A Night at the Movies ~ Food Evolution ~ Bringing Facts & Science to Life

I partnered with Canola Eat Well to bring the contents of this article to you. As always the thoughts and opinions are those of my own.

What’s in your food? Where does your food come from? How and what should we eat to stay healthy and well? In a world full of opinions, here say, celebrities and anecdotal “evidence”, not to mention the fear-mongering that sways over our heads sometimes when others question our own food beliefs and what we’re feeding our families, it can be hard to separate the facts from the fiction and just simply EAT.

I recently had the opportunity to attend a screening of a movie documentary, Food Evolution, directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy and narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson – the first movie of its kind to relay facts and the science on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) as opposed to one-sided, biased information that often fuels other food documentaries. With special thanks to CropLife Canada, Life Sciences Ontario, University of Waterloo Faculty of Science Foundation, Partners in Research, Ontario Agri-Food Technologies, Food Starter, and the Royal Canadian Institute of Science, I also had the opportunity to listen in to a panel discussion including Scott Hamilton himself, Carol T. Culhane, Ian Affleck, and two farmers, Greg Hannam (Canada) and Motlatsi Musi (South Africa).

I have read numerous studies on GMO’s over the years in order to be fully aware of both sides of the coin, however, most importantly, as a dietitian, being able to recognize the validity or sound research vs. that which can be skewed. I was fascinated to leave the film presentation, hearing the panelists speak, and a conversation with Greg Hannam with the following insights:

• The issue from consumers, and even farmers agree, is that when GMO’s were introduced, little consumer education was provided, as the development of GM-crops was primarily towards the benefit of the farmers as opposed to the end-consumer. Better education could have been delivered to educate on the need for technology in order to safely supply demands of food to our world’s growing population
• GMO’s allow crops to withstand certain characteristics such as negative temperatures, viruses, pesticide-resistance, as well as to enhance the nutrient profile of a food item.
  • For example, the papaya industry was destroyed due to viruses. Genetic engineering allowed scientists to transcribe a gene to allow the papaya industry to thrive again. The same occurred with crops of bananas throughout South America
  • Vitamin A-enriched golden rice was produced to support the health of at-risk populations and used in Africa for those with a Vitamin A deficiency
• Each new GM-product undergoes strict testing to verify its safety for both consuming and towards the environment.
  • For example, allergens. Many people have questioned the increased incident in allergic reactions towards food products. In speaking with Greg, he indicated that he is not a professional in this area, but from a GMO standpoint, there is no allergenic link between a non-GMO and GMO plant because of the testing system in place to verify new plants. It really comes down to an individual’s diet, and what one may be eating now versus many years ago. Gluten for example is loaded in so much of the prepared and pre-packaged foods in our grocery stores, resulting in a greater consumption of it compared to how generations would focus on eating in the past, including a meat or fish, vegetables and potatoes.

So what can you do as a consumer?

• Verify research to be credible, seeking out the support from a regulated nutrition professional who is willing and able to look into the valid science to achieve this.
• Choose fresh foods more often and prepare them at home into a meal as opposed to ready-made or boxed items.
• Canada has one of the safest food and food regulatory systems in the world. Take comfort in the fact that when you walk into a grocery store, everything meets the standards of being safe and healthy.
• Don’t choose foods loaded with different labeling that may be there to meet our social desires (Gluten Free, GMO-free, etc), but rather food that comes straight from the earth and soil.
• Our busy lifestyles may leave us feeling that there is little time to cook a meal. I can understand this, however remember to keep it simple! There is a load of science indicating that eating lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables are good for you – so stick with this.
• Check out the trailer for Food Evolution here, and then set an evening to watch the whole movie!

Internet searches on GMO’s and Organic Farming can deliver a plethora of hits, making it difficult to even know where to start to gain truthful information. Have a read here to stay educated on the science behind GMO’s and Organic foods to leave you with peace of mind in the decisions you choose to make for your health and your family’s health.