Fish and Spinach Rolls Recipe 30 minutes

Susan Brannon
Fish and Spinach Rolls with Horseradish Cream (30 minutes)
4 bunches of spinach
pinch sea salt
1 onion, minced
1 tsp. olive oil
white fish and/or thin salmon filets
3 TB water/3 TB shoyu
juice from 2 lemons
1/4 cup ginger juice

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil with sea salt and blanch the spinach. After 2-3 minutes, place pot in the sink and add cold water. When cold, drain and remove spinach.
2. Squeeze excess water out of the spinach, chop fine and set aside.
3. Saute' onion in olive oil. When clear, add spinach and a pinch of sea salt. Cook until the water has evaporated from the spinach. Then set aside.
4. Rinse fish filets and place on a platter. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt or dash of shoyu and place a thin layer of the spinach on top.
5. Roll each filet and secure with 2 toothpicks.
6. Place in a glass baking dish, cover and bake at 400 for 15 minutes, basting with a water/shoyu, lemon juice, ginger juice marinade twice during baking.

Related Articles:
How to Pay off Credit Card Debt and Live without Them!
Avocodo and Potato Salad (10 Minutes)
Best Vegetarian Chili Recipe 
Polenta
Easy Greens - 30 minutes
Fish and Spinach Rolls - 30 minutes
Butternut Squash Soup

Economic Armageddon and You

This helps to explain what is going on in our economy

Butternut Squash Soup

Susan Brannon
Butternut Squash Soup
Butternut squash is an excellent source of vitamin C and beta carotene, both of which are antioxidants that can help to protect your cells against free radical damage.

If you have a healthy digestive tract and regularly eat foods that contain healthy fat, beta carotene from butternut squash can convert to vitamin A, which is an important nutrient for your immune system.

Ingredients:

1 large butternut squash
4 tablespoons of olive oil
1 large yellow onion, sliced
2 cups of water or vegetable broth
Large handful of cilantro, roughly chopped
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
A few drops of vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Rub the butternut squash with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then place it in a shallow roasting dish to bake for one hour. After it is finished roasting, let it cool enough for you to comfortably work with it.

Slice the roasted squash in half. Use a spoon to scoop out seeds and remove the peel. Put starchy flesh into a large bowl and mash it well.

Heat remaining olive oil in a medium to large-sized pot. Cook onions in oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until onions are tender and translucent. Add mashed butternut squash and cook together with onions for another couple of minutes, stirring the squash and onions together.

Add water or vegetable broth to the mix, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer for 20-30 minutes.

Transfer entire soup, in batches if necessary, into a food processor or blender and process until it becomes creamy and smooth. Transfer processed soup back to pot, then add vanilla, sea salt, and black pepper. Give it a good stir to incorporate vanilla and seasoning.

Just before serving, scatter chopped fresh cilantro over each bowl. If you enjoy avocado, add a few avocado slices to the top of each bowl just before adding cilantro.
Related Articles:

How to Pay off Credit Card Debt and Live without Them!
Avocodo and Potato Salad (10 Minutes)
Best Vegetarian Chili Recipe 
Polenta
Easy Greens - 30 minutes
Fish and Spinach Rolls - 30 minutes
Butternut Squash Soup

20 Ways To Save Money

Susan Brannon
28 July 2011
Ways To Save Money

Cutting on your expenses will take some work and sacrifice on your part, but in the long run it will be worth it.  The main issue here is being willing to change your "style" of living and learning the difference between what you really need and what you don't need.

We are always bombarded with commercials, advertisements, have friends who seem to "have it all" and can feel that we are being judged by what we have and not who we are.  In the end, what we have, what brand, how many and how much did it cost, is not that important.  We can't take it with us when we die right?  What is important, is what is inside and who we are.  What is also important is taking care of ourselves, our health, and our lifestyles.  It is important to reduce the stress of how are you going to pay the next months bills. In a previous article I discussed how to pay off your credit card debts.  This is a follow up, with suggestions on how to find that extra money to do just that, so you can be free of all those bills once and for all!

As you move along, each time you want to purchase something, ask yourself..."Do I really NEED this?"  Most of the time, the answer will be an astounding "NO"

So lets get started!

