ready corn is not sweet corn, but rather that which is used as feed for livestock. It is also used to make high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), corn starch, corn meal and other processed corn products commonly found in processed foods, especially breakfast cereals.
To learn how to spot foods that contain GMOs so that you can avoid them, see:
- WAPF article by Jeffrey Smith: How to Avoid GMOs (3)
- Non-GMO Shopping Guide (pdf) on the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) website (4)
References
- MomsAcrossAmerica (momsacrossamerica.com/stunning_corn_comparison_gmo_versus_non_gmo)
- NaturalNews.com (naturalnews.com/039864_GMO_corn_nutrients_minerals.html)
- WAPF article by Jeffrey Smith: How to Avoid GMOs (westonaprice.org/modern-foods/how-to-avoid-gmos
- Non-GMO Shopping Guide (pdf) on Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) website (responsibletechnology.org)
- De Dell Seed: GMO vs Non-GMO Comparison (essentialstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/GMO-Corn_NutrientCompar_DeDellSeed.pdf)