Study blames bad corn for border birth defects [Texas tortillas cause of anencephalic babies]

Laredo Morning Times/AP ^ | February 9, 2006

[Xenalyte]

I know people are gonna think I'm rude for asking, but why was your nephew eating birdseed?

[tiki]

If the "health" addicts got their way and we went to all organic farming, a lot more people would be dying of food infected with mold and fungus.

[tiki]

I was going to mention aflatoxin. It is another killer which grows on corn.

[proud American in Canada]

If the "health" addicts got their way and we went to all organic farming, a lot more people would be dying of food infected with mold and fungus

and a decreased population would suit them just fine, since to many of them, humanity is a cancer on the planet.

[tiki]

Is there no available fungicide for this problem?

[Old Professer]

Now I am unclear on your point; are you saying you can't buy any seed other than Monsanto or that the Monsanto corn is high in toxins?

[wolfcreek]

I can't remember the name but, there's a blue fungus allowed to grow on certain types of corn in Mexico that is actually considered a delicacy. Anybody familiar with it?

[SwinneySwitch]

"Huitlacoche, the prized corn fungus, also known as corn smut, or Mexican caviar, which looks evil but tastes divine and is sometimes compared to truffles."

[Faith-Hope]

I was going to mention aflatoxin. It is another killer which grows on corn.



It is my understanding that Mexico bought tons of aflatoxin corn from the United States. About four or five years ago most of the South Texas corn contained aflatoxin.

[Joe 6-pack]

"An epidemiologist friend said this mold was the culprit several years ago."

Here's a picture of a bad corn...

...I have to agree. It looks like mold is the culprit.

[nomorelurker]

10 a day is not that many if that's about all you eat which well could be the case here. I'm not saying it's a good diet but it's a cheap one.

[McGavin999]

There are other forms of corn used in their diets, including corn meal in tamales, corn used in soups (including a wonderful chili corn chowder). I would imagine that corn is a HUGE staple in their diets.

[Calpernia]

bttt

[Calpernia]

ping

[humblegunner]

but why was your nephew eating birdseed?

Thats a bloody rude question.

[sarasota]

I was under the impression that Monsanto has a stranglehold on seed corn in the Midwest.

[rusty millet]

Fumonisin is caused primarily by Fusarium verticillioides. Aflatoxin is caused primarily by Aspergillus flavus. Both fungi are common contaminants of corn - not just GMO corn. They tend to produce toxins when the corn is undergoing drought stress. The problems of these toxins near Mexico is not that surprising - its a stressful growing environment.

Imagine what is going on in Africa where corn cultivation is being widely promoted in areas it has no business growing. Corn is displacing the traditional cereals (sorghum and pearl millet) which are not prone to these toxins. I suspect we will see widespread health consequences in societies that are already struggling with widespread poverty, AIDS, malaria, and malnutrition.

[cyborg]

Patented lie. If you're going to make statements like that then back it up with facts and examples. Maybe you want pesticide laden, GM food but I don't.

[cyborg]

Well I don't believe humanity is a cancer on the planet at all. There's nothing wrong or liberal about taking care of yourself and wanting the freshest food for your body, preferably one that hasn't been sprayed, overfarmed or overprocessed. GM farming and the rest was supposed to be a boon to humanity but it really isn't. Corn has flooded the market with disasterous results like high fructose corn syrup for instance.

[nomorelurker]

What's next for you Killer Tomatoes????