MMRF, GenoSpace to Build Database Containing Multiple Myeloma Discoveries

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and GenoSpace today announced a partnership to create an "information ecosystem" of new discoveries in multiple myeloma to be used by researchers, clinicians, and patients.

The foundation and the company will create a publicly shared database that provides researchers access to data from the MMRF CoMMpass (Relating Clinical Outcomes in Multiple Myeloma to Personal Assessment of Genetic Profile) Study. The database will also give patients access to real-time clinical and community support.

Launched in 2011, the CoMMpass Study is collecting clinical information on and molecular profiling of more than 1,000 newly diagnosed patients. The information for each patient is being collected for a minimum of five years, and centralizing such data could hasten the discovery of new treatment options, diagnostics, biomarkers, and drug targets, MMRF and Genospace said.

In collaboration with GenoSpace and others in the pharmaceutical, academic, and government spaces, MMRF aims to create the largest, consolidated patient information ecosystem "overcoming the hurdles in finding new discoveries for myeloma and potentially other cancers sharing the same molecular targets."

Earlier this week, MMRF announced a collaboration with the US Department of Veterans Affairs on the CoMMpass Study.

Its partnership with GenoSpace supports CoMMpass' mission to elucidate patient disease progression and response to treatments by "filling the need to securely store, enable ready access, visualize, and allow for analysis of the complex data from the CoMMpass Study and other research initiatives in multiple myeloma for academic and industry scientists worldwide," MMRF said in a statement.

"The comprehensive data generated from the MMRF CoMMpass Study will be an invaluable resource for multiple myeloma research, providing a breadth of clinical and molecular data never before captured in this disease," Kathy Giusti, founder and CEO of MMRF and the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) and a multiple myeloma patient, said. "Conveying this data openly to clinicians and researchers in pursuit of individualized treatment approaches is critical to our mission."

"The next phase in our partnership with the MMRF will be to create tools that empower patients with multiple myeloma to more directly and fully participate in the scientific discovery and clinical research processes," 

GenoSpace Co-founder and CEO John Quackenbush added. "The resources we are creating with MMRF are state of the art and can serve as a model for conducting integrative molecular research in other diseases."

LINK

Thanksgiving With Christine and Troy

Hi gang-

Wanted to post a bunch of pics for friends and families.

Thanksgiving week was a blast.  The "kids" flew into NOLA on Sat. night and stayed at the Prince Conti (Our favorite hotel.... just a half block off of Bourbon in a nice area of the Quarter).

Dom and I met up with them on Sunday at The Deja Vu across the street.  Love their food!  Had a great lunch, then we checked into our room.

The 4 of us bar-hopped all day, did alot of shopping, then finally had dinner at Remoulade (The Casual Side of Arnaud's) for the first time.  We wouldn't hesitate to go back.  Yummy!

The four of us headed back home the next morning after a great breakfast at The Deja Vu.  I made some real kick-ass barbecue shrimp for dinner on Monday. NOLA BBQ Shrimp has no bbq sauce in it.... think butter, olive oil, alot of garlic, minced onion, a blast of beer or wine, served with crusty french bread.

They did alot of shooting, we had a bonfire, and a wonderful fireworks display. (Which was a treat for them, as they can rarely have fires in Colorado)

Thanksgiving Day was very pleasant.  Had maw's turkey plates and her sterling silver out.

Sipped on Beaujolais Nouveau all day while cooking:

-22# Turkey covered with cheesecloth, basted with white wine and butter (ala Martha Stewart..... have been hooked on this recipe for at least 15 years)
-Cornbread, Pecan, Sausage and Cranberry Stuffing
-Gravy (the white wine, butter and drippings makes a helluva gravy!)
-Spinach & Artichoke Casserole
-Niece Jennifer's Corn Souffle
-Mashed Potatoes
-Sweet Potato, Pecan, Brown Sugar and Butter Casserole
-Caramelized Balsamic Pearl Onions
-Collin Street Bakery's Fruit Cake  Worth Every Cent!
REALIZED AFTERWARDS THAT I HAD FORGOTTEN MY LIMA BEANS!