1)  Cook at Home. 
Tip!   Use a crock-pot for the bulk of your meals, it is easy and works! It is worth the expense of purchasing one.  First go to garage sales and second hand shops.  Plug it in and see if it works before buying.  Look online for crock-pot recipes.  I have cooked, chicken, soups, ham, and beans in my crock-pot and the food is delicious!  The benefit?  Better tasking food, hardly any time spent after work, cooking!  The preparation time is not that bad either!

2)   Budget that special once a week going out to eat dinner, if you must.  However, you will find that it would be more fun to eat at home and use that precious money for a movie or bowling or something else!  You will also find after a while, that the food will not be as fresh nor taste as good as your home cooked meals!

3)   First, make your weekly meal list then your shopping list based on only that!
Make your shopping list based on what you NEED not what you WANT. Remember, to create meals that are healthy, and organic.
Tip!  Do Not buy pre-made and pre-processed items.  They cost more and hardly have any nutrition.  This blog is all about becoming whole, both inside and out!
I am posting recipes that are low cost and quick/easy to cook!  You just have to scroll in the archive section to find them.

4)   Stick to your list and buy nothing else.  (unless you forgot to put down the toilet paper or milk!)  Do not "impulse" buy at the grocery store.
Tip! Eat before shopping, if you shop when you are hungry, you will buy more food and spend more than you need!

5)   Shop when you are in a hurry!  You will need to run through the store and buy only what is on your list!  This is a great trick!

6)   Buy in bulk at the natural food store.  
Tip!   One of the best breakfasts you can eat is oatmeal!  (I call it Muesli) Buy the bulk whole oats, (not quick) some bulk raisins, some bulk salt free almonds add some sliced fruit and wholla!  You have a wonderful and inexpensive breakfast that is good for your heart!  The kids will learn to love this too!  By the way, top it with bulk honey made in your local area to help fight off allergies. 

7)   Take your leftovers for your lunch at work. (Always cook a bit more for your dinners so you will have leftovers) Just do it!  It will save you tons of $$$. 
Tip! Give yourself only that very special occasion to eat out for lunch.  Remember, you have to follow your money savings plan to get out of debt.  (It's not that bad)

8)   Cut down your meat intake: your body does not need meat everyday, cut it down to once a week and change to fish two or three times a week.  Make lots of soups, they are super healthy, and quick in the crock-pot.  If you must have meat more than once a week, buy a whole chicken, not the parts.  Buy a chicken without hormones, grown and feed real food, and on the range.  The nutrition will go farther, Cook the whole chicken, and use it for two meals, in soups, or casseroles.

9)  Use cloth napkins instead of paper.  They are more elegant and save our trees and your $$.  You do not need paper towels either!

10)  Pay your bills on time.  Avoid the late fees.

11)  Avoid ATM fees, walk into you bank instead, it only takes a few minutes more!

12)  Do you use your landline?  If not, disconnect it.

13)  Check with your cell phone plan and see what you can do to save, they will help you analyze your bills to see how many minutes you normally use and what kind of calls.  Maybe you can change to increase your minutes and save on your bill.

14)  Go to garage sales, if you want something, books, a vase, even clothes, try the garage sales first!  You will be amazed at what you can find!  Take a Saturday morning and hit the town.  Give your kids a few dollars they can spend too!.

15)  If you have young children, buy their clothes at the garage sales, really.  A baby grows up very fast and the clothes are almost like new.  Bargain with the sellers!

16)  Join the local library:  instead of buying new books.  They also have CD's for movies, and music! 

17)  Put your filtered or tap water into your own water bottles.  You do not need to buy bottled water!  Take a bottle or two with you to work, it helps you to get the water that your body needs and saves you from buying coffee or cokes!

18)   Ride your bicycle or walk whenever you can.  You do not need to use your car to drive a few blocks to buy milk or bread!  Get some exercise while you are at it, take your kids for the walk too. 

19)  Go out only once a week, and budget how much you can spend.  Try to chose things to do other than what you can do at home.  Like going out for dinner, and if you do, avoid buying alcohol.  The tab adds up with alcohol!
Tip!  Choose instead to eat dinner at home with your glass or two of wine, then go to a club, to listen to some live Jazz and buy only one drink!

20)  Watch your electricity:  Interesting enough, even if you are not using the product and it is plugged in, you are using electricity!  Instead of switching off your TV, unplug it! 

