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Modified: GMOs and the Threat to Our Food, Our Land, Our Future
A disquieting and meditative look at the issue that started the biggest food fight of our time--GMOs. From a journalist and mother who learned that genetically modified corn was the culprit behind what was making her and her child sick, a must-read book for anyone trying to parse the incendiary discussion about genetically modified foods.
*One of Publishers Weekly's Best Books 2016*
"More so than definitive answers, the questions that Shetterly advances are a persuasive reminder of how important the continued fight for true transparency in the food industry is." -- Goop
GMO products are among the most consumed and the least understood substances in the United States today. They appear not only in the food we eat, but in everything from the interior coating of paper coffee cups and medicines to diapers and toothpaste. We are often completely unaware of their presence.
Caitlin Shetterly discovered the importance of GMOs the hard way. Shortly after she learned that her son had an alarming sensitivity to GMO corn, she was told that she had the same condition, and her family’s daily existence changed forever. An expansion of Shetterly’s viral Elle article “The Bad Seed,” Modified delves deep into the heart of the matter—from the cornfields of Nebraska to the beekeeping conventions in Brussels—to shine a light on the people, the science, and the corporations behind the food we serve ourselves and our families every day. Deeper than an exposé, and written by a mother and journalist whose journey had no agenda other than to understand the nuance and confusion behind GMOs, Modified is a rare breed of book that will at once make you weep at the majestic beauty of our Great Plains and force you to harvest deep seeds of doubt about the invisible monsters currently infiltrating our food and our land and threatening our future.
*One of Publishers Weekly's Best Books 2016*
"More so than definitive answers, the questions that Shetterly advances are a persuasive reminder of how important the continued fight for true transparency in the food industry is." -- Goop
GMO products are among the most consumed and the least understood substances in the United States today. They appear not only in the food we eat, but in everything from the interior coating of paper coffee cups and medicines to diapers and toothpaste. We are often completely unaware of their presence.
Caitlin Shetterly discovered the importance of GMOs the hard way. Shortly after she learned that her son had an alarming sensitivity to GMO corn, she was told that she had the same condition, and her family’s daily existence changed forever. An expansion of Shetterly’s viral Elle article “The Bad Seed,” Modified delves deep into the heart of the matter—from the cornfields of Nebraska to the beekeeping conventions in Brussels—to shine a light on the people, the science, and the corporations behind the food we serve ourselves and our families every day. Deeper than an exposé, and written by a mother and journalist whose journey had no agenda other than to understand the nuance and confusion behind GMOs, Modified is a rare breed of book that will at once make you weep at the majestic beauty of our Great Plains and force you to harvest deep seeds of doubt about the invisible monsters currently infiltrating our food and our land and threatening our future.
341 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2016
15 people are currently reading
548 people want to read
About the author
Caitlin Shetterly
5 books126 followersCaitlin Shetterly is a frequent contributor to National Public Radio where she reports on arts and culture, food, and lifestyle. She can be heard on both All Things Considered and Weekend Edition. For Weekend Edition, she created a series of autobiographical audio diaries about the Recession under the title Diary of a Recession. These diaries, along with her blog, Passage West, inspired her memoir Made For You and Me: Going West, Going Broke, Finding Home (Voice, March 8, 2011).
Caitlin's first book, Fault Lines: Stories of Divorce, was published by the Putnam Berkley Group in 2001. For several years, she wrote a bimonthly column, "Bramhall Square," about relationships and love for the Portland Phoenix.
Caitlin is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Winter Harbor Theatre Company, where she produces and directs works that attempt to tackle the important issues of our time. Caitlin graduated with Honors in English and American Literature from Brown University. She lives with her husband, photographer Daniel E. Davis, their young son, and their salty dog, Hopper. When she isn't writing, directing plays, producing radio pieces, cooking, cleaning or childrearing, Caitlin spends as much time as possible reading, watching "Friday Night Lights" and, especially, walking outside in nature.
Caitlin's first book, Fault Lines: Stories of Divorce, was published by the Putnam Berkley Group in 2001. For several years, she wrote a bimonthly column, "Bramhall Square," about relationships and love for the Portland Phoenix.
