Genetically modified organisms have become so pervasive in our food system that we unknowingly eat and feed our children many of them each day. GMO's are made from genetic materials from one organism (such as a soil bacterium) combined with an antibiotic resistant marker gene and spliced into a food crop (such as corn) to create a genetically modified crop that resists specific diseases and pests.

There has been no long-term independent testing on the impacts of these "Frankenfoods" on the ecosystem or human health. Instead, there is a long litany of concealed truths, strong-arm tactics and even outright bribery by the world's biotech giant, Monsanto. Monsanto has fought to keep GMO foods unlabeled on supermarket shelves and the public in the dark about current agricultural practices.

Most recently, the growth hormones from GE organisms known as rBGH, which is given to cows to make them produce more milk, were banned in Europe and Canada after the authorities found out about the health risks that result from drinking milk from cows treated with rBGH hormones. California recently tried to pass Proposition 37 to require labeling on all GMO products, as part of an effort by American milk producers who are labeling their milk "rBGH- and rBST-free." Monsanto, which sells bovine growth hormones under the brand name Posilac, began suing dairy producers to force them to stop labeling their milk.

Monsanto has a long litany of court cases against small farmers who refused to "toe the line" with GMO's. It's unfair when a giant corporation goes after a small farmer that doesn't have the resources or means to fight back. Monsanto has set aside an annual budget of $10 million dollars and a staff of 75 devoted solely to investigating and prosecuting more than 150 farmers (15 per year) for a total of more than $15 million dollars. More than 4,500 of these court cases were resolved out of court, usually resulting in a farm going out of business.

Many farmers have started to fight back. One New York farmer, Linda Borghi, of Abundant Life Farm, has begun a campaign called "Monsanto: Just Label It!" calling on the biotech giant to label all GMO containing products. These products include commercially farmed meats and processed foods on store shelves. In our country, 89 percent of all soy, 61 percent of all corn and 75 percent of all canola are genetically altered. Other foods such as commercially grown papaya, zucchini, tomatoes, several fish species, and food additives such enzymes, flavorings and processing agents, including the sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet) and rennet used to make hard cheeses, also contain GMO's.

"I am really mad about the defeat of Prop 37 in California (an initiative to label food containing GMO's)." Says organic farmer Borghi, "Why would anyone not want to know what's in the food they're eating?" Borghi was inspired to start the "Monsanto: Just Label It!" campaign and make signs and bumper stickers with that slogan. "God knows we use enough lawn signs and bumper stickers for things that don't really matter nearly as much as the right to know what's in our food," quips Borghi.

Borghi's campaign is in the educational arena engaging the public, rather than the legal arena behind closed doors. Borghi explains; "the people who don't know anything about GMO's will ask the people displaying the lawn signs and the bumper stickers what they mean. This is a simple, but effective way to move this information, educate everyone and visually see our progress." Borghi hopes that her grassroots campaign will encourage legislators to mandate food labeling so consumers will have a choice.

What can you do to avoid GMO's?

— Support Borghi's campaign at bigfoodjustlabelit.org

— Know how your food is grown by buying directly from local farmers.

— Support organic agriculture, and food producers who label their ingredients, particularly dairy farmers.

— Demand labeling on all GMO-containing products so that we at least have a choice!

It's time for consumers to demand labeling on GMO foods so that consumers have a choice.

Shawn Dell Joyce is an award-winning columnist and founder of the Wallkill River School in Orange County, N.Y. You can contact her at [email protected]. To find out more about Shawn Dell Joyce and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM