A Month Without Monsanto?

On March 1st, writer April Davila began an experiment -- to try to live without genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for the entire month. And it's all being documented on her blog -- A Month Without Monsanto.

Why would you read this? Maybe you're curious about what exactly you're putting into your body when you open up that box of mac and cheese or canned peas from the store. Maybe you're already well down the organics/local food/sustainability path.

Maybe, like me, you have a foot in both worlds. You want to be healthy (and think that food production shouldn't kill the environment in its wake) but you're also a little bit skeptical of the overly simplified anti-corporate take that often comes with this message. You think science and food are good partners so long as they're combined wisely.

It's a little too early to tell where Davila falls in this spectrum -- and whether we're going to get both the pros and cons of big agriculture, or just the cons.

But even within one day of starting her experiment, one thing is crystal clear already. It's shocking to realize just how pervasive GMOs are in our lives ... and how little of what we consume day to day is not genetically engineered.

Davila thought that her task would simply involve avoiding processed foods and non-organic produce. She quickly realized she would also have to worry about GMOs in the clothing she puts on her body, the bags she carries, and any and all products she puts on her skin. She had to go out and buy organic cotton t-shirts and hide her fuzzy slippers and bathrobe in the closet -- because as comfy as those slippers are, they're made from synthetic materials.

I'll leave you to judge whether this is really all bad. But at least see for yourself.

 

 

 

Comments

[Whatevah]

07:38 AM on 03/03/2010

It's already clear that this post is riddled with errors. The overwhelming amount of GM food grown in the world is grain (corn and soy) used as cattle feed. The rest is easily avoided.

Besides, we've grown, tested and eaten this stuff for 23 years. The evidence is clear - it is not harmful to anyone, and it is better for the environment.

[sabelmouse]

08:23 AM on 03/03/2010

how do you know that?

[jennywaggo]

01:58 PM on 03/03/2010

Seems like that isn't what "Month Without Monsanto" is about. The assumption about bad or good wasn't being made. Rather, the question was whether someone *could* avoid GMO products, and the answer seems to be "not easily". Read the original blog.

[Whatevah]

01:07 PM on 03/04/2010

Good question. Jennywaggo, I DID read the blog.

It is not about avoiding GMO foods. It is about avoiding everything that ever had any connection to Monsanto. This includes cotton clothing, fergawdsakes.

In addition, this blogger spends a lot of time (and words) worrying about issues that are just plain silly. Take your own advice: read the blog.

I could easily write about a similar effort to avoid nuclear power. Since the national power grid distributes electricity from where ever it can get it, I could make it appear that there is some Evil Corporate Conspiracy to force me to consume electrons from the ungawdly world of nukes.

Bunk, bunk, bunk. All this anti-GMO nonsense is for people who have weak minds.