Caitlin is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Winter Harbor Theatre Company, where she produces and directs works that attempt to tackle the important issues of our time. Caitlin graduated with Honors in English and American Literature from Brown University. She lives with her husband, photographer Daniel E. Davis, their young son, and their salty dog, Hopper. When she isn't writing, directing plays, producing radio pieces, cooking, cleaning or childrearing, Caitlin spends as much time as possible reading, watching "Friday Night Lights" and, especially, walking outside in nature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 24, 2016
Many thanks to Penguin and their First To Read program for the opportunity to read this important new nonfiction book in which Caitlin Shetterly investigates GMOs and wide-spread pesticide usage in farming.
If given a choice, I tend to pick organic and chemical-free products after being diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder over twenty years ago and deciding to eliminate as many chemicals as possible from my lifestyle (hair dye, nail polish, harsh cleaning products, lawn and garden weed and pest killers etc.) So naturally, I've been concerned about genetically-engineered plants and the heavy use of pesticides that goes along with those. Consequently, I jumped at the chance to read this book and gain more knowledge about the subject.
Shetterly's personal health issues, and those of her infant son, are also behind her desire to educate herself about this topic and share what she has learned with readers. She is neither a doctor nor a scientist but began her investigation by interviewing experts, scientists and farmers on both sides of the issue. The end result of that was an article she wrote for Elle Magazine which appeared in the July, 2013 issue, and was entitled "The Bad Seed: The Health Risks of Genetically Modified Corn." Her article created a great deal of controversary and backlash from Big Ag and pro-GMO scientists but the editors at Elle stood by her--she had the proof of statements made to her on tape and they had done thorough fact-checking before publishing her article.
For her book, Shetterly has traveled across the US and Europe and talked to farmers, scientists, government agencies etc., to expand her knowledge of what is happening in the field of genetic engineering today and explore what dangers their widespread usage might pose to all of us. The real losers are our children and grandchildren if these Big Ag companies have gone too far. Already contamination to non-GMO crops is wide-spread, it seems. What will be the ultimate cost to the earth and all its creatures? It's time to educate ourselves as best we can on these important issues.
If given a choice, I tend to pick organic and chemical-free products after being diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder over twenty years ago and deciding to eliminate as many chemicals as possible from my lifestyle (hair dye, nail polish, harsh cleaning products, lawn and garden weed and pest killers etc.) So naturally, I've been concerned about genetically-engineered plants and the heavy use of pesticides that goes along with those. Consequently, I jumped at the chance to read this book and gain more knowledge about the subject.
Shetterly's personal health issues, and those of her infant son, are also behind her desire to educate herself about this topic and share what she has learned with readers. She is neither a doctor nor a scientist but began her investigation by interviewing experts, scientists and farmers on both sides of the issue. The end result of that was an article she wrote for Elle Magazine which appeared in the July, 2013 issue, and was entitled "The Bad Seed: The Health Risks of Genetically Modified Corn." Her article created a great deal of controversary and backlash from Big Ag and pro-GMO scientists but the editors at Elle stood by her--she had the proof of statements made to her on tape and they had done thorough fact-checking before publishing her article.
For her book, Shetterly has traveled across the US and Europe and talked to farmers, scientists, government agencies etc., to expand her knowledge of what is happening in the field of genetic engineering today and explore what dangers their widespread usage might pose to all of us. The real losers are our children and grandchildren if these Big Ag companies have gone too far. Already contamination to non-GMO crops is wide-spread, it seems. What will be the ultimate cost to the earth and all its creatures? It's time to educate ourselves as best we can on these important issues.
August 6, 2016
I don’t read non-fiction trade books very often, but when I saw Modified: GMOs and the Threat to Our Food, Our Land, Our Future by Caitlin Shetterly come up on First To Read, I decided to request it. A couple weeks later, I had the book downloaded on Kindle Fire, and was very happy with my choice to read it. There was enough anecdote and narrative to keep the story-loving part of my mind engaged, and enough science to teach me something new. It was book that encouraged me to ask questions, not the kind that asks for trust and acceptance.
GMO’s, like most controversies these days, are a very polarized argument. I really appreciated how Shetterly explored multiple facets of the issue, including some voices from both polar extremes and a lot of voices from the gray areas. Her book made me feel like I wasn’t crazy for spending the extra money on organic or non-gmo products, but didn’t shame me for opting for the cheaper products either. They gave a level headed voice to the science that is saying GMO’s are dangerous, and have the opposition a chance to voice their opinions too, though I will say the anti-gmo science came out on top in this one.
Another thing I loved about this book was that one of the friendliest characters interviewed was a farmer who raised gmo crops. She’s not demonizing anyone or attacking the people actually working in the fields, but the products being sold to them and the corporations whose greed is hurting all living creatures on the planet.
Modified was an enjoyable and thought provoking read that has raised a lot of questions for me, and has me rethinking the way I eat and shop. It’s also got me motivated to take better care of my own garden as the dog days of summer drag on.
-Sara (www.saracodair.com)
GMO’s, like most controversies these days, are a very polarized argument. I really appreciated how Shetterly explored multiple facets of the issue, including some voices from both polar extremes and a lot of voices from the gray areas. Her book made me feel like I wasn’t crazy for spending the extra money on organic or non-gmo products, but didn’t shame me for opting for the cheaper products either. They gave a level headed voice to the science that is saying GMO’s are dangerous, and have the opposition a chance to voice their opinions too, though I will say the anti-gmo science came out on top in this one.
Another thing I loved about this book was that one of the friendliest characters interviewed was a farmer who raised gmo crops. She’s not demonizing anyone or attacking the people actually working in the fields, but the products being sold to them and the corporations whose greed is hurting all living creatures on the planet.
Modified was an enjoyable and thought provoking read that has raised a lot of questions for me, and has me rethinking the way I eat and shop. It’s also got me motivated to take better care of my own garden as the dog days of summer drag on.
-Sara (www.saracodair.com)
October 13, 2016
As I eat my non-GMO corn, I can honestly say that I really didn’t give much thought about this entire controversy but this book definitely taught me a lot about what chemical companies are doing with crops (corn, soybeans, & cotton) and it’s possible impact on the environment (including bees & honey) and one’s health. This quote from the book: “…It’s really really hard to write about science in the same amount of detail as a scientist, who knows the terrain, can explain science, and can make sure we understand every possibility,” sums up my view that although this was an interesting read, I felt that I had to take the author’s word with skepticism. I appreciate how the author presented her own personal story and included representatives from all sides (farmers, university scientists, etc.) Also my e-copy could not be enlarged so I had to read a very tiny font which made this a difficult read and unable to read any of the footnotes.
Thanks to First to Read- Penguin Books USA for the free copy of this book.
Thanks to First to Read- Penguin Books USA for the free copy of this book.
January 3, 2019
Shortly after she was married Caitlin Shetterly started getting sick with a variety of symptoms that didn't seem to point to an obvious illness. After her son was born it continued to get worse to the point where she was exhausted all the time and could barely do anything. Around the same time her son experienced some weird symptoms and his doctor thought it might be a corn allergy. Not long after that Caitlin finally saw a doctor who said he thought she might be having an allergy to the proteins created by the enterotoxins bred into GMO corn - and that was likely what her son had as well. But, in trying to cut GMO corn completely out of her diet proved harder than you might think - corn is in EVERYTHING - pretty much every processed food has some corn derivative in it. Shetterly's family had to basically grow and source local, non-GMO food and prepare it themselves, but once they did all of her symptoms stopped. After going through this traumatic experience, Shetterly wanted to dig into GMOs. What exactly are they? What do we know about how they affect humans? This book is the result of those questions. A very thorough, but easy to read explanation of the horror-show that is genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. This is a terrifying, yet must-read book that exposes how our government has allowed Monsanto and other biotech companies to mutate our food for huge profits.
Quotes I liked:
"[Dr. Mansmann] said he'd come to believe, in the years since GMOs were first introduced, that some people might be developing a kind of chronic allergic response that was caused not by the corn itself, but instead by the proteins created by both the enterotoxins, bred into the corn to make it pest-resistant, and the proteins created from making it 'Roundup Ready'..." (p.14)
"I find that people like to say that farmers have been 'genetically modifying' our food for ten thousand years. This is just not accurate...To emphasize, a GMO, most often, carries the genes from two different species - and only technology (except in rare occurrences) can make this happen. No farmer or plant breeder or botanist can do this outside of a lab. Again, GMOs can only be made in the laboratory. Nature will never make a GMO on her own and you can't make one out in the field, no matter how brilliant a farmer you are." (p. 22)
"(Between 2001 and 2007, as GMO products took off, glyphosate use more than doubled; 180-185 million pounds of glyphosate were used in 2007. Some researchers estimate another doubling, as least, in the last decade, but it's hard for us to know because the Bush administration, openly friendly with the chemical companies, was reportedly persuaded to stop recording glyphosate sales in 2007.)" (p. 28-9)
"...back in 2002, during the African famine, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia refused food aid from the United States because they did not want genetically modified corn. (Zambia's President Mwanawasa said, famously, 'Simply because my people are hungry, that is no justification to give them poison.')" (p. 98-9)
[Dave of Food Democracy Now!] "'It almost doesn't matter who's in the White House because it's been a corporate takeover of our government,' he said. 'This is gangster capitalism.' And then he elaborated further, 'There are six hundred corporate lobbyists controlling America. No one in the White House does.'" (p. 150-1)
"Ignacio said that a German importer had told him that he had hit a stumbling block in his importation business: In order to make sure his honey is GMO-free, he has to run some expensive PCR testing (testing for GMO DNA) to be sure the 'GMO-free' label is accurate. And the problem was that his drums were often contaminated. He told Ignacio that even a small amount of GMO DNA from just one family's operation could ruin a whole drum, in which he's already invested quite a bit of time and money. So Ignacio had asked the guy, 'Well, what do you do with it if it does have GMO DNA? Do you dump the honey into the sea or what?' And the guy says to Ignacio, 'Oh no. We just send it to the U.S. where people don't care.'" (p. 168-9)
"In Dashka Slater's Mother Jones piece, she wrote, 'Gender deformities were present among frogs exposed to as little as 0.1 part per billion (picture a thousandth of a grain of salt in a half gallon of water). That's thirty times less than the 3 ppb the EPA allows in our drinking water.' Indeed, some of Tyrone's studies were showing that atrazine, even at extremely low levels, was causing some male frogs to 'become' females - complete with female parts. This was an electrifying and terrifying discovery." (p. 294)
"Wendell Berry's famous words: 'You cannot regulate an abomination. You have got to stop it.'" (p. 306)
"[A 2014] study said that neonics are as dangerous as DDT and are affecting birds, fish, worms, pollinators, bugs - you name it. Their study also found that traces of neonics have been found in fruits, vegetables, cow's milk, and honey. This is the first comprehensive compendium that seems to point the finger, without a doubt, to the trouble neonics, used primarily on GMO crops, could be wreaking." (p. 323)
Quotes I liked:
"[Dr. Mansmann] said he'd come to believe, in the years since GMOs were first introduced, that some people might be developing a kind of chronic allergic response that was caused not by the corn itself, but instead by the proteins created by both the enterotoxins, bred into the corn to make it pest-resistant, and the proteins created from making it 'Roundup Ready'..." (p.14)
"I find that people like to say that farmers have been 'genetically modifying' our food for ten thousand years. This is just not accurate...To emphasize, a GMO, most often, carries the genes from two different species - and only technology (except in rare occurrences) can make this happen. No farmer or plant breeder or botanist can do this outside of a lab. Again, GMOs can only be made in the laboratory. Nature will never make a GMO on her own and you can't make one out in the field, no matter how brilliant a farmer you are." (p. 22)
"(Between 2001 and 2007, as GMO products took off, glyphosate use more than doubled; 180-185 million pounds of glyphosate were used in 2007. Some researchers estimate another doubling, as least, in the last decade, but it's hard for us to know because the Bush administration, openly friendly with the chemical companies, was reportedly persuaded to stop recording glyphosate sales in 2007.)" (p. 28-9)
"...back in 2002, during the African famine, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia refused food aid from the United States because they did not want genetically modified corn. (Zambia's President Mwanawasa said, famously, 'Simply because my people are hungry, that is no justification to give them poison.')" (p. 98-9)
