Movie Popcorn and the Coconut Oil Scandal (and some GMO too)

Coconut Oil

In a time of so many food villains, coconut oil has undeservingly topped the charts again. While the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) does great work, they have a totally misplaced anti-coconut oil emphasis that I just can’t understand: Two ‘Thumbs Down’ for Movie Popcorn.  

Instead of bashing coconut oil they should, at a minimum, add some qualifiers to their bashing then bash the actual popcorn instead. Virgin, unprocessed coconut oil is an incredibly healthy fat source. It ramps up the metabolism and helps burn fat, not create it. It is high in omega 3 fatty acids, decreases inflammation and helps combat heart disease and cancer! It is anti-microbial and can kill viruses, bacteria and fungi.

To read about the great benefits of coconut oil, check out these links:

The Latest Studies on Coconut Oil

A New Look at Coconut Oil

Canola Oil

CSPI then goes on to give a gentle nod to canola oil, made from the rapeseed plant. This article gives a strong rebuttal to the CSPI recommendation: The Great Con-ola. In short, canola oil is a highly processed, toxic, health depleting oil. And…much of North American rapeseed is genetically modified, which opens a whole other Pandora’s Box. GMO Compass reports the following about Genetically Modified Rapeseed:

GM rapeseed has been grown in Canada since 1996. In 2007, GM rapeseed was grown on 5.1 million hectares, which made up approximately 87 percent of Canada's rapeseed crop. GM rapeseed is grown to a lesser degree in the US and in certain states in Australia.

All of the GM rapeseed grown throughout the world is herbicide resistant, which enables a more efficient and effective approach to weed control.

A quick note about GMO Compass. They are an organization that was partially funded by the European Union (EU) but the EU is not responsible for the content. The website is certainly worth more exploration: GMO COMPASS - Information on genetically modified organisms. The most amazing part of this site that I have found so far is the listing of plants that are undergoing GMO testing: http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/database/plants/. This database explains when and where the testing is occurring and the likelihood of use.

Corn

The USDA reports that 60 percent of corn is genetically modified in the U.S. : ERS/USDA Data - Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S. In addition to the concerns about it being genetically engineered, it can wreak havoc on an unhealthy person’s. Corn feeds the yeast that is overgrown in the body, causing increased toxins to be released, causing increased inflammation in the body, which can lead to cancer, heart disease, injured brain function, and so much more. Almost the entire American population suffers at the hands of inflammation causing foods such as grains, sugars, and dairy. The widespread amount if illness in this country clearly reflects that the American diet kills.

What’s the Problem with Genetically Modified Food (GMO)?

The Physicians and Scientists for Responsible Application of Science and Technology report many of the problems here: http://www.psrast.org/newsheadin.htm

Another problem that may be potentially linked to genetically modified food is Morgellon’s Disease. Those afflicted report crawling, itching biting feelings under their skin, with multi-colored fibers eventually extruding from skin sores. The fibers are not related to any human condition and are not killed by any parasitic medications. You can learn more here: http://www.morgellons.org/. The Centers for Disease Control has awarded funding to Kaiser Permanente to study the disease.

Dr. Vitaly Citovsky, a professor of biochemistry and cell biology at the State University of New York Sunnybrook linked Agrobacterium, found in genetically modified food, to the fibers of Morgellons sufferers. Dr. Citovsky discusses his work here: Morgellons Watch » Clarification from Vitaly Citovsky.

How is the U.S. Government responding? With an insurance rate reduction (regarding crop damage) for farmers who grow GMO: This link is to the Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education, a pro-GMO organization. http://fbae.org/2009/FBAE/website/news_08_08_fcic.html. Here is a link from a safe food advocacy organization, written when the pilot program to encourage GMO growth was established: Say 'bye' to BYE: Monsanto GM Corn to be subsidized by USDA ...

Insurance for injury and liability caused by GMO crops is not of heightened concern in the U.S. and is treated as any other liability issue. How are other governments responding to the insurance issue? Here is a 2003 report from the Australian government discussing how injury and liability were being addressed in other countries: Liability Issues Relating to the Unintended Presence of GM Crops ... This paragraph is especially relevant:

Currently, Austria and Germany appear to be the only major countries to have addressed liability issues relating to GMOs through specific legislation.  Both these countries impose strict liability for particular types of loss caused by GMOs.  Under Austrian law, in the event of an accident involving GMOs, the releasing company will be liable for any harm to health, property, or the environment, and must return the property to its “original” state.  Companies must also obtain liability insurance sufficient to meet their liabilities.    German law imposes liability for injury to property or human health “caused by characteristics of an organism created in a biotechnological process”.  German regulations place liability at the “manager” level of the installation, which is likely to expose GM farmers (as installation mangers) to liability exposure.  German law also makes liability insurance mandatory for GM operators.

South Africa is exploring its position on this issue.

Conclusion

Monsanto and other GMO producing firms pretty much rule North America when it comes to food. Unfortunately and tragically I believe the adverse health consequences of their products will grow.

What does that mean for your movie popcorn? Embrace virgin, unrefined coconut oil and avoid the actual popcorn and fake butter. Then you should be fine.

Comments

[Maria Droujkova]

Morgellon's sounded cool (no offense to sufferers) and I went to look it up. It's not clear if it's mental, though: http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=morgellons&hl=en&btnG=Search&as_sdt=2001&as_sdtp=on

[Hart]

Nice piece on GMO, canola and coconut. I was just trying to explain to a friend a few days back that coconut oil was good for him, but he wasn't buying it, largely because of this sort of junk science coming out of CSPI.