Listened to the Nutcracker and sipped on champagne with dinner.  Exchanged Christmas Presents, played in the hot tub, had a grand week!

They flew home on Friday morning.

Glyphosate....beware MULTIPLE MYELOMA RISK! MONSANTO KILLS!

"some users of glyphosate were oberved to have a higher risk of Multiple Myeloma......"

Stop Monsanto's Sneak Attack!

Monsanto wants Congress to pass a law that would make it impossible for organic and non-GMO farmers and seed growers to defend themselves against GMO contamination.

Jump for the EASY petition... it will take 2 minutes, if that!

Shocking...Multiple Myeloma... "Aspartame-Cancer Link Exposed: Increasing Your Cancer Risk"

One can of diet soda each day can increase leukemia risk in men and women by 42 percent, 

increase multiple myeloma risk in men by 102%

and increase the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma by 31 percent in men.

Read more: http://naturalsociety.com/aspartame-cancer-link-exposed-increasing-cancer-risk/#ixzz2DCgNuqOH

Blamed for Bee Collapse, Monsanto Buys Leading Bee Research Firm

Typical:

Monsanto, the massive biotechnology company being blamed for contributing to the dwindling bee population, has bought up one of the leading bee collapse research organizations. Recently banned from Poland with one of the primary reasons being that the company’s genetically modified corn may be devastating the dying bee population, it is evident that Monsanto is under serious fire for their role in the downfall of the vital insects. It is therefore quite apparent why Monsanto bought one of the largest bee research firms on the planet.

MONSANTO KILLS

Emerald Coast Cruizin"

We had great fun at Emerald Coast Cruizin' a couple of weeks ago.

Dear friend, Donn, once again gave us VIP tickets to this event.

It was HUGE this year.  I wish that this photo would reflect the entire show.  This was just part of it.

After walking around for awhile, Dom noticed alot of young men on scooters, and thought, "What the hell!".  It was great for his back.   I got my exercise, but was sore for days!

The weather was delightful.  Sunny with low humidity.  I managed to lay in the sun a few days.  The water was pristine, but much too cold to go in.

On the way home, we stopped at the VA Hospital in Biloxi for Dom's obligatory appointment with his VA Oncologist, Dr. Rogers.

It was rather bittersweet.  She was so pleased with his health, that she cut him loose!  Told us that if he ever has to go back on any type of cancer drugs or maintenance, to let her know, and she'll take care of everything.

She is one of our favorite doctors.  We all hugged.  Sounds silly, but we're going to miss that gal!

Stem cells for life: Become a bone marrow donor

Did you know November is bone marrow awareness month? There are 18,000 people in the United States waiting for a bone marrow transplant. With less than 2 percent of the country on the bone marrow registry, it has never been more important to consider being a donor.

Each year, 3,000 people die while waiting for a bone marrow match. Such was the case of a Bangor woman, who had cancer of the white blood cells in her bone marrow, who died while waiting to be matched with a donor. On Oct. 14, a bone marrow drive was held at the Bangor YMCA in her honor.

Jump

(Note the link on the left side of my page)

Don't Be a Lab Rat

With the number of consumers worried about the health risks of GMO food, many were shocked that California voters didn’t pass Prop 37 in this year’s election. But John W. Roulac, founder and CEO of organic food company Nutiva, has a simple explanation: "Monsanto, Pepsi, General Mills, and their junk food allies want to hide what's in their food."

Nutiva is one of the steering committe members of a new campaign called "GMO Inside,” which aims to educate the public about genetically engineered foods.

“People are unaware that the majority of processed foods on the shelf now have genetically engineered ingredients in them,” says Todd Larsen, campaign director of GMO Inside and corporate responsibility director of Green America. “But there are non-GMO and organic alternatives to these foods.”

Although the agribusiness, food, and chemical giants may continue to fight GMO-labeling efforts ("millions of dollars [were] poured into anti-Prop 37 efforts by major corporations…to misinform and deceive the public about the cost of labeling,” according to a press release about GMO Inside’s founding), there are easy ways you can protect yourself from consuming modified foods.