[Dave of Food Democracy Now!] "'It almost doesn't matter who's in the White House because it's been a corporate takeover of our government,' he said. 'This is gangster capitalism.' And then he elaborated further, 'There are six hundred corporate lobbyists controlling America. No one in the White House does.'" (p. 150-1)
"Ignacio said that a German importer had told him that he had hit a stumbling block in his importation business: In order to make sure his honey is GMO-free, he has to run some expensive PCR testing (testing for GMO DNA) to be sure the 'GMO-free' label is accurate. And the problem was that his drums were often contaminated. He told Ignacio that even a small amount of GMO DNA from just one family's operation could ruin a whole drum, in which he's already invested quite a bit of time and money. So Ignacio had asked the guy, 'Well, what do you do with it if it does have GMO DNA? Do you dump the honey into the sea or what?' And the guy says to Ignacio, 'Oh no. We just send it to the U.S. where people don't care.'" (p. 168-9)
"In Dashka Slater's Mother Jones piece, she wrote, 'Gender deformities were present among frogs exposed to as little as 0.1 part per billion (picture a thousandth of a grain of salt in a half gallon of water). That's thirty times less than the 3 ppb the EPA allows in our drinking water.' Indeed, some of Tyrone's studies were showing that atrazine, even at extremely low levels, was causing some male frogs to 'become' females - complete with female parts. This was an electrifying and terrifying discovery." (p. 294)
"Wendell Berry's famous words: 'You cannot regulate an abomination. You have got to stop it.'" (p. 306)
"[A 2014] study said that neonics are as dangerous as DDT and are affecting birds, fish, worms, pollinators, bugs - you name it. Their study also found that traces of neonics have been found in fruits, vegetables, cow's milk, and honey. This is the first comprehensive compendium that seems to point the finger, without a doubt, to the trouble neonics, used primarily on GMO crops, could be wreaking." (p. 323)
August 21, 2016
I was privileged to be chosen as someone who was allowed to read this early through First To Read and I'm so glad I had the opportunity. The author beautifully expressed her feelings and research throughout this book and did a wonderful job citing her sources. In this country we have been trained to either be 100% for something or 100% against something and refuse to even attempt to find a middle ground *or* hear out "the other side." The author of this book has had her experiences professionally and personally, and even though it was very evident what her beliefs were in the book she made it a point to show both sides of the playing field when it comes to this topic.
This is a fantastic read and I hope that people will give it a fair chance. I know that the author is going to go through some hell because of this book but I appreciate all of her efforts and hope that maybe it will help to get some people to look a bit further into this topic instead of just refusing to acknowledge the legitimate issues and concerns revolving around genetically modifying our food.
This is a fantastic read and I hope that people will give it a fair chance. I know that the author is going to go through some hell because of this book but I appreciate all of her efforts and hope that maybe it will help to get some people to look a bit further into this topic instead of just refusing to acknowledge the legitimate issues and concerns revolving around genetically modifying our food.
November 23, 2016
The narration was monotone to a degree; however, the information was very mind blowing. I may become a gardener. #foodie #whenthefoodrunsout #zombieapocalypse
September 14, 2016
There were several disquieting things I took away from this book. One is that our food is more and more under the control of corporations that are more interested in profit and making money than they are in actually supplying good for us food. The second in that our governments are willing to go along with these corporations unless they get significant push-back from the people. And even then, they will try to go behind the public's back to support the corporations. The corporations have been using a very hit-or-miss technique to alter the genes and the proteins in food plants so they can sell both the seeds and the pesticides/herbicides used to grow those plants. That would tend to mean that we are also eating those pesticides. Not everybody has the same sensitivity to allergens or foreign proteins, so problems with them aren't widespread yet. Third is that there are groups of people who are resisting using or eating the genetically modified plants.
Part of the resistance is a result of the secrecy the corporations insisted on as these things were developed. Their entire attitude seems to have been: We are doing this, it's good for us, we believe it's good for you, so just shut up and eat the new food. Another part is simply we don't know if these changes are good for us or if there will be changes in us as a result of the changes in our food. Any testing that has been done was done by the corporations themselves. The results of that testing is buried in reams of paper stored somewhere.
