Are Anti-GMO Campaigners Blocking Gluten-free Wheat that Could Help Celiac Sufferers?

Why the obsession with the idea that people HAVE to have wheat?

GMO marketers are touting GMOs as custom solutions to various digestive issues. Just as the wind blows and birds and insects fly, GMOs cannot be contained and threaten to contaminate other crops, affect important pollinator insects, and affect humans and animals in ways that can't be foreseen. GMOs are like opening Pandora's box on nature. Some GMOs allow plants to survive ever larger amounts of pesticides, pesticides that get into the food chain and pesticides that end up in our bodies. The corporate giants that control GMOs want us to think that they will have the keys to all sorts of ailments, of course -- great marketing for their profit-maker and great way to get more taxpayer research dollars. Heck, wouldn't it be great to walk through the woods and be able to eat bird berries and poisonous mushrooms? When do we say enough is enough and ask the powers to be to stop messing with nature? How about focusing on cleaning nature up? Look up the number of toxic Superfund sites in the USA that have been sitting for decades right in our towns and countrysides? How about working to protect pollinators and work with nature? Oh, not enough profit in it. The downsides and risks to swamping our environment with GMOs are too great. I'm celiac and I'm tired of hearing about "cures" all the time so that I supposedly can stop watching what I eat. GMOs unleashed will make our choices even harder. I imagine many of us will end up in the doctor's office trying to figure out what is still bothering our gut after our bodies are forced to deal with the unknowns of GMOs. How long will it take doctors to figure all that out? Think how long it's taken many of them to get on board understanding celiac. I know some would like to think we're on an episode of Star Trek and that the science of GMOs is moving us ever-closer to curing all disease and creating food in a replicator. Who will own that monopoly? I think we know.

(This comment is submitted as a personal opinion on the topic and not meant to reflect at the writer's or owner's of the celiac.com website in any way. I appreciate the opportunity to express opinion here and to read opinions of others. Thanks!)

Jefferson, certainly genetically modified wheat should be permitted particularly if it will help celiacs. The anti-GMO folks sound politically correct on all fronts, but the science is lacking to underscore their concerns. Someday science may show their concerns justified--and also that may prove to be shown to be a straw man. Time will tell, but the most important thing is to utilize ALL efforts at improving life for those of us with celiac sprue. Which is the traditional name for the condition--which I use and urge all others to do likewise also.

I would be thrilled to imagine there would be a wheat that wouldn't have the gluten proteins that make me sick.

GMO crops were launched without the scientific inquiries that would make certain that the modifications would do no harm.

Most GMOs currently in production were done to increase resistance to glysphosate (roundup).

Although the techniques are possible, without evaluation of long term exposure to the modifications, the initial consumers become the test set.

Personally, I would stay far, far away from GMO Wheat.

so many problems that could occur:

Cross contamination in the fields,

cross contamination in the processing

How could a consumer know whether or not they are getting modified wheat or regular?

I'll continue to eat my gluten free grains and stay healthy, thanks

I don't understand why a government would block it. Let a company make the product and make sure the label clearly states its a GMO product and let the people decide if they want it or not.

Certainly we should explore any option that could give us some (dietary options).

I'm all for gluten free wheat - but GMO usually means treating seeds with herbicide, pesticide resistant roundup Monsanto products. YUK! We are making our nation sicker and sicker. Get back to nature and enjoy God's gifts (Not Chemicals).

Why the obsession with the idea that people HAVE to have wheat?

I agree - I live happily without wheat. I don't want wheat in my diet. I especially don't want to be someone's experiment. GMO is about profit and nothing else. BigAg is freaking out because people are actually beginning to question how their food is raised. We celiacs are the proverbial "canaries in the coal mine" and BigAg will do just about anything to discredit us.

I don't understand why a government would block it. Let a company make the product and make sure the label clearly states its a GMO product and let the people decide if they want it or not.

GMO doesn't have to be labeled in the USA and I'm positive the private company won't voluntarily do so. I agree that the consumer should have the opportunity to decide what goes in their bodies. As for me and my celiac... I avoid GMO as much as possible!

Big fat NO!!

No. What about the 5% in that strand that could cause problems? Did the doctors in Spain forget that a single grain of gluten causes a reaction in the small intestine for 72 hours? Five percent of gluten is still gluten. If they could produce a strand that is 100% safe it would be good, but it still seems too commercial and less natural. Are we here for the money or to help people with celiac disease? Why instead of trying to produce something anti-nature , they look for other alternatives that seem more logical?

I would be thrilled to imagine there would be a wheat that wouldn't have the gluten proteins that make me sick.

GMO crops were launched without the scientific inquiries that would make certain that the modifications would do no harm.

Most GMOs currently in production were done to increase resistance to glysphosate (roundup).

Although the techniques are possible, without evaluation of long term exposure to the modifications, the initial consumers become the test set.

Personally, I would stay far, far away from GMO Wheat.

so many problems that could occur:

Cross contamination in the fields,

cross contamination in the processing

How could a consumer know whether or not they are getting modified wheat or regular?

I'll continue to eat my gluten free grains and stay healthy, thanks

I totally agree!