There is more to come!  I just don't want to exhaust you!
Related Articles:

How to Pay off Credit Card Debt and Live without Them!
Avocodo and Potato Salad (10 Minutes)
Best Vegetarian Chili Recipe

Tips on Eating well and Inexpensive

Susan Brannon
26 July 2011
I just posted information on GMO foods encouraging all of you to stop eating their products.  (See links at end of article) But I know, we do not have any time and little money to make changes.  I decided to start including fast, healthy and inexpensive recipes on this blog.  They will be posted randomly as time goes along.  However, I think that I will at least post a few to get everything going.
First I must make a few suggestions:

• Go to the farmers markets around you.  It is the best way to ask if it is organic or not.  The prices are normally less and the produce last much longer and more fresh than the grocery stores.
• If you are lucky enough to live nearby farms, most of the times they offer specials on picking your own!  Spend a Saturday morning picking your own.  The produce should last you a week and cost less.
• Print and keep a list of the GMO food brands from a previous article.  This way you can keep track of what is what.  Normally, there are alternative choices.
• When shopping, try to shop only on the outer walls of the grocery store.  The stuff in the isles is normally the stuff that is not good for you.  You will find that after a while, you will hardly walk down the isles anymore!
• Find your local natural food store, but remember natural does not mean organic! Keep track of their sales and plan your menu around the sale items!  This way, you will not get stuck eating the same things every week, and you can buy the better quality foods for less.
• If you eat meat, do so only once a week.  Buy your meat at the natural food store.
• Eat more fish, if possible.  Combine your fish with either rice or potatoes to balance your proteins.
• Eat more grains, more and more grains.  Oatmeal, topped off with raisins and nuts in the morning, brown rice instead of potatoes.
• Make more vegetable dishes, they are healthier, less expensive and good.
• In the winter, cook soups.  Use your slow cooker, when you come home from work, your meal will be ready!

Related articles:

The Story About GM Seeds

Our Food System and GM Seeds

Labeling of GMO Food Products sign the petition

Bad Seed - the Dangerous Truth About Our Food (Video)

US against Europe over Monsanto GM Food Crops (Video)

Fake Foods Help Yourself with GM Treats!  (Video)

GM Food Brands 
How to Pay off Credit Card Debt and Live without Them!
Avocodo and Potato Salad (10 Minutes)
Best Vegetarian Chili Recipe

Avocodo and Patoto Salad 10 min

Susan Brannon
This salad is great for the summer time!  You get the good natural oils from the avocado.

1 large ripe avocado, mashed
6 medium Yukon gold or red potatoes
1/2 cup chopped red onion
2 ribs of celery, chopped
1/2 cup sweet red bell pepper
Sea salt, to taste

Directions:
Steam and cook the potatoes until tender but not too soft. Mix thoroughly with all other ingredients. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

How to Pay off Credit Card Debt and Live without Them!

Susan Brannon
26 July 2011
The economy is bad and is not getting better.  The total credit card dept in America is: $799,326,936 and rising every second.  The average debt per family is $688,639 and the average savings per family is $6,916.

How can you lower your debt and take that yearly vacation?  It has been over 2 years since the last raise, and the prices for everything is going up.  What can you do to cut back on expenses and save a bit of money and lower your debt?

First I want to explain what is important for you to focus on as your goals, then I will follow up with an article on how you can find that extra money to meet your goals.

I am not just a person that is saying this to say it, I have lived without a credit card for over 10 years!  I have traveled overseas at least twice a year, take care of my dental and medical problems, buy food, and a few luxuries. In other words, I have "been there" and "done that"

1)  Make a list of all your credit cards. Include, the outstanding balance, interest rate, and minimum payment.  (look on your last month statement)
2)  Re-arrange that list from the highest interest rate at the top to the lowest at the bottom.
3) Now, add up your total minimum balance.  This is the minimum amount to be paid.  However, you will want to pay more!

Now, I am not going extreme here:  Go get your cards and cut up all but the one with the lowest interest rate! No one likes to hear this and no one wants to do this, but not having the interest alone will help you to save money for that vacation and in time you will find it easier to buy what you need in cash.

Go do it Now!  Why wait?  Really?  Get up...get the scissors...Now.
Feel better?  That was not hard was it?