I have mixed feeling about GMOs and the monoculture agriculture we have been developing. Fence to fence growing of just one or two plants doesn't sound like sustainable farming to me. Profitable for the seed sellers, true, but can we really live on just corn?
I received this book for this review from First To Read.
Part of the resistance is a result of the secrecy the corporations insisted on as these things were developed. Their entire attitude seems to have been: We are doing this, it's good for us, we believe it's good for you, so just shut up and eat the new food. Another part is simply we don't know if these changes are good for us or if there will be changes in us as a result of the changes in our food. Any testing that has been done was done by the corporations themselves. The results of that testing is buried in reams of paper stored somewhere.
I have mixed feeling about GMOs and the monoculture agriculture we have been developing. Fence to fence growing of just one or two plants doesn't sound like sustainable farming to me. Profitable for the seed sellers, true, but can we really live on just corn?
I received this book for this review from First To Read.
February 15, 2017
"Science is about asking whether you can be wrong, not whether you're right. People believe that it's about being right but it's not. It's always doubting yourself." ~Ignacio Chapela
This was a memoir-like book about one women’s quest to understand GMOs after an illness that was linked to GMO corn. At first, it seems sort of far-fetched, I won’t lie, even though I am not a fan of GMOs. But, as Shetterly chronicles her journey to understand GMOs at a more scientific level, she finds research and professionals that have a done a great deal to uncover some scary truths. These truths are not just about the planting and harvesting of GMOs, but the damaging effects to our environment, our health, and exposes the control that industry has over our government and our universities - and ultimately, us. Shetterly really gives us a lot to further consider. This book is pack with ideas and she does mention a lot of other material, within the text, for further reading.
I thought this was an excellent account to understand GMOs and think that Shetterly has written the book so that anyone can comprehend what she is talking about, but also you feel like you really get to know her throughout the narrative. My biggest problem was that she does not reference anything. Oh sure, there are quotes here and there that she directly references. But overall, there are no references – which to me should classify this book more as a personal narrative than a science book. She could have, at the very least, gave us references to the research done by her friends – for me, mostly, Tyrone & Ignacio. She doesn’t even cite the reference for her own article, that she mentions time and time again. To me, unless you are the expert and you are discussing your own results from experimentation, you always cite & directly reference your work.
This was a memoir-like book about one women’s quest to understand GMOs after an illness that was linked to GMO corn. At first, it seems sort of far-fetched, I won’t lie, even though I am not a fan of GMOs. But, as Shetterly chronicles her journey to understand GMOs at a more scientific level, she finds research and professionals that have a done a great deal to uncover some scary truths. These truths are not just about the planting and harvesting of GMOs, but the damaging effects to our environment, our health, and exposes the control that industry has over our government and our universities - and ultimately, us. Shetterly really gives us a lot to further consider. This book is pack with ideas and she does mention a lot of other material, within the text, for further reading.
I thought this was an excellent account to understand GMOs and think that Shetterly has written the book so that anyone can comprehend what she is talking about, but also you feel like you really get to know her throughout the narrative. My biggest problem was that she does not reference anything. Oh sure, there are quotes here and there that she directly references. But overall, there are no references – which to me should classify this book more as a personal narrative than a science book. She could have, at the very least, gave us references to the research done by her friends – for me, mostly, Tyrone & Ignacio. She doesn’t even cite the reference for her own article, that she mentions time and time again. To me, unless you are the expert and you are discussing your own results from experimentation, you always cite & directly reference your work.
February 4, 2017
This book is chock-full of commissions of the naturalistic fallacy, as well as anecdotal observations being substituted for scientific research and travelogue being substituted for logically presented story line, those last two noted by others.
The naturalistic fallacy begins, of course, with the idea that non-GMO is better than GMO, and that organic is better than non-organic. Since there's no index to this book, I have no idea if Ms. Shetterly knows that she's probably eating mutagenic foods; that is, her Rio Star or Ruby Star grapefruit, barley in bread or beer and other things have been created by RADIATION!!!
This narrative reaches almost comic levels with her description of Nebraska farmer Zack Hunnicutt and his apple-pie, all-American looks. One almost expects to find out she thinks Monsanto has maade him into a Manchurian farmer. (Beyond that, a lot of this part of the story has comments about him that come off as patronizing.)
