Breakfast cereals have been a staple of children’s morning
nutrition for decades and some brands have been around for so long they carry a
sort of “halo” and because of this halo effect are assumed to be “good for
you.”
California's Proposition 37, which would have required
genetically engineered (GE) foods to be labeled as such and prevented GE foods
from being mislabeled as "natural," was defeated back in November due
to massive donations from multinational corporations that hide GE ingredients
behind natural labels and "wholesome" advertising.
One such company was General Mills, the maker of Cheerios.
General Mills donated more than $1.1 million to the 'No on
Prop. 37' campaign to defeat the GE labeling law recently got a taste of the
backlash from their support for the legislation. Just one day after General Mills’ Cheerios brand released a
Facebook app allowing “fans” to “show what Cheerios mean to them,” the app was
abruptly pulled due to thousands of angry consumers using it to create anti-GMO
(genetically modified organisms) statements and lashing out against the
company’s apparent hypocrisy.
Two of the first three ingredients in Cheerios and Honey Nut
Cheerios are cornstarch and sugar—two ingredients that might be genetically
engineered (a majority of corn-based ingredients and sugar from sugar beets on
the US market is now GE). The fact
that General Mills would rather pay millions to hide that their products
contain GE ingredients rather than give you the choice to buy something else,
or reformulate their product without GE ingredients is quite telling. [1]
All that said, it’s unlikely eating Cheerios on a regular
basis will have any detrimental effects on your health especially in the short
term but as the use of GE ingredients becomes more prevalent we should be aware
that GE’s are very likely present in many of the foods we have consumed for
years.
So what’s the big deal about GE food anyway? Isn’t it just a more efficient way to
provide food to more people for less money?
Consider the following:
A two-year long French feeding study designed to evaluate
the long-term health effects of a genetically engineered corn found that rats
fed Monsanto’s maize developed massive breast tumors, kidney and liver damage,
and other serious health problems. The major onslaught of diseases set in
during the 13th month.
Female rats that ate genetically engineered corn died 2-3
times more than controls, and more rapidly, while the male GE-fed rats had
tumors that occurred up to a year-and-a-half earlier than rats not fed GE corn.
According to results from a 10-year long feeding study on
rats, mice, pigs and salmon, genetically engineered feed causes obesity, along
with significant changes in the digestive system and major organs, which
include the liver, kidneys, pancreas, genitals and more.
The EPA admits there’s “mounting evidence” that Monsanto’s
insecticide-fighting YieldGard corn is losing its effectiveness in the Midwest.
Last year, rootworms resistant to the toxin in the genetically designed corn
infested fields in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Nebraska.
Genetically engineered foods are responsible for development
of resistant weeds and pests; increased pathogenic virulence; degradation of
soil quality; reduced nutrient content in food; exponential rise in infertility
and birth defects; and reduced crop yields, and more. [2]
I know we aren’t rats but the question that has to be asked
given the evidence is it this stuff worth eating when you have better options?
Before I get into the better options some thing else that
should be noted in regard to breakfast cereals.
All but a few brands of breakfast cereal–even so-called
organic health food cereal–are produced by a process called extrusion that
subjects the grains to very high temperatures (Grape Nuts is one exception – it
is not extruded but baked).
Analysis of the grains after extrusion indicates that the industrial
process breaks up the carefully organized proteins they contain, creating
neurotoxic (damaging to nerves) protein fragments. Since organic whole grains are higher in protein, it is very
likely that extruded health food cereals contain higher levels of these toxic
protein fragments than refined grains that are lower in protein. [3]
One of the cereal makers with the aforementioned “halo” is
Kashi. I contacted Kashi to ask what varieties of their cereals were
extruded. The list included the
bulk of their offerings except for the Autumn Wheat variety. I should also note that like General
Mills, Kashi also supported the defeat of the anti-GE legislation.
Last year, a report from the Cornucopia Institute titled
Cereal Crimes exposed how most "natural" brands are actually just
charging you more for what often amounts to genetically engineered ingredients.
This is in all likelihood part of the reason why so many "natural"
brands spent millions of dollars to defeat California's GMO labeling campaign.