4) Make a commitment to not use your last card, ever, ever, ever. In case you are dying, in case your home burns down, in case you lost your leg and you need to rent a driver.  Never use that card again! 
a)  Do not take that card with you out of your home when you go shopping, buying food, walking around.  Leave that card at home!  Promise? 

• Remember:  You are only cheating yourself, if you get out that card!  you deserve better than that!  Don't you?

Make that commitment now.

5)     Now you need to make goals:
a)     Never to use your one card again, of course unless you are dying. (pun intended)
b)     Pay extra on the credit cards as you go along, explained below
c)     Save cash for emergencies
d)     Finally save for that vacation!

• Goal number 1:  Is ongoing and re-commitment if you have to.  Leave that credit card at home.  Do not keep it in your wallet.  Put it in a drawer and forget about it.

• Goal number 2:  To pay extra on that card each month, you need to find extra money from your budget.  In other words, sacrifice some discretionary spending and get some extra cash to pay off your credit card debt.  (Tips in the next article)

6)  You will take that extra money that you suddenly discover that you really have, write it down on your paper, and put that cash towards the credit card that has the highest interest rate each and every month. 
a)  Once you pay off that card, use that "extra cash" to pay each month to the next highest interest rate credit card! If you have two with the same interest rates, pay towards the highest amount first!

• For example: you paid off card number 1 and your payments were $200 per month.  You will take that extra $200 per month towards credit card number 2, in addition to your normal card number 2 payment of $150 per month, you total payments for card number 2 will be: $350 per month.

b)  Do the same thing for the next credit card. 

• For example: Card 2 is paid off and go on to card 3;  your card 3 payment is $150 per month, add $350 to the $150 for your card 3 payment which will be $500 per month!  And so on.

c)   Do not touch the extra $$ for anything else, not one bit, not at all.  Pretend in your mind that you do not have that money.  Agreed?

Just be happy for yourself doing this, you cannot hurt anything by doing this and at the same time, you can help your credit score!

• Goal 3:  Start saving for "emergency cash"

7)      Once you pay off all your cards, and you only had the 3 cards to pay off that totaled $500 per month
a)      Figure out how much you should have in your emergencies only savings account.  If you want, you can use this formula:
add up your "real" monthly expenses; your mortgage/rent; food; gas for car/or public transportation, utilities and doctors (take the yearly amount and divide x 12) Do the same for dentists, clothes, and entertainment.
b)     Write down that number and multiply by 4.
c)     Write down that number as your emergency savings goal.

8)     Once you have your emergency money saved, cut up your last card!
       Woopie!
9)     Now take that extra monthly cash and save up for a much deserved holiday!

Tips!  Call your credit card companies and ask them if they can lower your interest rate.  All they can do is to say no...or maybe yes!

• Think about balance transfers.  It may not always be the best, but if you have a card with 25% interest rate, and another with 18%, it helps!  Always check for "hidden fees" as well in considering this.

 Be Patient!  This process takes time.  It may take months or a few years, depending on the amount of debt that you have.  Remember, you are starting something that will help you to get out of this debt, and move on.  If you do not do anything, everything will remain the same, and maybe get worse for you.

• If you run into extra money during this process like a bonus or tax return, take that money as a lump sum for the credit card you are currently adding the extra money to!

Required Labeling for Organic Foods

Susan Brannon
25 July 2011
If we want to stay away from GMO food products and ban GMO food brands, it is a good idea to understand the requirements for the labeling of organic foods.  Legalities, food, food safety and labeling can be confusing.  Some items on the shelf can give the impression that a product is organic, but it is not.  The label can say, "All Natural"  and the word natural does not mean organic.  The same goes for cosmetics and shampoos.  A person must take their time while shopping and learn the marketing strategies that the companies use to sell their products.  Read the ingredients.

Someone once told me, if you can't pronounce it, then don't buy it!  As of this day, I use this as a rule of thumb.  (Thank God for iphones, now I can look up an ingredient on the spot!)

The labeling of organic foods is very costly for the companies and I have noticed that many chains now stay away from the legal requirement of labeling, and instead say that "blaugh blaugh blaugh stands by this product as organic" Again, we become at the mercy of trusting the company that produces the products that we put into our bodies.