Otherwise, while I feel for whatever caused her health symptoms, looking for GMO-related corn proteins in something like corn starch, let alone corn syrup, seems gnat-straining.
The naturalistic fallacy begins, of course, with the idea that non-GMO is better than GMO, and that organic is better than non-organic. Since there's no index to this book, I have no idea if Ms. Shetterly knows that she's probably eating mutagenic foods; that is, her Rio Star or Ruby Star grapefruit, barley in bread or beer and other things have been created by RADIATION!!!
This narrative reaches almost comic levels with her description of Nebraska farmer Zack Hunnicutt and his apple-pie, all-American looks. One almost expects to find out she thinks Monsanto has maade him into a Manchurian farmer. (Beyond that, a lot of this part of the story has comments about him that come off as patronizing.)
Otherwise, while I feel for whatever caused her health symptoms, looking for GMO-related corn proteins in something like corn starch, let alone corn syrup, seems gnat-straining.
September 12, 2016
I received this book through First To Read program.
I am very interested in GMO topic since the day I've started understanding the importance of food.
This book has lots of versatile information, ranging from local American laws and cases to European experiences.
I was surprised to learn new things in this books because media covers GMO related stories pretty well. And then I realized how much I sill don't know. Especially, what kind of new diseases are appearing from the long-term exposure to certain GMO products.
I still meet a lot intelligent people who think GMO is nothing bad. But now I could recommend this book.
The only minus I found in this book is the storytelling style: sometimes information would be represented in a (prefered) professional way and sometimes the story would be interfered by personal and (maybe) not so important stories. That was very distracting, alas.
I am very interested in GMO topic since the day I've started understanding the importance of food.
This book has lots of versatile information, ranging from local American laws and cases to European experiences.
I was surprised to learn new things in this books because media covers GMO related stories pretty well. And then I realized how much I sill don't know. Especially, what kind of new diseases are appearing from the long-term exposure to certain GMO products.
I still meet a lot intelligent people who think GMO is nothing bad. But now I could recommend this book.
The only minus I found in this book is the storytelling style: sometimes information would be represented in a (prefered) professional way and sometimes the story would be interfered by personal and (maybe) not so important stories. That was very distracting, alas.
September 5, 2016
This is one of the most important books that should be required reading for all Americans. Food in America has become frankenfood with all the chemicals and genetic manipulating that no wonder food as we know it is in serious danger. Shetterly uses her own experience with her health to investigate what is really going on with the food supply and the prevalent use of GMOs. She takes on a very controversial role in uncovering Monsanto´s nefarious role in the poisoning of America. Kudos to her for starting what should be the unraveling of these evil corporate giants with only profit in mind. Monsanto, Syngenta, and others like them are not saving the planet and not protecting life.
December 16, 2016
Very well-researched and an informational read! The writing flows so well (except a bit in the middle when I felt like it got bogged down talking about bees and honey) and personal stories about each of the people she talked to made them relatable and interesting.
The topic of this book hits close to home, since like the author I have long been dealing with unexplained health issues. Anti-inflammatory diet changes have gone a long way, and seeing the details about GMO corn laid out like this will help me continue to improve what I eat.
The topic of this book hits close to home, since like the author I have long been dealing with unexplained health issues. Anti-inflammatory diet changes have gone a long way, and seeing the details about GMO corn laid out like this will help me continue to improve what I eat.
November 5, 2016
A lengthy but thought provoking collection of data from Caitlin Shetterly about the GMO issue. After she and her son were diagnosed with food sensitivities, this journalist and mother went on a journey of discovery. It's quite a scary outlook for our future generations.
March 15, 2017
A great baseline explanation of GMO foods, seeds, and products. I would love to see a follow up to this book that provides a detailed explanation of the food and lifestyle changes the author undertook to go GMO free.
August 14, 2016
Very unprofessional writing style. DNF 60 pages in.
*I received access to a free galley through the First to Read program.*
*I received access to a free galley through the First to Read program.*
November 1, 2017
Horrifying. Just horrifying. A must read for anyone who cares about food, health, and environment.
July 19, 2017
My Food for Thought book club has been asking to read a book on GMOs, so this month we are reading and discussing Modified.
