Researchers find high-fructose corn syrup may be tied to worldwide collapse of bee colonies 4 hours ago by Bob Yirka report Honeybee Honeybee. Credit: Adam Siegel
(Phys.org) —A team of entomologists from the University of Illinois has found a possible link between the practice of feeding commercial honeybees high-fructose corn syrup and the collapse of honeybee colonies around the world. The team outlines their research and findings in a paper they've had published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Since approximately 2006, groups that manage commercial honeybee colonies have been reporting what has become known as colony collapse disorder—whole colonies of bees simply died, of no apparent cause. As time has passed, the disorder has been reported at sites all across the world, even as scientists have been racing to find the cause, and a possible cure. To date, most evidence has implicated pesticides used to kill other insects such as mites. In this new effort, the researchers have found evidence to suggest the real culprit might be high-fructose corn syrup, which beekeepers have been feeding bees as their natural staple, honey, has been taken away from them.
Commercial honeybee enterprises began feeding bees high-fructose corn syrup back in the 70's after research was conducted that indicated that doing so was safe. Since that time, new pesticides have been developed and put into use and over time it appears the bees' immunity response to such compounds may have become compromised.
The researchers aren't suggesting that high-fructose corn syrup is itself toxic to bees, instead, they say their findings indicate that by eating the replacement food instead of honey, the bees are not being exposed to other chemicals that help the bees fight off toxins, such as those found in pesticides.
Specifically, they found that when bees are exposed to the enzyme p-coumaric, their immune system appears stronger—it turns on detoxification genes. P-coumaric is found in pollen walls, not nectar, and makes its way into honey inadvertently via sticking to the legs of bees as they visit flowers. Similarly, the team discovered other compounds found in poplar sap that appear to do much the same thing. It all together adds up to a diet that helps bees fight off toxins, the researchers report. Taking away the honey to sell it, and feeding the bees high-fructose corn syrup instead, they claim, compromises their immune systems, making them more vulnerable to the toxins that are meant to kill other bugs.
While health professionals and researchers debate whether high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is comparable to sugar, many are also debating whether or not HFCS is natural. Is it the same as sugar? Is it natural? Let me shed some light on this. HFCS is not found in nature
HFCS is an inexpensive sweetener made from genetically-modified corn. It's enzymatically processed from cornstarch into a liquid sweetener. One or two of the enzymes are also genetically engineered. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides no definition of what the word "natural" means and does not regulate its use on labels.
Still, it's hard to think of HFCS as natural after its complex processing. There is also no organic HFCS available, because organic standards prohibit genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). HFCS: similar to sugar?
HFCS and sugar both contain the simple sugars fructose and glucose in similar amounts. They are both found in nutritionally depleted products like soda, candy, juice drinks, jams, ketchup and packaged baked goods.
Earlier research suggested HFCS was responsible for the U.S. obesity epidemic. Research conducted in 2008 doesn't support this. Is it the sweetener, the foods or the amount of sweetener in the diet? The source of sweetener doesn't seem to matter. The truth is that we eat too much. HFCS in the U.S. diet mirrors the rise in obesity, but likely did not cause it. Even if HFCS is metabolized like sugar, it doesn't mean I recommend it
Stonyfield Farm uses only organic approved ingredients in its products. Organic sugar is its natural sweetener. This is a much less-processed form of cane sugar. The processing uses less energy and produces less waste than refined white sugar or HFCS, so there are environmental benefits, too. Less sugar in Stonyfield yogurt than you might think
The amount of sugar listed on Stonyfield nutrition labels is not all added sugar. It includes the milk sugar lactose, natural fruit sugar and added sugar. That's why 6 ounces of plain yogurt has 12 grams of sugar, yet no added sugar. It's the lactose! Sugar isn't all bad
Sugar can be used to make healthy foods more appealing. For many, a small amount of added sugar in a healthy food like yogurt makes the taste enjoyable. Otherwise, they might not eat it and get the benefits of calcium, protein and probiotics. If you're going have a sweetened food, it's best to choose a naturally sweetened, healthy one. That's why I recommend you avoid foods that contain HFCS.
Monsanto pushes for more GMO corn Submitted by Weekly News Update... on Tue, 04/30/2013 - 07:38
Mexico Theater
As of April 26 environmental activists still hadn't learned the Mexican government's response to requests that the Missouri-based biotech giant Monsanto Company filed on March 26 for permission to expand the sowing of transgenic corn in four northern and western states. Monsanto asked for clearance to sow commercial crops in 28 municipalities in the state of Chihuahua, 11 in Coahuila and nine in Durango. These requests were in an addition to filings it made in January and February to carry out noncommercial pilot projects in the same municipalities and in Comondú in Baja California Sur. Another biotech company, Swiss-based Syngenta AG, filed on March 26 for permission to carry out pilot projects in the state of Sinaloa. People opposing the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) for crops say the total requests would affect 12 million hectares.