1. Know that they’re everywhere. "The vast majority of soy, corn, canola, and sugar beet (i.e. sugar) crops in the U.S. are genetically modified,” Larsen says. Anything not label non-GMO or organic that contains any of the following ingredients most likely contains GMOs, he adds.

• Corn
• High fructose corn syrup
• Modified corn starch
• Maltodextrin
• Vitamin C
• Soy
• Soy protein isolate
• Soy flour
• Tofu
• Soy sauce
• Soy lecithin
• Vitamin E
• Added natural flavors

2. If you see "natural” or “100% natural" on a food package, be cautious. There is no legal definition for the word. Opt instead for labels like USDA Organic, which is has one of the most formal guidelines for use.

3. Become a fan of GMO Inside on Facebook, and follow them on twitter andPinterest. You can also pledge with the group to do a certain number of actions each month, as well as download campaign stickers and host GMO-Free Fridays. Or sign up for their newsletter in the loop.

As Roulac says, "We have a right to know what's in our foods. No one deserves to be a lab rat for untested and unsafe GMO foods."

LINK

Robin Roberts Cries Talking About Late Mother & Her New Lease On Life

I'm happy that Robin is doing so well!  I got a real chuckle out of her "Early Bird" restaurant visits.  It felt like Christmas when Dr. Safah told us that we could go to see a movie during a matinee....  and go have a pizza in between the lunch and dinner crowds!  FREEDOM AT LAST!

Story and Video Here

Robin Roberts shared an emotional one-on-one chat with her sister/bone marrow donorSally-Ann on Tuesday's edition of Good Morning America, and we've got the highlights for you right here on RadarOnline.com.

Robin has been battling the blood and bone marrow disorder MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome), leading to her September 20 transplant, which she says she looks as "as a clean slate.

"How many people can say at this point in their lives that they get a do-over, that they get a chance to start again?" Robin said. "And that's how I feel. We're all a little bit stronger -- a little bit stronger than we think we are. And that's all we need."

In the interview, Robin got weepy-eyed when her sister brought up their late mother Lucimarian, who died August 30 -- just before Robin was about to take a medical leave from GMA. She left the show early to spent her mother's final days by her side.

"I do believe it was her way of making sure that all of her children could be taken care of," ateary-eyed Robin said. "This is the first time that I have been through any traumatic experience without her being here and that has weighed on me.

"She was there when I took my first breath and what an honor it was to be there when she took her last.”

Robin, who turns 52 Friday, said she's excited to get to go to early bird specials, where the presence of less people means less risk of running into hazardous germs, per her doctor.

Watch the video on RadarOnline.com

"I'm going to get to go out [and] be around people!" she said, noting the massive outpouring of support she's received since she got sick.

"I have felt the prayers. I have felt people lifting me up. I put no small measure on that as the reason that I'm doing as well as I am," the inspirational Robin said.

She told her sister that hers "a journey that kind of zig zags, and there are complications, but I feel stronger every day."

Food Labeling: How to Identify Conventional, Organic and GMO Produce

What can you tell from those numbers on fruit and vegetable stickers?

The price look-up (PLU) code system used by most produce distributors has the side benefit of allowing consumers to identify conventional and organic produce at the grocery store. Even though the defeat ofProposition 37 means that genetically engineered information will not be added to labels at this time, PLU codes do have the potential to identify genetically engineered produce. This video shows you how to read PLU codes to unlock the information that is already right at your fingertips.

VIDEO LINK HERE

Using Price Look-up Codes (PLUs), the Nutshell:

PLU codes are four digit numbers that identify different types of produce. For example, #4011 is the code for a standard yellow banana.
• 
  
• The number 9 prefix added to a PLU signifies that an item is organic. For example, #94011 is the code for an organic yellow banana.
• 
  
• A number 8 prefix added to a PLU signifies that an item is genetically engineered (GE). For example, #84011 is the code for a genetically engineered yellow banana.
• 
  
• PLU codes and their organic prefixes are in wide use but GE codes are rare at best.

Robin Roberts continues to 'climb that mountain'

NEW ORLEANS -- As Air Force brats, my brother Butch, sisters Robin and Dorothy and I traveled to many diverse places around the world. But the journey we embarked upon this year was unlike any this family has ever experienced.

