Corn
Aleishall Girard Maxon
Dating back nearly 7,000 years, the earliest cultivated corn plant has its origins in Mexico. Though widely grown and used by Native Americans, (who grew more than 200 varieties) corn was not brought back to Europe by Columbus until 1493. Upon its arrival it received only a luke warm reception and was considered to be “peasant” food that should only be resorted to when there was nothing else to eat.
But today, corn is one of the staples of the American diet.
In fact I would venture to say that summer isn’t quite summer with out eating corn at least once. There is something about the burst of sweetness in each kernel that speaks to the earths’ miraculous power to cultivate and grow something from a seed to a tall green stalk.
Unfortunately in recent years corn has become one of the leading American crops to be altered by genetic engineering, which strips corn of its natural flavor, color and texture. What many consumers don’t know is that this kind of genetically modified corn contains a gene (that has been artificially inserted) called bacillus thuringiensis (bt-corn). This gene comes from a soil microbe that aims to kill many types of corn pests. But its potential for harm goes far beyond the pests that scientists were originally aiming to kill. This chemical creates a type of pollen that is highly toxic to the caterpillars that become monarch butterflies. When researchers at Cornell University found that this pollen causes the larvae to grow more slowly and suffer a higher death rate, little was done despite the fact that as many as 80% of all monarch butterflies migrate through the corn belt at some point in their lives. If you are having a hard time relating to the plight of the monarch, consider this—genetically engineered produce like bt corn costs American Farmers more than $200 million dollars per year in revenue loss. Many countries in Europe have proven to be more conscious about genetically engineered food and have chosen to buy crops from countries that do not grow potentially hazardous crops.
It is understanding overlooked and under-publicized facts like these that are crucial to becoming a conscious consumer. So, how do we avoid contributing to the perpetuation of earth-harming practices? The most powerful tool that we as individual consumers have at our disposal is our money; Where and how we spend it makes all the difference in the world, because if no one’s buying then they can’t keep selling. Look for labels and signs that inform you of the corn’s origin. If there is no visible information, ask someone who works at the store or market. Not only will you educate yourself further, but just by asking you are making a statement that it matters to you as a paying customer. If enough of us make it clear that where and how our food is grown is an important issue, the owners of grocery stores, markets and restaurants will begin to take interest as well.
After seventy years of use, there is still no proof that bt could also harm humans. But it should be enough to know that it is harming one of the earths most recognized and beautiful species. Bt is still considered an acceptable pest control method for the American (and even organic) food industry. But I say, if it’s killing butterflies it couldn’t be good.
