One of the largest benefits of living in Latin America is access to fresh food products. Agriculture in places like Mexico is of a much higher quality, specifically because the farming practices, agricultural procedures, and cooling styles still largely resemble that of their ancestors. Much of this industry has not been industrialized like it has inside the United States.
A trade-off of not using pesticide is buying produce that has pests. This is one fact that expats will notice immediately when living a life abroad. Unlike in the United States, the produce may not look as presentable and pristine, but this is because less has been done to commercialize it.
However, not all aspects of the food quality of Mexico are pure. Through my research of food quality and following the trend of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), I have found that very few foods remain sacred and most are tainted in some way with these GMOs or toxic food additives. In summary, a genetically modified crop has had its DNA code altered in some way. In the food industry, companies have taken the herbicide / pesticide called Glyphosate and placed it inside the cell of the plants that are to be cultivated. This causes the plant to be pesticide producing. The plant that produces the pesticide inside its own tissue then becomes resistant to yet more chemicals. The producer is then able to spray herbicides on the crop without destroying it. There are a few situations in which these practices are regulated by the US EPA. [1]
As time goes on, more information proving negative health effects of these practices surface. Glyphosate has been linked to breast cancer, and other types of issues. Dr. Stephanie Seneff has been at the forefront of research to find the effects of glyphosate and has compiled evidence to suggest that it is also connected to the gluten intolerance trend as well as autism. Those who are interested in the topic should follow her work.[2][5] This situation is very much reminiscent of the DDT chemical debacle of the mid 1900’s when it was considered to be “safe” for human exposure according to the companies who produced it.
The most commonly genetically modified crops are corn, soy, and wheat, so reading that a new study has found modified genetics in 90% of Mexican tortillas is not surprising. This will be an unfortunate realization for US hipsters who believe that their Mexican imported food has not been tainted. The article states:
“…the researchers said the traces of genetically modified genes found in corn products sold in Mexican stores and markets have their origin in plants that have been manipulated mainly in laboratories located in the United States.” [3]
The quote best illiterates that cross contamination is inevitable for even crops that are not genetically modified or even trying to cultivate an “organic” crop. Expats should be extra cautious when making food purchases because of this. The article mentions that that hand-made tortillas are far less likely to include glyphosate. However, abstaining from grains is ideal because of the risk. These grains are also carbohydrates, which will adversely affect those trying to lose weight. Carbohydrates trigger the hormone insulin which is the main growth hormone that causes weight gain. [4] Increasingly Mexico is seeing an increase in debilitating illnesses such as childhood obesity and diabetes, which are already prominent inside the Unites States.
Notes:
[1] http://npic.orst.edu/reg/pip.html
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23756170
[3] http://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/gm-corn-found-in-over-90-of-tortillas-in-mx/
[4] http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/insulin-and-weight-gain/ART-20047836?pg=1
[5] https://www.alternet.org/food/meet-controversial-mit-scientist-who-claims-have-discovered-cause-gluten-sensitivty