Robin, the baby sister I had watched grow from a child into a strong, courageous woman who beat breast cancer in 2007, was now, five years later, dealing with an illness I had never heard of -- myelodysplastic syndrome, or pre-leukemia.

But the doctors were hopeful that if Robin could find a genetic match for a bone marrow transplant, she could be cured.

We were ecstatic when I was declared a perfect match and I prayed my body would be able to produce.

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What’s Next in the GMO Battle?

On November 6, after spending $46 million burying California’s voters under an avalanche of deception, Monsanto and their buddies in the pesticide and junk food business declared victory. They had defeated the “right to know”, and successfully protected their “right” to keep you in the dark about whether your food is genetically engineered.

Jennifer Hatcher, senior vice president of government and public affairs for the anti-labeling Food Marketing Institute, breathed a sigh of relief after Prop 37 narrowly lost, saying: “This gives us hope that you can… defeat a ballot initiative and go directly to the voters.” But she also expressed concern: “We hope we don’t have too many of them, because you can’t keep doing that over and over again.”

If Ms. Hatcher wants to keep labeling suppressed, it looks like she may be in for a rough couple of years. Because what Monsanto and its allies hadn’t counted on was that despite all their lies and deception, it’s actually pretty hard to convince people that they shouldn’t be allowed to know what they’re eating. And although $46 million managed to put out one fire, it seems to have started about 30 new ones.

Indeed, efforts are already underway to put a similar initiative on the ballot in Washington for the 2013 election (where San Juan County voters chose on November 6 to make growing GMOs illegal in their county). And organizers in 30 other states have also begun building labeling campaigns, under the banner of the Coalition of States for Mandatory GMO labeling.

With 93 percent of the American public supporting the right to know, it looks like it’s going to take a lot more than a one deceptive, high-budget ad campaign to keep those pesky labels at bay.

The War Continues

Many people are choosing to boycott companies that continue to use GMOs and that oppose labeling. Kellogg’s has been a particularly visible target, since the company strives for a healthy image, and yet contributed $632,000 to the fight against Prop 37. For several months, the company’s Facebook page has become something of a marketing embarrassment. It’s plastered with comments by angry consumers calling the company out for fighting GMO labeling, and threatening a boycott until the company changes its ways.

Other consumers are choosing to buy products from companies that are going GMO-free. In fact, consumer demand for non-GMO products is rising fast. The non-profit Non-GMO Project, which offers a third party certification program, has now verified 764 products, and had a record-shattering 189 new enrollment inquiries in October.

More and more people are becoming alarmed about the widespread prevalence of GMOs in the food supply, and are taking steps to steer clear. This could create a tremendous market opportunity for companies that seize the day and get certified. Even shoppers who aren’t terribly concerned about GMOs may be developing more trust in the products that carry the “Non-GMO Project” certification.

For consumers who want to know what is and is not GMO-free, the Food Revolution Network has compiled a collection of resources that includes the non-GMO shopping guide, and the free iPhone and Android app from True Food Network. A list of which foods are likely to contain GMOs is posted by Institute for Responsible Technology here.

A team of organizations, led by Care2 and the Food Revolution Network, have launched a petition demanding that Congress label GMOs that has already generated nearly 50,000 signatures. And efforts of the JustLabelIt petition to the FDA, which launched a year ago and have generated more than 1.3 million signatures, are being renewed in hopes that the FDA might eventually dig itself out of Monsanto’s back pocket.

For the passionate activist, there’s always more you can do, like taking advantage of the educational resources offered for free by the Institute for Responsible Technology, and sharing them with friends. Or lobbying your member of Congress, your mayor, your governor, your local media outlets, or your relatives.

Monsanto would probably like us all to sit alone in the dark, munching on bags of genetically engineered popcorn. But the tide of history is turning, and regardless of how much they spend attempting to deceive us, we will prevail.

Ocean Robbins is founder and co-host (with best-selling author John Robbins) of the 65,000 member Food Revolution Network, an initiative to help you heal your body, and your world… with food. Find out more and sign up here.