    * A truly certified organic product must first have the USDA organic seal.
    * It should wear the label "100% organic"

To acquire the label  the following standards must be met:

    * Organic meats must come from animals who have not been given hormones or antibiotics.
    * Organic foods cannot be grown or produced with the use of conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, bioengineering, or radiation.
    * Organic eggs, poultry, cheeses and other dairy products must come from animals given no hormones or antibiotics and must be produced without pesticides.
    * Produced by farmers and/or companies that practice, or highly emphasize, renewable resources and water and soil conservation.
    * A government-approved certifier visits where the food is being processed or grown to ensure that all standards are being met before a food item can be labeled "organic."

The company that uses the USDA Organic label can be fined  up to $11,000 per violation.
There are two things to keep in mind:

    * Food companies and farms selling under $5,000 a year worth of food items are not allowed to use the organic label because they're exempt.
    * The U.S. Department of Agriculture places no restrictions on other labeling claims such as free-range, sustainable harvest, or no growth hormones.
Related articles:

The Story About GM Seeds

Our Food System and GM Seeds

Labeling of GMO Food Products sign the petition

Bad Seed - the Dangerous Truth About Our Food (Video)

US against Europe over Monsanto GM Food Crops (Video)

Fake Foods Help Yourself with GM Treats!  (Video)

GM Food Brands

Reading the ingredients

Susan Brannon
24 July 2011
I started a petition asking for the labeling of GMO food products and I need thousands of signatures.  In the meantime, we can know the brands that have GMO ingredients, we can buy products labeled Non-GMO, and purchase 100% organic, or, grow our own food.

As it stands, the FDA is governed by the Food, Drug and  Cosmetic Act which is only concerned with food "additives" or food products that are considered "GRAS" meaning, generally recognized as safe.

The FDA believes that non GMO foods and GMO food products are equal and not subject to labeling.  I understand that the cost of labeling and creating a new "regulation" to do such would require some Federal funding.  However, our health is important as well, or shall I say our nations health.

Yet, in 2000 an international trade agreement was established and more than 130 countries signed for the labeling of GMO food products. That was 10 years ago and counting.  This agreement gives the countries the right to decide for themselves and the risks involved to reject GMO foods.  So far, Europe has followed in the embargo of GM foods, but the citizens continue to fight when a threat of allowing production in Europe arises.

In the end, it is us, the consumer, that will be the final voice.  We must chose to purchase only non GMO foods, ban the brands that use GM ingredients, and through the pocket our voice will be strong and clear.  It is call consumer demand.

Remember, when the consumers started to demand organic foods?  It was difficult to find the foods and much more expensive.  You had to go to specialty stores and read the labels very carefully.  I now see organic foods in the grocery store chains, not a lot but some.  The demand for healthier foods is getting stronger and the result is that the producers will need to meet those demands if they want to stay in business.
Related articles:

The Story About GM Seeds

Our Food System and GM Seeds

Labeling of GMO Food Products sign the petition

Bad Seed - the Dangerous Truth About Our Food (Video)

US against Europe over Monsanto GM Food Crops (Video)

Fake Foods Help Yourself with GM Treats!  (Video)

GM Food Brands

Crime against Humanity; GMO Foods

 Susan Brannon
23 July 2011
There are records in history of crimes against humanity that are justified by governments and commercial interests.  Citizens protest, ask for social justice but the requests remain ignored by the corporations and government leaders for their own profit.

Today, GMO food production is used in the name for the benefit of society, the poor and impoverished nations.  But in fact the story of humanity is unjustified and has caused a monopoly on the raw and biological materials.  The farmers have become dependent on one major corporation for their seeds and have banished the natural cycle of renewable seeds.

There are estimates of 30,000 products on our grocery stores shelves, which are "modified" "genetically improved" and most of the products contain soy, a product to start with was "naturally" healthy and good for our bodies.  More than 1/2 of America's soy crop is genetically modified.

There are over 40 plant varieties of GMO products that have cleared the federal requirements for commercialization.  (USDA)

Some of the modifications may include drugs added into the foods that produce human vaccines against diseases such as Hepatitis B in bananas.
or engineered fish that mature at a faster rate, or fruit and nut trees that yield a year sooner than normal.

Not only is the growth of GMO foods threatening our society, but the government is willing to accept these products to be sold and used by newborns.

