Video- an easy listen and interesting, not overly technical

Jeffrey Smith’s website www.seedsofdeception.com also gives you a more in-depth overview of GMO laced products

Unfortunately GMO food does not confine itself ONLY to the USA, even though the foods may be genetically engineered (and patented) there; so unfortunately it affects most of us. Parts of Europe has banns on GMO foods?, but Australians have no way of knowing. It is not labelled.
Africans have protested about their food aid being GMO seeds, which may unknowingly contaminate their own seed store for food., and future survival(the seeds may not be fertile over generations, and patents may be extracted etc.) and longer term full health effects are not known.

The early part of this video talks about the tryptophan scare that occurred in 1989 in the US. Symptoms included raised eosinophil count(white blood cells), and many symptoms of pain in muscles,memory loss, muscle weakness, hair falling out, tightened even locked muscles, leathery skin,breathing difficulties, even death.
From what I could work out before listening to this video,the l-tryptophan food supplement was found to be from only one company, Showa Denko, sold in the US, and thought to have some contamination due to the process this company used, which noone else used and is not done any more. That's all I had heard previously.

This video mentions Showa Denko was genetically modifying the bacteria used in producing the l-tryptophan from Dec 24th 1988 (strain 5) that was the cause of the symptoms , including death.
Previous genetically engineered strains also had previously documented symptoms.. just not to the same extent. So he believes it was the genetic modification of the strain of bacteria that caused the deaths and symptoms.

The FDA, 1990 had been told about these cases and the genetic modification, but kept silent...

worth a listen

Video then goes on suggesting many of the present day problems may be linked to GMO foods, which most of us have no way of knowing if we are eating or not. I know Soy and corn (maize) from the US should be avoided, and soy flour is even in most bread these days. I'm not sure of other seeds? There's cotton-seed oil and canola (rapeseed)oil too.

Genetic modification
Genetically modified canola which is resistant to herbicide was first introduced to Canada in 1995. Today 80% of acres sown to canola are sown with genetically modified canola.[13]

Introduction of the genetically modified crop to Australia generated considerable controversy.[14] Canola is Australia's third biggest crop, and is often used by wheat farmers as a break crop to improve soil quality. As at 2003 the only genetically modified crops in Australia were non-food crops: carnations and cotton. In 2003, Australia's gene technology regulator approved the release of canola altered to make it resistant to the herbicide Glufosinate ammonium.[15]

Australia now has GM canola and genetic mods may spread to other farms, even different types of foods, at the very least noone can prove it will not and it is feasible ,. We should have made australia the uncontaminated country for a marketing advantage instead of following what the Us wants us to do.. if the US rules it is not allowing free trade, then stuff.. yes as an Australian I am/was prepared to wear any consequences of a stand against the US on this.
Europe still seems to have some sense, or maybe it just doesn't follow what the US wants as readily..
posted from Australia, "the 52nd US state". I heard someone in the US point out to Howard that Australia was its own sovereign nation ....sigh, too easy to go over his head ( I know I should retract this comment, as it really doesn't do me any credit.. just its something I do feel strongly about, and it would have been sooo easy not to follow the US( countries have been to war for far less), and so beneficial for us, and NOT-beneficial to the US as far as marketability of our crops/anaimals etc goes forever into the fiuture, not to mention immediate and future profitability to the US for seeds)

 ( also Does Donating GMO Crops to End Hunger Make Any Sense?.  My cautious side wonders whether  a mutation of the GM seed might cross with normal seed rendering them infertile or making the normal seed display undesired properties like needing more pesticides, or even just not having the wholesome natural goodness needed.. e.g. recall the l-tryptophan contamination in 1989? etc.. any such thoughts are dismissed though as my stupidity in not understanding genetic engineering. I have similar concerns on bacteria inside an animals guts that eats GM foods, or even on further up the food chain  that eat the animals fed GM foods)

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ECONOMIC PROBLEMS WITH GE (Jeffrey Smith)
Genetically Modified Catastrophe
HEALTH PROBLEMS WITH GE (Jeffrey Smith)
Genetically Modified Foods Present Unprecedented Health Dangers
HEALTH PROBLEMS WITH GE (Dr Judy Carman)
Is GM Safe to Eat?
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS WITH GE http://www.btinternet.com/~nlpWESSEX/Documents/enivironmentalproblems.htm
PESTICIDE PROBLEMS WITH GE http://www.btinternet.com/~nlpWESSEX/Documents/pesticideproblems.htm
LEGAL PROBLEMS WITH GE
http://www.btinternet.com/~nlpWESSEX/Documents/liabilityproblems.htm
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http://www.gefreeaustralia.org/

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Update received on 22 Nov 2207

ORGANIC INDUSTRY AT RISK;
VICTORIA & NSW POISED TO RELEASE GE CANOLA
AN APPEAL FOR CONCERNS TO BE VOICED TO STATE GOVERNMENTS
Dear Organic Advantage subscriber,

Once again the organic industry is faced with the daunting task of protecting the integrity of its industry from the introduction and contamination of GE canola crops. At this present there is a distinct possibility that Victoria and NSW states may relax the present moratorium.

This would immediately put at risk of contamination both organic and non-GE conventional grain producers and processors. Increased costs for the organic sector as a result of this contamination would include testing, segregation, clean down of equipment etc.

Late pressure on both state governments, including from many backbenchers, appears to be having an affect. We ask if you would please call and email the Premier and Agriculture Minister in each state to voice your concerns for the organic sector and Australian markets in general.

The contact details are:
Premier of Victoria John Brumby
Tel 03 9651 5000, Email: john.brumby@parliament.vic.gov.au

Agriculture Minister of Victoria Joe Helper
Tel 03 9658 4670, Email: joe.helper@parliament.vic.gov.au

Premier of NSW Morris Iemma
Tel (02) 9228 5239, Email: thepremier@www.nsw.gov.au

Agriculture Minister of NSW Ian McDonald
Tel (02) 9228 3344, Email: macdonald.office@macdonald.minister.nsw.gov.au

Please also read the press release below from GE FREE AUSTRALIA.

GE FREE AUSTRALIA, PRESS RELEASE, 22 NOV 07

Coles joins food industry in speaking out against GE Food Crops

Supermarket giant Coles has joined industry leaders in speaking out against genetically engineered (GE) food, as the Victorian Government looks set to announce the lifting of their ban on the commercial growing of GE food crops.

When asked what Coles' position was, at a Parliamentary forum on Tuesday, Coles representative Chris Mara stated that, "Coles listens to our customers and over 90% do not want GM ingredients in their food and Coles whole private label range of
'Smart Buy', 'You'll Love Coles' and 'Coles Finest' exclude all GM ingredients in response to customer concerns."

Coles statements come hot on the heels of Goodman Fielder, Australia's largest food company, Tatiara Meats, Australia