Microwaved, Irraditated and Genetically Modified Foods Microwaved Food Irradiated Food Genetically Modified Food Microwaved Food A reputed Swiss Scientist, Dr. Hertel, almost 10 years ago, did research on the effects of microwaving on cooking of food. In an experiment, people were fed food cooked conventionally and by using microwave ovens. Blood samples were taken before and after the consumption of these foods and were analysed. It became evident in the course of the study that microwaved food had a definite influence on the blood of the test persons -  The hemoglobin level (red blood cells) decreased significantly after consumption of microwaved food - The hematocrit (number of cellular particles in the total blood volume) increased after consumption of vegetables defrosted or cooked in microwaves. - The number of leucocytes (white blood cells) increased after consumption of all cooked foods - indicating a stress for the body- -but the increase was maximum for microwaved food. - There was a significant change in lipoproteins (HDL cholestrol) after consumption of microwaved foods. These changes in the blood composition are similar to those found in patients having cancer!! Why does this happen? The process of microwaving sends microwaves into the food molecules that vibrate at millions of times per second. This is un-natural in nature, and it causes the molecules to get heated up - which is how the microwave heats up food. However this high level of vibration can cause structural  damage to the food molecules. This does not mean that eating one microwaved meal will give you cancer, but only that such food puts a strain on your body and if there is prolonged consumption of microwaved food, there is a risk. Involved. My opinion is, why take a chance? The reaction to this study is interesting. The Swiss Assocaitons of Dealers for ElectroApparatuses for Household and Industry appealed to the Courts that this statement was creating unfair competition. Their complaint was upheld and Dr. Hertel was prohibited from Publishing his views under pain of punishment and fines. He was thus censored from speaking his views. He appealed to the European commission for human rights, stating that this was a violation of his rights to Freedom of Speech. After 10 long years, he won the case. Details are available on www.wffns.org. The question is, if Dr. Hertel was indeed talking nonsense, why not just prove him wrong? Why gag him? So what should you do? You decide. Another issue is the leakage of microwave radiation. Since the doors are opened and shut frequently, often gaps develop betwen the door and the oven even when closed. This can result in leakage of microwaves which are potentially harmful to humans. You should then get a radiation tester to check if you oven is emitting this radiation or if it is safe. My opinion  is, why go through all the trouble? Stay away from the microwave! Irradiated food What food irradiation? It is a process where food is exposed to high levels of radiation in order to kill bacteria and extend shelf  life. And what are high levels? For most meat, the intention is 300,000 RADS which is the equivalent of 3 million chest X-rays. Why irradiate food in the first place? Whose bright idea was it? Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that nuclear plants, throughout the world, have failed in their so-called primary objective of providing cheap, and safe electric power. Making bombs is no more in fashion, so what would they do? Shut the facility down, and lose their jobs? Anxious to find SOMETHING to do with their nuclear radiation that would justify their continued existence, they came up with the idea of bombarding food with nuclear radiation, ostensibly to extend it shelf life. It will not spoil easily. And that is true. An irradiated potato will last far longer than a normal one? But why? That's because the bacteria, that are responsible for decomposition of food  that is no longer fit for human consumption, find that the irradiated potato is poisonous to them and they leave it alone. So it does not spoil. But at what cost? When food is irradiated the radiation breaks up the molecular structure of the food and creates  a whole new set of  chemicals known as "unique radiolytic products" (URPs).  These URPs include benzene,   formaldehyde and a host of   known mutagens and carcinogens. Irradiation kills vitamins, friendly bacteria and enzymes, effectively rendering the food "dead" and therefore useless to your body. Irradiation does severe damage to vitamins A, C, D, E, and K. B vitamins (particularly B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12) are affected to at least some extent.   In addition,  some of the friendly bacteria that is killed  produces odors indicating spoilage and some friendly bacteria naturally control the growth of harmful bacteria. The long term effects of consumption of such food are not known. Short term studies were done with irradiated wheat on mice animals and undernourished children in India,  and among other things, blood tests showed chromosomal damage to the children after 6 weeks. http://www.ccnr.org/food_irradiation.html Short term tests were done on dogs using irradiated beef;  the dogs ended up with enlarged spleens and swollen lymph nodes. Other studies,  including those done under contract for the U.S. Government indicate the  possibility of immunotoxicity,  kidney disease,   cardiac thrombus,  testicular damage and fibroplasia. The Indian government however is quietly approving the sale of irradiated vegetables on the prodding of the Indian nuclear establishment, which is incidentally a huge white elephant, accountable to no one including parliament, and un-sucessful in producing even 1 MW of power for a sustainable period in the last thirty or more years of its existence. Difficult times demand desperate measures. As recently