Here is a small list:

Enfamil Infant Formulas
(Mead Johnson)
# Enfamil with Iron
# Enfamil Low Iron
# Enfamil A.R.
# Enfamil Nutramigen
# Enfamil Lacto Free
# Enfamil 22
# Enfamil Next step (soy and milk-based varieties)
# Enfamil Pro-Soybee

Isomil Infant Formulas
(Abbot Labs)
# Isomil Soy
# Isomil Soy for Diarrhea

Similac
(Abbot Labs)
# Similac Lactose Free
# Similac with Iron
# Similac Low Iron
# Similac Alimentum

Now if this is not a crime against humanity, I do not know what is.
Related articles:

The Story About GM Seeds

Our Food System and GM Seeds

Labeling of GMO Food Products sign the petition

Bad Seed - the Dangerous Truth About Our Food (Video)

US against Europe over Monsanto GM Food Crops (Video)

Fake Foods Help Yourself with GM Treats!  (Video)

GM Food Brands 

How can I avoid GMO foods?

Common GMO Food Products

Best Vegetarian Chili Recipe

Susan Brannon
Best Vegetarian Chili Recipe
Makes about 8 servings
Ingredients:
1 can white beans
1 can kidney beans
1/2 cup lentils, cooked
1/2 cup bulgur wheat
1 large can (about 28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
2 cups yellow or red onion, finely chopped
1 cup bell pepper, finely chopped
1 cup diced carrots
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup vegetable broth
Extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. In a large pot, saute onion, bell pepper, carrots, and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until onions are translucent (about 5 minutes).
2. Add chili powder, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring regularly.
3. Season with sea salt and pepper, to taste.
4. Add vegetable broth, white beans, kidney beans, bulgur wheat, lentils, and crushed tomatoes. Allow all ingredients to get close to boiling, then reduce to a simmer for about 10 minutes, or until bulgur wheat is tender.

Serve and enjoy this vegetarian chili while it's hot - it goes nicely with a crisp green salad and a slice of fresh bread. Freeze leftovers, as it's even better a day or two later.

More!

Polenta
Easy Greens - 30 minutes
Fish and Spinach Rolls - 30 minutes
Butternut Squash Soup
Avocado and Potato Salad 10 minutes
Best Vegetarian Chili

GMO Food Products

I know, I know...this is a blog for women, women who feel stranded, displaced, poor without support. The subject of GMO food products is important to women like us.  We must feed ourselves to remain healthy, and exercise to remain or get fit.  We must feed our children, and of course we want to feed them what is best, to help them grow strong and healthy.  We want all of us to have clear minds, energy to get through the day.
Part of the plan should include a healthy diet.  If you have not read my article, "The Story about GM Seeds" this will give you the background on GMO foods and why I am so angry about it.  Why I started that petition that you should sign and pass around to everyone that you know!  At the end, you will find already posted related articles on GMO's.  I will refer to the ways how we can avoid them at a reasonable cost to us, the moms, ex wives, new wives, married, single, single with children, or without children.  To help to raise our families the best that we can in spite of the circumstances.
Happy Reading!
Related articles:

The Story About GM Seeds

Our Food System and GM Seeds

Labeling of GMO Food Products sign the petition

Bad Seed - the Dangerous Truth About Our Food (Video)

US against Europe over Monsanto GM Food Crops (Video)

Fake Foods Help Yourself with GM Treats!  (Video)

GM Food Brands 

How can I avoid GM foods?

Common GMO Foods

Brands that Have GMO ingredients

Which Brands Have GMO ingredients?

GMO food products have not been tested long enough before the GMO seeds were used in global agriculture and released to the public.  There have been many studies on animals with horrible results, yet the governments in China, USA, Africa and India use these foods to feed millions of people.
Some of the effects on animal studies has shown to produce, increased liver function, increased aggression, infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system and possible increase of suicides in Indian farmers. (200,000 suicides in recent years) (What about GM Seeds?) http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/86859

Knowing which companies use GMO ingredients can help you to stay away from them. Even some "natural foods" companies make foods with genetically modified ingredients. Not surprisingly, most of the large corporations routinely use these products. Since these corporations often buy up smaller companies, you may not always recognize them. Some of the many companies that use GMOs are sold worldwide in their products are:

    * Blue Sky
    * Coca Cola
    * Hansen
    * Kraft
    * Nestle
    * Procter and Gamble
    * Libby's
    * Ocean Spray
    * Kellogg
    * Nature Valley
    * Nabisco
    * Hershey
    * Lifesaver
    * Quaker
    * Pepperidge Farm
    * Campbells
    * Frito Lay
    * Hostess
    * Heinz
    * Keebler
    * Crisco
    * Peter Pan
    * Smuckers
    * Skippy
    * Hormel
    * Progresso
    * Eggo
    * Boca
    * Marie Callender
    * Morningstar Farms
    * Stouffers
    * Betty Crocker
    * Pillsbury
    * Aunt Jemima
    * Duncan Hines
    * Beech-nut
    * Enfamil
    * Good Start
    * Similac
    * Isomil
    * Yoplait
    * Land O Lakes
    * Dannon
Related Articles:
The Story About GMO Seeds

The Story About GMO Seeds

Susan Brannon

14 June 2011

This is the radical side of me.  I believe that what we eat and put into our bodies either makes us tired, or feel alive!  It is important to know what we are eating and where it comes from.  It is important for our families, friends and ourselves.  It is important to spend time on your diet, to spend time thinking about the nutrition that you are receiving or not receiving.

Now, I understand that most of us think that in order to eat well, we must be rich and have enough money to buy the healthy products.  But that is not true!  Soon, I will start posing easy, not expensive healthy food recipes to share.  However, now I because educated on the GMO seed production, nutrition values, and health issues that I feel is vital for the American people to understand and know about.  I also think that it is important to pass the word around, inform and educate!  No, I am not an extremist, I am a realist and do care about our country and the people in it!   So here is the story about GMO Seeds:  Please take your time to read this, and sign the petition I started and posted on this site!  Pass it around, put the link on your blog and website, in facebook!

Genetically Modified (GM) seeds have been introduced into the world from the early 1990’s.  The seeds are mainly soybean, corn, canola, and cotton. The seed was developed to increase food production, lower production costs and lower the amount of pests that destroy the crops. The process is the insertion, deletion or transfer of genes. They add a genetic material into an organism. GMO’s are used in biological and medical research, the production of pharmaceutical drugs, gene therapy and agriculture.

Monsanto is the company located in Missouri, that develops and patients the GM seeds.  In 2007, Monsanto’s seeds were planted on 246 million acres (1,000,000kn2) throughout the world. Monsanto developed “triple-stack corn” that contains Roundup Ready 2 weed control technology with YieldGard Corn Borer and YieldGard Rootworm insect control and tops the market in the U.S.  The forecast is by 2014 they will plant 56 million acres in the US.  (Check BioTech) I must insert here the concept of growing our food injected with pesticides, that are eaten by cows, pigs, pets and humans does not make any sense.  We all know that what we eat absorbs into our bodies.  Many of the products on the grocery store shelves contain some type of corn by-product.  This is not like the corn of yesterday, but genetically modified with the insertion of Roundup a weed killer accepted by the USDA?

The crops are called “Biotech Crops” that reflects the latest technology, in agriculture in order to “save our hungry world”.  Yet the facts, are that there is enough food for the world, including the developing countries.  The problem is that we don’t get the food over to developing countries.  However, that is another issue for a different article. 

It is said that out of 14 million farmers who grew biotech crops in 2009, 90% of them were poor farmers from developing countries.  In China, 7 million farmers grew cotton (Bt. Cotton), 5.6 million grew cotton in the Philippines. The commercial value of biotech crops grown in 2008 was 130 billion US dollars.  (ISAAA)

As of 2009/2010 data there are a number of seeds that are in our food system:

Soybens:            USA 93%            World 77%

Corn                        USA 86%            World 26%

Cotton                        USA 93%            World 49%

Alfalfa                        produced from 2005-2007 banned until January 2011, currently legal

Hawaiian

Papaya                        USA 80%

Tomotes            Taken off the market commercial failure

Rapeseed            USA 93%            World 21%

Sugar cane            no data

Sugar beet            USA 95%            World 9%

Zucchini            USA 13%

Monsanto found it easy for the farmers in America to use and purchase the GM seeds, but later discovered the European market is concerned about mixing crops grown from GM seeds next to conventional and organic crops. Japan and the entire European Union, have outright banned GMOs and products associated with them. In the end, Monsanto settled for developing countries as another marketing target.

