IN
THIS ISSUE:
• Special Feature: The Facts About Genetically Modified Food• What you can do •
Fact or Fiction? • Recipe • News from SHARAN •
• Special Feature: The Facts About Genetically Modified Food• What you can do •
Fact or Fiction? • Recipe • News from SHARAN •
Special
Feature: The Facts About Genetically Modified FoodWe often hear about genetically modified (GM) food and the issues surrounding it, which continue to be hotly debated. What do we need to know as consumers? Should we be concerned about genetically modified foods? Are they good or dangerous? How do genetically modified foods affect our health, the environment and animals?
A genetically modified food is one whose genetic make-up has been altered through genetic engineering. Through this technology, characteristics from one or several unrelated organisms are taken and combined to create a new organism. For example, strawberries have been inserted with genes from fish to make them resistant to frost. Other examples of genetically modified foods include: rape, corn, soya and sugar cane which resist certain herbicides (so that only weeds are killed and not the plant); sweet corn, cotton and potatoes which produce a poison harmful to insects; ‘golden rice’ which is rich in A vitamins; tomatoes, strawberries, pineapples, sweet peppers and bananas which stay fresh longer.
How can you know if you are eating genetically modified foods? You can’t tell by just looking at or tasting a tomato or strawberry to know if it has been genetically modified. Whether you’re eating GM foods may depend on where you live. In 2006, 97% of the world’s GM crops were produced in the United States (53%), Argentina (17%), Brazil (11%), Canada (6%), India (4%), China (3%), Paraguay (2%) and South Africa (1%). (Source)
In the European Union, Australia and Japan, the labelling of GM foods is compulsory. However, in the EU, the milk, eggs and meat produced from animals fed GM feed do not have to be labelled. Since most of the genetically-modified soy and corn crops grown are fed to animals, animal products are likely to contain GMOs.
Potential effects on health
Not enough is known about the safety of GM foods and it is difficult to predict their long-term effects on human health. GM plants which produce pesticides fatal to insects can also be potentially toxic to humans. Another potential effect on human health is an increase in allergic effects: if genes from plants which commonly cause allergies are included in other organisms, this can cause reactions in people prone to allergies. Also, many GM foods contain genes which make them resistant to antibiotics. As a result, this may lead to the development of ‘superbugs’ which cannot be controlled by antibiotics. Lab studies on animals have revealed negative effects on the health and well-being of animals (see below).
The tryptophan disaster is an example of the potentially fatal effects of genetically modified organisms. A genetically-altered version of Tryptophan, a food supplement, was produced in 1989 by Showa Denko, a Japanese company. This led to an outbreak in the US of a new disease, Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome (EMS). The toxic side effects resulted in the death of 37 people and permanent disability of 1500. (Source.)
For more information on health effects, see this link and this link.
Environmental effects
There are many environmental concerns related to the production of GM foods:
- Plants which have been
modified to be herbicide resistant can cross-breed with weeds, creating
‘superweeds’ resistant to herbicides.
- The tendency of insects to
develop resistance to pesticides can result in increased pesticide use.
- GM plants can interbreed
with neighbouring crops, creating new organisms unintentionally. In the US, traces of a type of maize which was
approved for feed use only appeared in maize products meant for human
consumption.
- GM plants may alter soil bacteria in ways which are harmful
to soil health and may lead to soil depletion.
- In Argentina, GM soya
production has caused environmental problems, including the spread of
herbicide-resistant weeds, soil depletion, and increased pests and diseases.
- The insecticides produced by GM crops can be toxic to water life and soil organisms.
Effects on animals
GM plants can have negative affects on the health and well-being of animals and other organisms. Studies have revealed that:
- Monarch butterfly caterpillars that ate milkweed plants dusted with
pollen from genetically-modified pesticide-producing corn did not survive.
- GM feed disturbs animal’s body functions. Farmers have reported that
animals fed GM feed suffer from ill effects.
- The potential development
of superbugs resistant to antibiotics can prove fatal to farm animals.
- Sheep fed
insecticide-producing GM maize over three generations revealed disturbances
in the functioning of the digestive system of ewes and in the liver and
pancreas of their lambs.
- Rabbits fed GM soya
experienced enzyme function disturbances in the kidney and heart.
- Laboratory studies designed to assess the long-term health effects of GM feed have shown harmful health effects on animals.
To find out more about GM, watch this video.
See also: WHO: 20 questions on GM foods
What you can do
Don’t buy GM foods
Find out which food companies use GM foods and boycott their products. See the Greenpeace India Safe Food Guide
Buy organic
The only way to ensure that your food is GM-free is to buy organic.
Avoid animal products
They are likely to contain GMOs as most of the GM soy and corn crops grown are fed to animals as feed.
Write to supermarkets and food companies
Tell them that you do not want to buy any foods made with GM ingredients. Ask them to stock / use only GM-free products. Ask them to label any products which include GM products.
For more information, see Say NO to GMOs
Fact
or Fiction?Organic meat is healthier and more humane.
FICTION!
Meat, whether it is organic or not, is high in cholesterol and saturated fat and devoid of fibre. The consumption of meat and other animal products has been proven to cause heart disease and cancer. See The China Study.
Organic meat is not more humane because there is no such thing as a humane slaughterhouse. All animals raised for human consumption are sent to the same slaughterhouses, whether they were raised organic, free-range or on factory farms.