as March 2001, The atomic energy department is trying its best to 'sell' a technology of questionable public value  irradiation for preservation of food. Early this week, BARC scientists donned unfamiliar garb  as consumer educators. At the Mumbai Press Club they attempted to garner support for irradiated foods from the press in a time-tested manner. Journalists were treated to 'upma' and other fare which had been treated with/made from irradiated ingredients. Top scientists of the BARC, who are known for keeping their distance from the press, undertook this gastronomic enterprise in what is evidently a desperate attempt to swing public opinion on irradiated foods. A plant to irradiate potatoes has come up in Talegaon, Maharastra. I don't know if there are any labelling requirements so that customers in India can recognize Irradiated food  I think not. You don't know if the potato you are eating has been inside a nuclear plant Let us be alert and not allow irradiated food to be sold..without being labelled as such. One of the reasons why India could have allowed food irradiation is that the US FDA, a supposedly much more stringent body, has allowed it. However, the inside story. The FDA reviewed over 2000 studies of food irradiation, and they found only 441 of these of sufficient standard to justify further review. Of these 441 they found only five were "properly conducted, fully adequate by 1980 toxicological standards, and able to stand alone in support of safety." The fact that the FDA selected only 5 studies out of several hundred is problematic. Concerns about this small number of studies range from the potential bias in the selection of the studies to the use of too few studies to be representative. Despite using only five studies, the FDA approved the use of irradiation of food. These five studies have subsequently been strongly criticized as being seriously flawed in their methodologies and interpretation of data. (www.ccnr.org/food irradiation.html#2) Genetically Modified (GM) food The term GM foods or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. But the million dollar question is, did corporate scientists, in their quest for higher profits and greater control of our food supply, combine the genetic material of a very different species (like a fish, bacteria, insect, or animal) into the DNA of that innocent-looking tomato? Did they do this even though no human testing has been done on the resulting food, and they acknowledge that they only know what 1% of DNA does - let alone how the whole inter-related system works together? This is what genetically modified (GM) food is all about  Man trying to play God. It's a dangerous game, because we don't know what we are doing. Introducing genes from one species into another could create mutations with long term effects nobody really knows about. In one study, monarch butterflies fed with GM food developed problems. You can wish this away, but the fact remains that no one can clearly state that GM food is 100% safe in both the short and long term. One of the problems is that it hard to tell, isn't it, looking at that otherwise healthy-looking fruit or vegetable, whether it has been produced normally or has been interfered with. So the only way out is labelling i.e thre should be strict regulations that if a food has been genetically modified, then it should be labelled as such. And then customers will be informed and can make a choice whether or not they want to buy and consume such food. If this happens, there would be not much issues. Everyone has the right to buy and eat what they want. But the problems is, corporations have been fighting against such labeling with all their considerable might. They don't want to be forced to label GM food as such. Because if it is labelled, they are afraid no one will buy it. So they don't want any labelling, so customers cannot distinguish between normal and GM food, and hence will end up buying GM food without knowing. So much for the 'customer friendliness" and "customer is king" slogans. They want to hide vital information from the customer so he can be fooled into buying products which he would not have otherwise bought if it was labelled. Their argument is, that since there is no safety risk in GM foods, it is unfair to have it labelled in a way that distinguishes it from other foods, and thus discourage its purchase. So finally that's what it's all about  they want to sell their stuff. I for one would not like to buy GM foods and at least be sure that what I am buying is not GM. And since I am buying with my own money, surely I have the right to know what I am buying.. Luckily in November 2000, Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar said Genetically modified seeds and food would not be allowed into India till their safety is scientifically proved. Lets hope the government sticks to its guns The Supreme Court in India has upheld a ban on testing genetically modified crops. Activists in India have set fire to fields of crops suspected of being used for testing. India has joined the European Union in criticising GM food, charging that it poses serious environmental and health hazards, The population of the USA, where up to 60% of processed foods have genetically modified ingredients, seem, as yet, unconcerned. However, In January 2000, an international trade agreement for labeling GM foods was established 44, 45. More than 130 countries, including the US, the world's largest producer of GM foods, signed the agreement. The policy states that exporters must be required to label all GM foods and that importing countries have the right to judge for themselves the potential risks and reject GM foods, if they so choose. Interested to learn more, check out the links below and in the links section alongside Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods Health Risks of GM food .

