Gerber Lil’ Crunchies Veggie Dip Toddler Snack Full of Insecticidal GMO
BACKGROUND
Babies are more vulnerable than adults because of their growing and still developing bodies. Babies consume more food per pound of body weight than adults, which exposes their tiny bodies to relatively higher levels of food borne toxins. In November 2012, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a policy statement recommending that children’s exposure to pesticides be reduced. The AAP policy states:
“Children encounter pesticides daily and have unique susceptibilities to their potential toxicity. Epidemiologic evidence demonstrates associations between early life exposure to pesticides and pediatric cancers, decreased cognitive function, and behavioral problems.” (1)
In 2015, a statement signed by over 300 industry-independent scientific researchers and scholars, titled “No scientific consensus on GMO safety”, was published in the peer reviewed journal Environmental Sciences Europe. These researchers found that there are as many research groups still raising serious concerns about the safety of a number of varieties of GM products (mainly corn and soybeans) as there are groups that cite GM crops as safe and nutritious as the respective conventional non-GM plant. The review also found that most studies concluding that GM foods were as safe and nutritious as those obtained by conventional breeding were ‘performed by biotechnology companies or associates, which are also responsible for commercializing these GM plants’. (2)
We think parents are entitled to know if they are feeding their children GMOs and pesticides so we sent Gerber Lil’ Crunchies Veggie Dip toddler snack for testing.
TEST RESULTS: GMO
We sent a package of Gerber Graduates Lil’ Crunchies Veggie Dip Baked Whole Grain Corn Snack to a certified lab to test for the presence of GMO material. The quantitative PCR test verified, by DNA analysis, that 100% of the corn in the Lil’ Crunchies Veggie Dip was GMO. All of the corn has been genetically engineered to be herbicide tolerant (Roundup Ready) and the corn contained DNA sequences known to be present in Bt insecticide-producing GMO corn.
Herbicide tolerant GMO corn has been linked, in industry-independent peer reviewed studies, to kidney and liver damage in laboratory animals. (3)(4)
Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) corn produces insecticidal toxins from inside every cell of the plant that can’t be washed off. The corn is registered with and regulated by the EPA. The FDA, EPA, and USDA allowed the insecticidal GMO corn discovered in Lil’ Crunchies Veggie Dip to be commercialized without ever conducting human safety tests.
An in-vitro study found that the insecticides in this corn may be toxic to human cells (5). Feeding studies conducted on mammals found adverse effects, including immune system disturbances (6), blood biochemistry disturbances (7), male reproductive organ damage (8), disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system (8), damage to mucosal barrier of the stomach (11), hyperlipidaemia and higher blood glucose levels (12) and signs of organ toxicity (3)(4)(8)(13). Industry claims that these insecticidal proteins are broken down in the digestive tract, yet a study found the proteins circulating in the blood of pregnant and non-pregnant women and the blood supply to fetuses (9). The research team conducting this study concluded, “Given the potential toxicity of these environmental pollutants and the fragility of the foetus, more studies are needed.” To date there has been no follow up study.
“As a physician in Hawaii I remain gravely concerned about the impact pesticides and pesticide dependent crops have on our children’s development,” said Josh Green M.D., Hawaii State Senator.
TEST RESULTS: GLYPHOSATE
Glyphosate is the active chemical ingredient in Roundup herbicide as well as many other name brand glyphosate-based herbicides. These herbicides are the most widely used in the world and their use has increased exponentially with the introduction of GM crops. In response to agrichemical industry requests, the EPA has increased the allowable tolerance levels of glyphosate residues in crops without any scientific basis. And so, we sent a package of Gerber Graduates Veggie Dip Baked Whole Grain Corn Snack to a certified lab to test for the presence of glyphosate.
The glyphosate residue test was conducted by an accredited lab using the Specific LC/MS/MS testing method (the most sensitive test available) with a minimum detectable level of 0.02 ppm. No glyphosate residue was detected. Following is an explanation of why these results are inconclusive.
Some important factors must be considered when interpreting this test result:
First: We did not test a large enough sample to be able to conclude, based on statistics, that the test result is representative of the contents of every package of the toddler food.
Second: The varieties of GMO corn documented by the genetic testing were 100% Roundup tolerant. Farmers normally purchase these varieties so they can control weeds by spraying the crop with glyphosate-based products.
Based on the results of the test performed and the above relevant factors, we are unable to draw any meaningful or reliable conclusions as to the presence, or lack thereof, of glyphosate in Gerber Lil’ Crunchies Veggie Dip toddler snacks.
CONCLUSION
The Gerber Company has been an American icon since 1928. Gerber was acquired by and has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Nestlé since 2007.
In 2012, according to Food Navigator, Hans Jöhr, corporate head of sustainable agriculture at Nestlé stated, “There are a lot of new breeding technologies today that don’t use GM food. You can do a lot of things without GM. GM per se is not a golden bullet but may be an interesting tool in the box. We have a very simple way of looking at GM: listen to what the consumer wants. If they don’t want it in products, you don’t put them in.”