LINK

Genetically Modified: The 2 Words the Food Industry Spent $45 Million to Avoid Using

Despite significant popular support for the labeling of genetically modified foods in recent polls, when it came time to vote on election day, Californians rejectedProposition 37, which would have required businesses to label products containing genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.

Proponents of Proposition 37 argued that the labeling requirements would provide consumers with valuable information that would allow them to make better purchasing decisions. Opponents countered that labels would mislead consumers by creating the impression that GMOs are harmful to human health.

Many attribute the loss to a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign against the proposition funded largely by agriculture and food companies like Monsanto (MON), PepsiCo (PEP), Coca-Cola (KO), Kraft (KRFT), and Kellogg (K). Opponents of Proposition 37 raised at least $45 million to affect voter sentiment, while supporters of the proposed law -- mostly consumer advocacy groups -- raised only about $8 million.

Was it a fair fight?

Prop 37 advocates complain that their defeat wasn't merely due to being outspent, but also due to opponents using deceptive marketing practices to shift public opinion. One example called out was a mailing to state residents which used the FDA logo and a quote saying, "The US Food and Drug Administration says a labeling policy like Prop 37 would be 'inherently misleading.'" FDA spokesperson Morgan Liscinsky later pointed out that the FDA did not make this statement or express any opinion on the proposed legislation.

Valuable Tool or Unnecessary Information?

If Prop 37 had passed, the law would have forbidden food companies from labeling foods with GMO ingredients as "natural," "naturally made," "naturally grown," or "all natural." Businesses would have had to label raw GMO produce as "genetically engineered," and to label all processed foods containing GMOs as "partially produced with genetic engineering," or "may be partially produced with genetic engineering."

The law also would have empowered consumers to stand up to companies that label their products inaccurately by making it possible for them to win lawsuits against food companies without having to prove specific damages resulting from the labeling violation.

While Big Ag argued that studies haven't shown GMOs are harmful to human health, Prop 37 advocates point out that most industry-funded studies last only 90 days. And although the Food and Drug Administration has deemed GMOs safe for human consumption, proponents worry that the FDA doesn't actually test these foods before they go to market, and so they don't have sufficient evidence to declare these goods safe.

Other advocates argue that even if GMOs are safe to eat, mandatory labeling would provide valuable information for consumers who worry about the sustainability of GMO farming, and its potential to breed "superbugs."

The fight over Prop 37 isn't just a California issue: Opponents were worried the law would set a precedent for the rest of the country to pick up the anti-GMO torch. In fact, about 93% of the money raised to turn voters against the law came from outside the state.

Advocates in Washington state, Connecticut, and Vermont are pushing to require labeling in their own states. Others are trying to utilize the national awareness arising from California's campaign to gain signatures on a petition asking the FDA to require labeling of GMO foods nationally.

LINK

Pass Agent Orange Act

By Tribune-Review 

Published: Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 8:53 p.m.Updated: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 

With the elections over, the new House and Senate will have their first session in early 2013. They will be faced with many issues — old and new. It is time for the new Congress to put aside politics and become legislators.

There are still two major bills in committee of interest to Vietnam veterans, HR 3612 and SB 1629. These bills would restore Veterans Affairs benefits for Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War.

The current House and Senate still have time to act upon these bills before January. These bills must come out of committee and go to the floor of both houses.

I ask the American people to urge our legislators to act on these bills. The Vietnam veterans who are sick from Agent Orange dioxin exposure need these bills to be passed into law before the new Congress convenes.

A new legislative session will require us advocates for Vietnam veterans to start again. This means longer delays for veterans’ VA approval and thousands won’t be approved because they did not have boots on ground, even though they were awarded the Vietnam Service Medal.

Many sailors, airmen and Fleet Marines who served during that war are sick from exposure to the deadly herbicide. The passage of these bills means these members of the armed forces will receive equality for VA benefits.

John J. Bury

Media, Delaware County

The writer is retired from the U.S. Navy and is a Vietnam veteran.

Read more: http://triblive.com/opinion/2942595-74/bills-vietnam-veterans-exposure-act-agent-orange-sick-war-airmen#ixzz2CPZOaffD 
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook

Deadly rainbow: Veterans suffer from Agent Orange exposure

We're thankful that the VA has assumed 100% responsibility for Dom's Multiple Myeloma.  Sadly, other vets are not so lucky.