RESOURCES Articles and Links More on Food Irradiation Approvals of Irradiated food Food Irradiation in India Short FAQ on Food Radiation More Detailed FAQ Recent article on GM foods with lots of useful links Another Good resource on GM foods Comprehensive article on Genetic Engineering itself - The Unholy Alliance Professional Practitioners Click to meet professionally qualified Natural Hygienist Doctors Organisations Not-for-profit organisations spreading the word of natural hygiene. Study Courses Formal courses where you can learn more about Natural Hygiene Products and Services A link to our Products and Services section

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RESOURCES Articles and Links More on Food Irradiation Approvals of Irradiated food Food Irradiation in India Short FAQ on Food Radiation More Detailed FAQ Recent article on GM foods with lots of useful links Another Good resource on GM foods Comprehensive article on Genetic Engineering itself - The Unholy Alliance Professional Practitioners Click to meet professionally qualified Natural Hygienist Doctors Organisations Not-for-profit organisations spreading the word of natural hygiene. Study Courses Formal courses where you can learn more about Natural Hygiene Products and Services A link to our Products and Services section

Microwaved, Irraditated and Genetically Modified Foods Microwaved Food Irradiated Food Genetically Modified Food Microwaved Food A reputed Swiss Scientist, Dr. Hertel, almost 10 years ago, did research on the effects of microwaving on cooking of food. In an experiment, people were fed food cooked conventionally and by using microwave ovens. Blood samples were taken before and after the consumption of these foods and were analysed. It became evident in the course of the study that microwaved food had a definite influence on the blood of the test persons -  The hemoglobin level (red blood cells) decreased significantly after consumption of microwaved food - The hematocrit (number of cellular particles in the total blood volume) increased after consumption of vegetables defrosted or cooked in microwaves. - The number of leucocytes (white blood cells) increased after consumption of all cooked foods - indicating a stress for the body- -but the increase was maximum for microwaved food. - There was a significant change in lipoproteins (HDL cholestrol) after consumption of microwaved foods. These changes in the blood composition are similar to those found in patients having cancer!! Why does this happen? The process of microwaving sends microwaves into the food molecules that vibrate at millions of times per second. This is un-natural in nature, and it causes the molecules to get heated up - which is how the microwave heats up food. However this high level of vibration can cause structural  damage to the food molecules. This does not mean that eating one microwaved meal will give you cancer, but only that such food puts a strain on your body and if there is prolonged consumption of microwaved food, there is a risk. Involved. My opinion is, why take a chance? The reaction to this study is interesting. The Swiss Assocaitons of Dealers for ElectroApparatuses for Household and Industry appealed to the Courts that this statement was creating unfair competition. Their complaint was upheld and Dr. Hertel was prohibited from Publishing his views under pain of punishment and fines. He was thus censored from speaking his views. He appealed to the European commission for human rights, stating that this was a violation of his rights to Freedom of Speech. After 10 long years, he won the case. Details are available on www.wffns.org. The question is, if Dr. Hertel was indeed talking nonsense, why not just prove him wrong? Why gag him? So what should you do? You decide. Another issue is the leakage of microwave radiation. Since the doors are opened and shut frequently, often gaps develop betwen the door and the oven even when closed. This can result in leakage of microwaves which are potentially harmful to humans. You should then get a radiation tester to check if you oven is emitting this radiation or if it is safe. My opinion  is, why go through all the trouble? Stay away from the microwave! Irradiated food What food irradiation? It is a process where food is exposed to high levels of radiation in order to kill bacteria and extend shelf  life. And what are high levels? For most meat, the intention is 300,000 RADS which is the equivalent of 3 million chest X-rays. Why irradiate food in the first place? Whose bright idea was it? Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that nuclear plants, throughout the world, have failed in their so-called primary objective of providing cheap, and safe electric power. Making bombs is no more in fashion, so what would they do? Shut the facility down, and lose their jobs? Anxious to find SOMETHING to do with their nuclear radiation that would justify their continued existence, they came up with the idea of bombarding food with nuclear radiation, ostensibly to extend it shelf life. It will not spoil easily. And that is true. An irradiated potato will last far longer than a normal one? But why? That's because the bacteria, that are responsible for decomposition of food  that is no longer fit for human consumption, find that the irradiated potato is poisonous to them and they leave it alone. So it does not spoil. But at what cost? When food is irradiated the radiation breaks up the molecular structure of the food and creates  a whole new set of  chemicals known as "unique radiolytic products" (URPs).  These URPs include benzene,   formaldehyde and a host of   known mutagens and carcinogens. Irradiation kills vitamins, friendly bacteria and enzymes, effectively rendering the food "dead" and therefore useless to your body. Irradiation does severe damage to vitamins A, C, D, E, and K. B vitamins (particularly B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12) are affected to at least some extent.   