At the end of 2011 the Mexican government lifted the last barrier to growing GMO corn for consumption, although the sowing is still regulated and is confined to dry northern and western states where GMO proponents claim it is less likely to contaminate native corn. Environmentalists say even the limited sowing so far has already affected native crops as far away as the southern state of Oaxaca, where local communities and communities from other states testified this month to a committee of the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal (TPP), an international group founded in Italy in 1979 to influence world opinion on various issues. The use of transgenic corn causes malformed plants and low productivity and puts small producers out of business, community representatives told the committee in what was called a "pre-hearing" to decide whether to go ahead with the case. The committee's members are Camila Montecinos from the Chilean office of the Barcelona-based group Grain; Joel Aquino, a Mexican campesino leader; Mexican author Gustavo Esteva, who writes about autonomy and community development; and Indian environmental activist Vandana Shiva. (La Jornada, Mexico, April 5, April 27)
Monsanto reported a net income of $1.48 billion for its second quarter, which ended on Feb. 13, up significantly from the $1.21 billion it earned in the same quarter last year. The company seems equally successful in influencing US politicians. A "continuing resolution" passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama in late March to fund the US government's budget this fiscal year turned out to contain a section protecting companies from lawsuits over health risks that might be related to genetically modified seeds. GMO opponents called the section the "Monsanto Protection Act." (Huffington Post, April 3, some from AP)
[quote=2543] [b]HFCS is an inexpensive sweetener made from genetically-modified corn.
Funny (not really), but we were just having this conversation over the weekend with a couple of farmers about 'NO BEES'! They are all in agreement that it is ALL due to MONSANTO! They said that all farmers are very concerned as to the decline of bees and the future of our food supply and all foilage in general!!!
NOT GOOD!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Notice that nobody in government seems to be interested in finding out about what more and more Americans are coming to believe, that GMO corn syrup may be driving the obesity epidemic? Don't we still have a Surgeon General? She doesn't talk about it. Bloomberg blames soda because his rich friends who don't drink it aren't as fat, but his rich friends don't have to buy cheap food. USDA approves crappy prepackaged food for school lunches over fresh.
If Bloomberg were really interested in health, he would make sure that GMO foods at least be labeled, a measure that was allegedly voted down in California. Everything else has to be on the label, shouldn't the market decide? The Whole Food chain is getting ahead of the trend and they are going to start sourcing all the foods they sell.
Poland beekeepers kick Monsanto out of the hive, successfully ban bee-killing GM corn
by Ethan A. Huff, staff writer
(NaturalNews) A significant health freedom victory has taken place in the European nation of Poland, where all plantings of Monsanto’s MON810, a genetically-modified (GM) variety of maize (corn) that produces its own built-in Bt insecticide in every kernel, have been officially banned.
The decision comes after thousands of protesters recently took to the streets in demonstration of the undeniable fact that both MON810 and the chemicals applied to it are at least partially responsible for causing Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), the worldwide phenomenon in which entire swarms of honey bees disappear or turn up dead.
“The decree is in the works. It introduces a complete ban on the MON810 strain of maize in Poland,” said Polish Agriculture Minister Marek Sawicki, who also explained to the press that pollen from MON810 appears to be responsible for further devastating the already dwindling bee population throughout the country and elsewhere.
According to reports, Poland’s decision to ban MON810 makes it the first nation to formally acknowledge that Monsanto’s GM corn is definitively linked to CCD. It also affirms the findings of several earlier studies that have identified a link between Bt GM crops and bee deaths, including independent research conducted by Pennsylvania beekeeper John McDonald.
McDonald’s research found that bees foraging near Bt crops did not gain the proper amount of weight, and failed to produce honey in their honey supers (honey storage bins) when they should have. Their non-Bt crop counterparts, on the other hand, produced more than double the amount of honey they needed to survive the winter (http://www.naturalnews.com/025287.html).
Back in early March, nine European countries — Belgium, Great Britain, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Ireland, and Slovakia — successfully blocked an effort by the Danish EU presidency to allow expanded cultivation of GM crops in Europe. And around that same time, France imposed its own ban on MON810.
Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to forge ahead in the unmitigated, and largely unregulated, cultivation and use of GM crops. Despite countless grassroots efforts to put at least some restraint on GM agriculture, including a number of state initiatives that would require GMO labeling on food, Monsanto’s products continue to dominate much of the American agricultural landscape.
I notice that Whole Foods is now under attack in the media for political reasons. It just goes to show that not even so-called liberals will go against giant corporations, they are all corporate lackeys. "For the children" only applies to the little people. What's so wrong with labeling all food and letting the market decide?
I notice that Whole Foods is now under attack in the media for political reasons. It just goes to show that not even so-called liberals will go against giant corporations, they are all corporate lackeys. "For the children" only applies to the little people. What's so wrong with labeling all food and letting the market decide?
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