In 2013, as a result of awareness generated by the nonprofit African Centre for Biosafety and consumer demands, Nestlé discontinued the use of genetically engineered ingredients (GMOs) in the baby foods and formulas they sell in South Africa. Nestlé does not use GMOs in the baby foods and formulas they sell in the E.U. and in countries that have laws mandating the labeling of GMOs.
Yet, in the United States, Nestlé contributed $2.4 million to defeat campaigns for mandatory GMO labeling in California and Washington in 2012 and 2013, respectively, and their Gerber brand has ignored consumers’ call to remove GMO ingredients.
GMOs benefit the bottom line of the agrichemical industry, while the risks are entirely shouldered by consumers and our environment. Feeding vulnerable babies GM foods is irresponsible and recklessly puts an entire generation at risk. Through product testing, we bring transparency. With transparency comes accountability.
Call Gerber (800-962-1413) and demand that they remove GMOs from all of their products and get Non-GMO Project verified. Make a pledge to BOYCOTT GERBER and ask your family and friends to do the same.
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References:
(1) AAP Makes Recommendations to Reduce Children’s Exposure to Pesticides https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/AAP-Makes-Recommendations-to-Reduce-Children%27s-Exposure-to-Pesticides.aspx
(2) Angelika Hilbeck, Rosa Binimelis, Nicolas Defarge, Ricarda Steinbrecher, András Székács, Fern Wickson, Michael Antoniou, Philip L Bereano, Ethel Ann Clark, Michael Hansen, Eva Novotny, Jack Heinemann, Hartmut Meyer, Vandana Shiva and Brian Wynne. (2015) No scientific consensus on GMO safety. Environmental Sciences Europe 27:4 http://www.enveurope.com/content/pdf/s12302-014-0034-1.pdf
(3) Séralini GE, Cellier D, Spiroux de Vendomois J. New analysis of a rat feeding study with a genetically modified maize reveals signs of hepatorenal toxicity. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2007;52:596–602. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17356802
(4) De Vendomois JS, Roullier F, Cellier D, Séralini GE. A comparison of the effects of three GM corn varieties on mammalian health. Int J Biol Sci. 2009;5:706–26. http://www.ijbs.com/v05p0706.htm
(5) Mesnage R, Clair E, Gress S, Then C, Székács A, Séralini G-E. Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide. J Appl Toxicol. 2011. http://www.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/pubmed/22337346
(6) Finamore A, Roselli M, Britti S, et al. Intestinal and peripheral immune response to MON810 maize ingestion in weaning and old mice. J Agric Food Chem. 2008;56:11533–39. doi:10.1021/jf802059w. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19007233
(7) Gab-Alla AA, El-Shamei ZS, Shatta AA, Moussa EA, Rayan AM. Morphological and biochemical changes in male rats fed on genetically modified corn (Ajeeb YG). J Am Sci. 2012;8(9):1117–1123. http://www.academia.edu/3405390/Morphological_and_Biochemical_Changes_in_Male_Rats_Fed_on_Genetically_Modified_Corn_Ajeeb_YG_
(8) El-Shamei ZS, Gab-Alla AA, Shatta AA, Moussa EA, Rayan AM. Histopathological changes in some organs of male rats fed on genetically modified corn (Ajeeb YG). J Am Sci. 2012;8(10):684–696. http://www.academia.edu/3405345/Histopathological_Changes_in_Some_Organs_of_Male_Rats_Fed_on_Genetically_Modified_Corn_Ajeeb_YG_
(9) Aris A, Leblanc S. Maternal and fetal exposure to pesticides associated to genetically modified foods in Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada. Reprod Toxicol. 2011;31. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21338670
(10) Irena M Zdziarski, John W Edwards, Judy Carman, Adrian Jones, Marni Spillanie, Ysabella Van Sebille, Julie I Haynes (2012) GM feed and its effect on the stomach mucosa of rat. 6th Australian Health and Medical Research Congress 2012 http://ahmrc-2012.p.asnevents.com.au/schedule/abstract/3114
(11) Hasan Kiliçgün, Cebrail Gürsul, Mukadder Sunar, Gülden Gökşen (2013) The Comparative Effects of Genetically Modified Maize and Conventional Maize on Rats J Clin Anal Med ;4(2): 136-9 http://www.jcam.com.tr/files/KATD-983.pdf
(12) E. Abdo, O. Barbary and O. Shaltout, “Feeding Study with Bt Corn (MON810: Ajeeb YG) on Rats: Biochemical Analysis and Liver Histopathology,” Food and Nutrition Sciences, Vol. 5 No. 2, 2014, pp. 185-195. http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=42183#.Uy8XQIVVitM