In addition,  some of the friendly bacteria that is killed  produces odors indicating spoilage and some friendly bacteria naturally control the growth of harmful bacteria. The long term effects of consumption of such food are not known. Short term studies were done with irradiated wheat on mice animals and undernourished children in India,  and among other things, blood tests showed chromosomal damage to the children after 6 weeks. http://www.ccnr.org/food_irradiation.html Short term tests were done on dogs using irradiated beef;  the dogs ended up with enlarged spleens and swollen lymph nodes. Other studies,  including those done under contract for the U.S. Government indicate the  possibility of immunotoxicity,  kidney disease,   cardiac thrombus,  testicular damage and fibroplasia. The Indian government however is quietly approving the sale of irradiated vegetables on the prodding of the Indian nuclear establishment, which is incidentally a huge white elephant, accountable to no one including parliament, and un-sucessful in producing even 1 MW of power for a sustainable period in the last thirty or more years of its existence. Difficult times demand desperate measures. As recently as March 2001, The atomic energy department is trying its best to 'sell' a technology of questionable public value  irradiation for preservation of food. Early this week, BARC scientists donned unfamiliar garb  as consumer educators. At the Mumbai Press Club they attempted to garner support for irradiated foods from the press in a time-tested manner. Journalists were treated to 'upma' and other fare which had been treated with/made from irradiated ingredients. Top scientists of the BARC, who are known for keeping their distance from the press, undertook this gastronomic enterprise in what is evidently a desperate attempt to swing public opinion on irradiated foods. A plant to irradiate potatoes has come up in Talegaon, Maharastra. I don't know if there are any labelling requirements so that customers in India can recognize Irradiated food  I think not. You don't know if the potato you are eating has been inside a nuclear plant Let us be alert and not allow irradiated food to be sold..without being labelled as such. One of the reasons why India could have allowed food irradiation is that the US FDA, a supposedly much more stringent body, has allowed it. However, the inside story. The FDA reviewed over 2000 studies of food irradiation, and they found only 441 of these of sufficient standard to justify further review. Of these 441 they found only five were "properly conducted, fully adequate by 1980 toxicological standards, and able to stand alone in support of safety." The fact that the FDA selected only 5 studies out of several hundred is problematic. Concerns about this small number of studies range from the potential bias in the selection of the studies to the use of too few studies to be representative. Despite using only five studies, the FDA approved the use of irradiation of food. These five studies have subsequently been strongly criticized as being seriously flawed in their methodologies and interpretation of data. (www.ccnr.org/food irradiation.html#2) Genetically Modified (GM) food The term GM foods or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. But the million dollar question is, did corporate scientists, in their quest for higher profits and greater control of our food supply, combine the genetic material of a very different species (like a fish, bacteria, insect, or animal) into the DNA of that innocent-looking tomato? Did they do this even though no human testing has been done on the resulting food, and they acknowledge that they only know what 1% of DNA does - let alone how the whole inter-related system works together? This is what genetically modified (GM) food is all about  Man trying to play God. It's a dangerous game, because we don't know what we are doing. Introducing genes from one species into another could create mutations with long term effects nobody really knows about. In one study, monarch butterflies fed with GM food developed problems. You can wish this away, but the fact remains that no one can clearly state that GM food is 100% safe in both the short and long term. One of the problems is that it hard to tell, isn't it, looking at that otherwise healthy-looking fruit or vegetable, whether it has been produced normally or has been interfered with. So the only way out is labelling i.e thre should be strict regulations that if a food has been genetically modified, then it should be labelled as such. And then customers will be informed and can make a choice whether or not they want to buy and consume such food. If this happens, there would be not much issues. Everyone has the right to buy and eat what they want. But the problems is, corporations have been fighting against such labeling with all their considerable might. They don't want to be forced to label GM food as such. Because if it is labelled, they are afraid no one will buy it. So they don't want any labelling, so customers cannot distinguish between normal and GM food, and hence will end up buying GM food without knowing. So much for the 'customer friendliness" and "customer is king" slogans. They want to hide vital information from the customer so he can be fooled into buying products which he would not have otherwise bought if it was labelled. Their argument is, that since there is no safety risk in GM foods, it is unfair to have it labelled in a way that distinguishes it from other foods, and thus discourage its purchase. So finally that's what it's all about  they want to sell their stuff. I for one would not like to buy GM foods and at least be sure that what I am buying is not GM. And since I am buying with my own money, surely I have the right to know what I am buying.. Luckily in November 2000, Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar said Genetically modified seeds and food would not be allowed into India till their safety is scientifically proved. Lets hope the government sticks to its guns The Supreme Court in India has upheld a ban on testing genetically modified crops. Activists in India have set fire to fields of crops suspected of being used for testing. India has joined the European Union in criticising GM food, charging that it poses serious environmental and health hazards, The population of the USA, where up to 60% of processed foods have genetically modified ingredients, seem, as yet, unconcerned. However, In January 2000, an international trade agreement for labeling GM foods was established 44, 45. More than 130 countries, including the US, the world's largest producer of GM foods, signed the agreement. The policy states that exporters must be required to label all GM foods and that importing countries have the right to judge for themselves the potential risks and reject GM foods, if they so choose. Interested to learn more, check out the links below and in the links section alongside Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods Health Risks of GM food .