“That’s how it works,” he said. “In other words, you don’t have to prove that it came from that exposure. It is presumed it came from that exposure, which, from a veteran’s standpoint, makes it easy to receive treatment.”

Massey said he is glad Congress made provisions that made it easier for Vietnam veterans to receive treatment for some of the side effects associated with Agent Orange exposure.
“ ... a lot of veterans had real problems getting the treatment that they needed, and they set out to make it easier for people who had sacrificed to receive treatment,” he said.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20121112/NEWS01/311120020/Deadly-rainbow-Veterans-suffer-from-Agent-Orange-exposure?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|s 

Monsanto and Genetically Engineered Food: Playing Roulette With Our Health

Monsanto and Genetically Engineered Food: Playing Roulette With Our Health

MK: Your organization distributed a documentary, The World According to Monsanto, which was a huge reader hit on Truthout - and earlier on BuzzFlash. Is Monsanto the most pernicious global corporation when it comes to GMOs, or is it just one among many?

JS: Monsanto has been voted the most hated or most evil company on earth for years and years - with stiff competition. Their stated goal is to genetically engineer 100 percent of all commercial seeds with their patented GMOs. They lied to us about the safety of PCB's, DDT and Agent Orange, and we've caught them lying all over the world about GMO safety and performance.

"Safe Pesticides" ???? Monsanto Kills

Did you know that the "safe" pesticide genetically modified into these crops leaks into our water? Did you also know that roundup runoff leaks into our water and causes green algae or the lovely blue in cali? Or as they try to say the natural "red tide" that people who have swam in have died after health issues since swimming in it? Look at our country. Monsanto has all but destroyed everything in it. . .

Tell me this isn't scary! Just check out the percentage of Genetically Modified crops across the world. Guess who has the highest percent?!?

Air Force Vietnam veteran wants other vets to learn about Agent Orange Registry

LUTZ, Fla. - "It floored me!  It floored me when I found out about it that day.  It did, it floored me," recalled Bob Wood.

When Wood suffered a heart attack two years ago, doctors at the Haley VA Hospital told him his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam contributed to his heart disease.

"This is unbelievable," Wood thought at the time.

Wood served at Air Force bases in Thailand during the war and said that agent orange, an herbicide and defoliant was used around the perimeter of the base for security.

"I felt like for decades that we were exposed to agent orange," said Wood.

It was after the heart attack that he learned of the Agent Orange Registry.

"The message I would like to get out there today, is to get all veterans of the Vietnam War, signed up and do the Agent Orange Registry exam," Wood explained.

Available through the VA, the exam is not tied to current benefits; and is an opportunity for vets who have not shown signs of exposure to Agent Orange.

"Their benefits, their health is at stake," said Wood.

Wood was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor and wants to use his time to bring awareness.  He says all you have to do to find out more is contact Veterans affairs.

"The earlier the detection, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease and the other ailments, they'll be able to meet these medical situations sooner; and can be cured in a lot of cases," Wood said.
 
One veteran looking out for others on a day when we honor them all. 

Read more: http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_north_hillsborough/lutz/air-force-vietnam-veteran-wants-other-vets-to-learn-about-agent-orange-registry#ixzz2C4CdZ8dI

Can This Farmer Finally Defeat Monsanto?

There are many reasons to question GMOs in our food supply. One such issue being our freedom of choice. When GM crops are grown next to non-GM crops we often see issues of contamination. This contamination may be due to many factors including human error, wind, birds, bees and floods. Contamination has continually posed a problem in the agricultural sector and in many cases has resulted in lawsuits where farmers suffer under the hand of corporations hiding behind the guise of ‘patent infringement.’ You may remember the case of Canadian farmer, Percy Schmeiser who was charged with patent infringement by Monsanto. Schmeiser stood up to Monsanto and obtained a settlement out of court for Monsanto to clean up his land. The result was seemingly in his favor, however, Schmeiser was left with weighty legal bills and the legal framework was left unchanged with the Federal Court of Canada upholding the validity of Monsanto’s patent.