Recipe
VEGAN CURD (YOGURT)
Ingredients:
Peanut milk
Rejeuvelac
For the peanut milk:
Wash and soak ½ cup of unroasted peanuts for 2 hours in water. This should yield about 3/4 - 1 cup soaked peanuts. Pour out the water and rinse. Remove the thin outer skin if desired (it is not mandatory). Put peanuts in a blender and blend till you get a smooth paste adding a little water only if necessary. The less water you add, the smoother the paste will be. Then add 3 cups water to the paste and bring to boil, allowing it to boil up 2 - 3 times. This will yield a fluid a little thicker than cow's milk. If you like a smoother milk and curd, sieve the mixture. Yield: 3 ½ cups of milk.
For the rejeuvelac:
Wash ½ cup of wheat berries (wheat grains that have not been milled) Soak them in a jar in 1 cup drinking water. Leave this jar open for 24 hours in a cupboard or keep it lightly covered. In case of very cold temperatures it could be left a little longer. Depending on the climate it should take between 1 – 5 days. You will know that it is ready by the color and taste. The water will turn a little yellowish or serum-colored and will have a sweet fermented smell. Pour this rejeuvelac into a glass. If desired, another cup of water may be added to the wheat berries to produce more rejeuvelac after another 24 hours. It can be drunk or used to make still more cheese. After 2 such uses the wheat berries are usually thrown away.
To make the curd:
Warm peanut milk to body temperature and stir in some rejeuvelac. (The amount depends on the temperature - the process is similar to making dairy curds.) Allow the curds to set for about 8 hours depending on the outside temperature without moving the container, and then refrigerate unless used immediately. In cold weather set in a warm place.
Tip: Save some of the peanut curd to use as a starter for the next batch (instead of rejeuvelac). This can be stored in the freezer.
For more exciting recipe ideas, visit the recipes page on the SHARAN website!
News from SHARAN
SHARAN
recently organised seminars on Reversing Diabetes in Mumbai and Bangalore
with Dr Neal Barnard of the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Over 70 participants attended the one-day seminar in Mumbai on 29th
November 2009. The Bangalore seminar ran over three days: December 4th, 5th and 6th and here the 25 participants also had the opportunity to attend cooking demonstrations by Dr Nandita Shah.
Participants learned how to reduce or eliminate their need for medications,
lose weight and improve cholesterol levels through simple, but powerful
changes to their daily diet. This program is based on breakthrough
research led by Neal D. Barnard and funded by the U.S. National Institute of Health which
shows that people with type 2 diabetes can improve dramatically. The
focus was on healthful foods, not medications.Many participants have called or written back to say that they have already cut down on their medications and experienced a lowering of their blood sugar levels. Others are completely off medications. And many more friends and relatives of participants have been inspired to change their diets due to the good results that they have seen. We are very happy to hear this news.
Dr Nandita Shah’s popular Peas vs Pills workshops teach participants how a healthy diet can prevent and cure common illnesses and even many lifestyle diseases. These take place regularly in Auroville, Mumbai and Bangalore.
Upcoming workshops:
Peas vs Pills in Auroville: 31 January, 14 February, 7 March
Mumbai: 14 March and 21 March - Workshop on Reversing Diabetes and Overcoming Obesity
Bangalore: 28th March - Workshop on Overcoming Obesity
For more information visit the events page on the SHARAN website. If you’re interested in hosting a workshop in your area or to keep informed of upcoming workshops and events, contact info@sharan-india.org
SHARAN holds weekly Vegan Cooking Classes in Auroville. Participants learn how to cook vegan meals with minimum or no oil and refined products and also learn about alternatives to dairy and animal products. We are hosting a cooking class by Taiwanese vegan cooks on the 26th of January at Aurolec Cafeteria.
For more information, see this page.
In addition to our cooking classes, SHARAN has released 2 new cooking DVDs to help people learn how to cook healthy vegan food. Healthy Kitchen Part 1 shows how you can easily make dairy alternatives at home (Cost: 100 Rs + postage). Healthy Kitchen Part 2 is a compilation of YouTube videos of vegan recipes or other recipes which can be easily veganised (Cost: 50 Rs + postage). To order, please contact nandita@sharan-india.org
Other news:
SHARAN has started selling vegan cheeses at the Auroville Saturday market. We have 5 different flavours of cheese and each time we have to make more and more since they just fly off our tables!
SHARAN is looking for volunteers who are interested in promoting a vegan lifestyle for the sake of people's health, the planet and animals. Can you help us in any way? Could you either help us financially to employ more staff or volunteer your own expertise? We need help with data management, graphic design and advertising, design of SHARAN t-shirts and aprons, filmmaking and photography, administration, event management and much more.
SHARAN is also looking for people who have done the Peas vs Pills workshop and who would like to train as cooking instructors for their cities.
Vegan potlucks are a great way to meet other vegans in your area and share experiences and recipes. For information on monthly vegan potlucks in Mumbai and Bangalore, visit this link.
Visit also the Vegan Bangalore and Mumbai Vegans blog.
Did you miss past issues of this newsletter? Have a look at the SHARAN newsletter archives.
Visit the SHARAN website regularly to read about the latest news and upcoming events.
Join the SHARAN India group on Facebook to
find out about upcoming events, join in the discussion board and share
experiences, and meet other like-minded people! 
What
is SHARAN?We are a non-profit organization with the goals of spreading holistic health awareness, and an ecologically sustainable compassionate lifestyle. We believe that all life on the planet is interconnected. By reconnecting we can heal ourselves and our earth.
Visit our website: www.sharan-india.org
Contact us: info@sharan-india.org
Copyright 2010 SHARAN