The GMO papaya was developed to be resistant to the ringspot virus, but a recent study showed it may be losing that ability.
The genetically modified food industry has been given cart blanche to contaminate the United States food supply to the point where farmers have lost billions of dollars in the export market, and Roundup samples have been found in the air, drinking water, and even in many of our favorite foods and drinks.
But in other countries like Russia where the GMO threat is taken seriously, a completely opposite narrative is unfolding: companies that illegally distribute GMOs to consumers without labels are being held accountable, as public opinion continues to go against the controversial crops.
As far as controversial companies go, there are few out there as well known and protested against as the Monsanto Company, but the Nestle corporation is close.
And now, the company is under fire in Russia, after one of the world’s most surprising GMOs has been found in the company’s instant cereals oatmeal porridge product.
GMO Finding Violates Russian Federal Law
This past week, Russia’s consumer rights protection watchdog organization Rospotrebnadzor filed an administrative violation lawsuit against Nestle after finding genetically modified papaya in the company’s instant cereals oatmeal porridge product, a report from RT said.
Nestle is the largest packaged foods company in the world, and while the company has gotten into the world of healthier foods and supplements recently, including its stunning purchase of the Garden of Life supplement company, it still produces many foods with GMOs.
The agency said that the manufacturer knew about the non-compliance of the brand, named Bystrov, but did not inform them of it. It has been reported by Russian media that Rospotrebnadzor has removed the product from sale.
The case was initiated under the Article 37 of Russia’s Federal Law on technical regulation stipulating the manufacturer should inform the state control authority about any non-compliance.
Meanwhile, Nestle’s press service has said that Nestle Russia does not use genetically modified ingredients in its product line (in stark contrast with its many GMO-laden packaged foods in the United States), and that the cereal with GMO papaya had been halted along with deliveries from its warehouses upon discovery.
Nestle’s Controversial History
Aside from its support for GMOs, Nestle has been widely criticized for its stances on water privatization, as well as its ongoing siphoning of public water supplies that are then re-sold to consumers through plastic bottled water packages.
In Michigan, the state recently ignored nearly 100,000 petitions and approved what is believed to be the biggest water siphoning ever, from an aquifer on the west side of the Great Lakes State.
According to a report from GMWatch.org, Nestle also has been embroiled in scandals involving slave an admission of possible slave labor in its coffee supply chain in 2016, a discovery of forced labor in its seafood supply chains in Thailand, an inability to back up its allegedly sustainable palm oil claims that led to a revoking of its membership in one major organization, and several others including food safety hazard related scandals.
How to Avoid GMO Papayas in Nestle and Other Products
Genetically modified papaya is generally only produced in Hawaii, where a battle has been raging between organic, non-GMO and GMO producers.
GMO rainbow papayas.
Proponents of GMO papayas say that the crop was saved by the technology, while opponents say that GMO papayas created a new fungal disease that led to more dangerous spraying of chemicals on one of the island’s favorite and most profitable fruits.
To avoid GMO papaya, buy organic, or consider getting in touch with the manufacturer to learn more, or buy your papaya from other countries whenever possible to be on the safe side.
One of the best uses for papaya is to aid in the digestion of all types of foods; papaya enzymes are popular as supplements for for this ability in particular (non-GMO versions are sold online and in health food stores).
The Non-GMO Project verified label is also important to look for when it comes to identifying products that may contain GMO papaya or other genetically engineered ingredients.
If you want to avoid GMO ingredients, avoiding Nestle products not marked organic or non-GMO is also a good place to start.
The company is known as a strong supporter of the Biotech industry through written statements in support of GMOs on its website, and its vast purchasing of GMO food ingredients for use in its products each year.
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About Nick Meyer