How has this happened? How is it that a farmer’s property can be invaded by uninvited, unwanted genetically modified seeds and or pollen, and then the farmer has to pay? What about the farmer’s right to grow GM-free crops?  

And consequently, what about our rights as consumers to buy GM-free foods? Do we all just have to bow down to the corporate world and pay them for contaminating our food? It’s time we stand up and demand protection for our food system.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/can-this-farmer-finally-defeat-monsanto.html#ixzz2By91UrtE

Monsanto Wins Worst Company of 2011 Award

 
 
 

   
    Monsanto Wins Worst Company of 2011 Award (via http://www.occupymonsanto360.org)
   

       Michelle Schoffro Cook February 1, 2012 Natural Society has awarded Monsanto the Worst Company of 2011 award for its ongoing work to threaten human health and the environment.  Currently responsible for 90 percent of all genetically-modified (GM) seed in the US, the biotechnology giant is also the…
   

 

 

GMO

The Non-GMO Shopping Guide

Do you know which foods in your grocery story contain GMO’s? If you are like most of us, the answer is likely “no”. Unless the FDA mandates that all “Genetically Modified Organism” food be labeled, consumers will not likely have a clue to what is in their food. The good news is there’s a “phone app” for that and a downloadable shopping list to help you guard against these products.

The downloadable Non-GMO Shopping Guide, (http://nongmoshoppingguide.com) specifically details the currently known food products containing GMO’s. If you are unaware of which foods contain these detrimental GMO’s, then download the free app or list to help make it easier for you to avoid them.

Consumers are becoming more aware of the damaging effects linked to food and products treated with “Genetically Modified Organism’s” (GMO) and their potential negative outcome on your future health. Chemicals (aka pesticides) injected into plants and animals (from cultivation to production), are used as a method of preserving and producing food, while becoming very common in America.

The side effects from GMO’s had been widely controversial and mostly hidden from the public’s view. In recent years, illness and disease have been directly linked to these products. The following list represent the top 10 most highly consumed foods containing “GMO’s”:

*Corn (many food products contain high fructose corn syrup, etc.)

*Soy (including Tofu)

*Aspartame (sweetener)

*Sugar (sugar beets)

*Cotton (cotton oil)

*Papayas (mostly grown in Hawaii and banned in other countries)

*Dairy (20% of dairy cows in America receive growth hormones, while 27 other countries ban them)

*Canola oil (obtained from rapeseed)

*Zucchini and Yellow squash (the Bt toxin used in corn has recently been detected in both of these)

Remember:  Any food containing any of the above are potential products containing GMO's. 

Before your make another trip to the grocery story, make a list with the healthier GMO-free food.  Also, take the time to read the labels and know what you're eating. Once you form this new “habit” your health will greatly thank you for it in the end!

Quick Tips for Wellness: Organic is the only alternative to GMO food. Knowledge is power. Both are for your wellness.

LINK

Despite Prop. 37's Loss in Last Night's Election, the Fight for GMO Labeling Soldiers On

Proposition 37, the California initiative to label genetically modified food, was defeated last night with a 53% majority vote against the proposed labeling law.

But just because this battle was lost, those behind the Yes on 37 campaign say the war is far from over. The group is focusing on the 4.3 million Californians who voted yes on the proposition, as well as the fact that the campaign built a grassroots movement with more than 10,000 volunteers and more than $2 million raised online. All that momentum won't just go away. "There's a huge amount of energy to go forward and win this fight," says Stacy Malkan, Media Director for the pro-labeling group California Right to Know.

                            -SNIP-

Most of all, the proposition brought genetically modified foods and products into the national spotlight. I personally knew little about GM foods before I started writing about Prop 37, and since have had dozens of conversations with friends and others in the food community about the issue. The amount of media attention paid to the ballot measure in California, including think pieces from national food writers like Mark Bittman, Michael Pollan, and Marion Nestle, ensures that the GMO conversation will continue long after the memory of Prop. 37 fades.

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Non GMO Retailers and Verified Product Lists- Searchable

Hi gang-  Here are a couple of nifty links for you.  Happy and Healthy Shopping to all of you!

Find Retailers Here

Find Non-GMO Products Here