For example, Monsanto controls more than 60% of commercial seeds in India including “hybrids” that combine different crop varieties. However there has been a reported increase in suicides to over 200,000 Indian farmers since the introduction of the GM seeds. Physicist, Vandana Shiva blames the suicides in part on farmer indebtedness to be forced to buy the seeds each planting year at rising costs.  The seeds cannot be used to plant a new crop from the last years crop. The seeds arrived in India in 2002 and the price of the seeds has jumped from Rs. 7 a bag that covers one acre to Rs. 750.  There are no regulatory systems in India, and “Monsanto sells its GMO seeds on fraudulent claims of yields of 1,500 kilograms a year when farmers actually harvest 300 kg a year on average.”  The developing countries are told, you can grow more for less, control the pests, make money from your farms, and help your society to diminish poverty.  Some of the seeds are drought protected, injected with oils for nutrition to increase health.  My question, is this Monsanto a corporation statement really true? 

In America, the Obama administration decided in January 2011 to radically approve unrestricted production of biotech Monsanto “Roundup Ready” alfalfa and sugar beets creating our food system dependent in a handful of corporations, with only profit to guide them.  In spite of the World Health Organization’s concerns over the spread of GM crops and the indirect effect on food safety and security, the GM seed use continues to expand.  The concept of creating and selling patented GM seeds is based on corporate control with the need to be purchased each season eliminating the right for farmers and consumers to choose what they will eat and grow. 

At this time, at least 2,391 farmers in 19 states have been sued for “seed piracy”.  Monsanto has an annual budget of 10 million dollars that is solely devoted to investigating and prosecuting farmers.  When a farmer buys the Monsanto seeds, they sign an agreement that they will not save the seeds and replant them.  More than 275,000 farmers buy the seeds under this agreement.  What I do not understand is why America is so willing to “trust” corporate control to the most important of concerns, our food system.

In addition there are health and ethical concerns, the quality and impact of farming, the use of pesticides, and threat to native and natural species are other major issues. Since their commercialization in 1992, GMO’s have had a startling correlation with the explosion in food borne illnesses, obesity, diabetes, and other food-related illnesses. (See Bt. Cotton and GM seed symptoms)

GMO’s allow for the breeding of super weeds that can both resist their pesticides and decimate the land. GMOs, in essence, stem from an infant science that has been thrust upon the world in the last two decades.  How can cross cropping not exist?  Bees fly around and carry its pollen from one plant and crop to another, the wind blows carrying with it Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide. If you eat meat or dairy, you consume alfalfa and corn, the leading source for hay and food for cattle. GMO products are not allowed in the USDA-certified foods and soon it will be all but impossible to find organic milk and meat.  The bill has already passed and the decision was made in spite of organic farming groups, activists, and watch groups who number into the tens of thousands.

Bt. Cotton has also shown some diverse effects through the years, Bt. Cotton first controlled the pests and reduced the amount of insecticides need by 90%, but the Bt. Cotton has created new pests, and to control the new pests, farmers are using 13 times more pesticides than they were using before the introduction of Bt. Cotton.  (Huffington Post April 2009)

Organic farming groups, food outlets and activists responded to the deregulation of GM alfalfa:

"The USDA's decision to allow unlimited, nationwide commercial planting of Monsanto's GE Roundup Ready alfalfa without any restrictions flies in the face of the interests of conventional and organic farmers, preservation of the environment, and consumer choice. USDA has become a rogue agency in its regulation of biotech crops and its decision to appease the few companies who seek to benefit from this technology comes despite increasing evidence that GE alfalfa will threaten the rights of American farmers and consumers, as well as damage the environment." 

Commenting on the ruling, in a Joint Statement U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy and Representative Peter DeFazio said:

    "This long approval process began as a search for a workable compromise, but it has ended as a surrender to business as usual for the biotech industry. USDA officials had an opportunity to address the concerns of all farmers, whether they choose to farm genetically altered crops, conventional crops, or organic crops, and to find a way for them to coexist. Instead, what we now have is a setback for the nation's organic and conventional agriculture sectors. Instead of settling this issue, USDA's decision regrettably guarantees further rounds in the courts."

When our leaders approve the expansion of the use of seeds that endanger biodiversity and the farmers’ choice, we should have an outcry as a nation.  This regulated control over our food system; our lifeblood and food supply is not a little thing and is not a democracy.

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