I have wanted to write about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) for some time, however, I am still learning what it all means and had not figured out a straight-forward way to explain it until now. This next story I am about to share does a great job of providing an example of what genetically modified (GM) foods can do to hurt us and how removing them from our diet can create positive, actually remarkable changes.

Let’s start with a quick introduction as to what a GMO is. A genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically engineered organism (GEO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are generally known as recombinant DNA technology. An actual example I found of a GMO was taking a gene from an Arctic flounder (fish) and putting it into a strawberry to try to make it frost-resistant.

As you can imagine there is quite a controversy about GMOs for various reasons which will be an entirely different article.

The story I wanted to share today was about a high school in Wisconsin.

About 10 years ago, a science class at Appleton conducted an experiment with six mice. Three of the mice were fed the same food the students ate, primarily junk food. The mice freaked out. Their behaviour was totally different than the three mice in the neighbouring cage. Those were fed nutritious whole foods and were playful, happy, and slept during the day as they are naturally nocturnal creatures.

The junk food mice, on the other hand, destroyed their cardboard tube, were no longer nocturnal, stopped playing with each other, fought often, and two mice eventually killed the third and ate it. After the three month experiment, the students rehabilitated the two surviving junk food mice with a diet of whole foods. After about three weeks, the mice became more ‘normal’.

Not only is this experiment repeated every year for other classes to see, but the students have put the experiment into practice in their own school by designing their own school lunch program which replaced their cafeteria's processed foods with wholesome, organic, nutritious food,

Before the change was implemented in the school lunch program, the high school was known for being out of control. There were weapons violations, student disruptions, and a cop on duty full-time. The rates of ADHD diagnosis were climbing, as were food allergies and sensitivities.

After the change in school meals, the students were calm, focused, and orderly. There were no more weapons violations, no suicides, expulsions, dropouts, or drug violations. The new diet and improved behaviour has lasted for seven years, and now other schools across the globe are changing their meal programs with similar results.

Although the school lunch program in Wisconsin did not specifically attempt to remove GMOs from the kids’ lunches, it happened anyway. According to Jeffrey Smith, author of Seeds of Deception and founder of the Institute for Responsible Technology, “genetically modified foods such as soy and corn and their derivatives are largely found in processed foods. So when the school switched to unprocessed alternatives, almost all ingredients derived from GMO crops were taken out automatically.” The hallways aren't lined with soft drink and junk food machines. There is no smell of grease in the cafeteria. Burgers, fries and burritos have been replaced with salads, meats prepared with old fashioned recipes and whole grain breads. Fresh fruits and vegetables are offered and the students drink water.

Schools throughout the UK and parts of Europe banned GM food years ago. In the 1990s, many Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) in the U.S. banned milk from cows that had been given genetically altered hormones to make them produce more milk.

And this movement is going beyond the school lunch program. In 2004, Mendocino County, California became the first county in the United States to ban the production of GMOs. The measure passed with a 57% majority. In 2005, a standing committee of the government of Prince Edward Island in Canada began work to assess a proposal to ban the production of GMOs in the province.

Are you interested in supporting this movement in your local schools or learning more for your family? The Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) and Sierra Club support efforts to create GMO-free schools by providing written and audio-visual materials, web support, and guidance to local campaigns. You can visit their web site (see related links below) for more information.

If you would like to learn more about GMOs or have any information to share, please feel free to post on the discussion boards or email me directly. I am putting together a more comprehensive article on GMOs and their risks for release in a couple of months. Thanks!