According to the report:
"[There is a]
vast differences between organic cereal and granola products and so-called
natural products, which contain ingredients grown on conventional farms where
the use of toxic pesticides and genetically engineered organisms is
widespread... Our analysis reveals that "natural" products — using
conventional ingredients — often are priced higher than equivalent organic
products. This suggests that some companies are taking advantage of consumer
confusion."
This is significant, because surveys have shown that more
consumers pay attention to the "100% Natural" claim than the
"100% Organic" label. In one such survey, 31 percent of respondents
said the "100% Natural" label was the most desirable eco-friendly
product claim, compared to just 14 percent who chose "100% Organic."
Food companies clearly know this, and they're cashing in on your confusion. The
truth is, synthetic ingredients and additives, toxic pesticides, fumigants and
solvents frequently show up in products bearing the "natural" label,
while these are strictly prohibited in organic production. But the most
disturbing finding presented in the Cereal Crimes report related to the
presence of genetically engineered ingredients found in so-called all-natural
foods:
"The Cornucopia
Institute sent samples of breakfast cereal to an accredited and highly
reputable GMO testing laboratory. Samples were tested for the exact percentage
of genetically engineered corn or soybeans, using the most sophisticated and
accurate tests commercially available.
The results were
stunning. Several breakfast cereal manufacturers that market their foods as
"natural," even some that claim to avoid genetically engineered
ingredients and are enrolled in the Non-GMO Project, contained high levels of
genetically engineered ingredients." [4]
Remember: "Natural" Label Does NOT Prohibit
Genetically Modified Ingredients.
The USDA certified organic label is your best guarantee that
the food was produced without:
Toxic pesticides
Genetically engineered (GE) ingredients
Carcinogenic fumigants
Chemical solvents
This peace of mind is something the "100% Natural"
label will NOT give you. Genetically engineered (GE) ingredients are of
particular concern when it comes to food products like breakfast cereals and
granola bars, because, in the US, the vast majority of the most common
ingredients in these products — corn, soy, and canola — are genetically
modified.
In Lieu of GMO Labeling, 100% Organic is Your Only Assurance
Once you realize that much of the "natural" claims
are hype, it becomes easier to navigate around the deception. To find brands
that are committed to sustainable organic agriculture and avoiding genetically
engineered ingredients use Cornucopia's Cereal Scorecard.
Another factor to consider is the fact that many small
family farms actually adhere to fully organic practices even though they may
not have gone through the expense of obtaining organic certification. So labels
aren't everything when it comes to healthful food. But if you're going to shop
by the label, make sure it's the certified 100% organic label. Until or unless we get GMO labeling in
the US, the 100% USDA Certified Organic label is the only assurance you have
that the food you buy does NOT contain genetically engineered ingredients.
Better Options
To find the highest quality cereal options checkout the
Cereal Scorecard below. While you
may find many cereals that are not made with GE ingredients a vast majority
will still be extruded. I would
encourage you to read Is Breakfast Cereal
Toxic below for more information.
The best option is to make your own cereal using whole grains. An example is good old-fashioned
slow-cooking oatmeal. And despite what the name implies it doesn’t have to take
a long time to prepare. Before you
go to bed simply soak a serving of oats in a glass container (I pour boiling
water over it submerge it). Come
morning simply empty the container into a pot and heat it up to the desired
consistency. I know oatmeal can be
a tad boring for you and your family but I have become quite skilled over the
years with “spicing it up.”
Try these options:
Dark chocolate
Cocoa Powder
Almond/Peanut Butter
Mashed Pumpkin
Nuts
Molasses and Ginger (tastes like gingerbread cookies)
Cinnamon
Apple Sauce
Berries
Bananas
Stevia or Maple Syrup to taste
For added protein and a dose of energy sustaining fats I
will beat an egg and add it directly to the oats. I will cook this for a few minutes while stirring and then
add the other ingredients after it’s cooked. Mix and match, you’ll be amazed at the varieties you will
come up with.
Additional Resources:
Cereal Scorecard
Is Breakfast Cereal Toxic?
Reference:
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