This book contains a lot of science and science-y info, overwhelming me at times. A lot of it is opinion and nonscientific guesswork. I poked around and there is a lot of controversy over this author and her writing. I am deeply suspicious of Monsanto (and other big Ag business) and fully believe they silence people who have negative things to say about their products and business practices, but this book didn't convince me of anything. It asks many (depressing) questions but provides no answers. This is not a modern day Silent Spring because it is not scientifically persuasive enough.
The book also contains too much self indulgent meandering off topic ("There's something immediately nostalgic for me when I'm on a college campus; I loved being in college. Sometimes I can't believe it's been so long since I was walking around, my backpack slung over my shoulders, learning in such an open unfettered way. (p. 252)).
This book contains a lot of science and science-y info, overwhelming me at times. A lot of it is opinion and nonscientific guesswork. I poked around and there is a lot of controversy over this author and her writing. I am deeply suspicious of Monsanto (and other big Ag business) and fully believe they silence people who have negative things to say about their products and business practices, but this book didn't convince me of anything. It asks many (depressing) questions but provides no answers. This is not a modern day Silent Spring because it is not scientifically persuasive enough.
The book also contains too much self indulgent meandering off topic ("There's something immediately nostalgic for me when I'm on a college campus; I loved being in college. Sometimes I can't believe it's been so long since I was walking around, my backpack slung over my shoulders, learning in such an open unfettered way. (p. 252)).
October 15, 2017
Caitlin Shetterly wanders through America and Europe looking for information and understanding about GMOs. Sometimes she attains a splintering insight and other times she digresses about her love of her family or takes time to share a recipe. This is a very personal book, and for good reason given her backstory. However, at times the book's lack of a disciplined narrative can be frustrating. It has the feel of a long series of blog posts.
Shetterly is a good writer though, and some of her interactions with scientists, farmers, and beekeepers were fascinating. At its best Modified reads like a science fiction thriller, challenging conventional thought about agriculture an food production by shedding light on governmental corruption and corporate hubris. I highly recommend it.
Shetterly is a good writer though, and some of her interactions with scientists, farmers, and beekeepers were fascinating. At its best Modified reads like a science fiction thriller, challenging conventional thought about agriculture an food production by shedding light on governmental corruption and corporate hubris. I highly recommend it.
January 18, 2017
Wow. Firstly, I really enjoyed Caitlin's writing style. She is a real person with her own motivation and personal reasons for the research she did. Secondly, humanity really is going to kill itself. Shocking how the big ag and chemical companies can rule with an iron fist and silence anyone who might bring up any reasonable problems with any of their interests or products. They also foster ignorance of whats actually going on by not being honest and above board with the consumer. All in the interest of their bottom dollar. And they can't even control their GMOs now that its done--with evolution, contamination and environmental factors. I fear for my children and future generations.
October 3, 2018
"Modified" is a journey through the global food industry. It reveals what most of us ignore, simply because big multinationals, controlling the food market, have decided that it is better to conceal what is wrong. What we eat is severely contaminated with chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides that are dangerous to our health. Fortunately we have great journalists and writers that are ready to even risk their life to unveil what has been intentionally veiled. Caitlin Shetterley's book is a full-detailed book about GMO products that are the most consumed products not only in the United States but also in Europe. Therefore, I strongly recommend book because of its revelatory content.
September 21, 2016
Thanks to the First to Read program for an ARC of this book. "What I feel sure about now is that there is, essentially, one undeniable truth: as we modify the environment, we modify ourselves." Modified by Caitlin Shetterly is a personal and scientific journey into the corporation of genetically modified food. Full of information on insecticides, pesticides and the companies that produce this food grown and shipped globally and consumed by most everyone. This book enlightens us to what is going on behind the scenes with our food and how it can affect our bodies. Highly recommend to everyone.
September 19, 2016
This is an eye opening at times heartbreaking book when we see how Caitlin &her son suffered from their diets.How dangerous an ordinary food like corn can be&howvitbis an ingredient in so many foods we eat,Her search for health for herself&her son is something we can benefit from,Her research traveling to see how our food is grown getting answers we all need some frightening.This book should be required reading highly recommend,
November 17, 2016
Everyone should read this. I found the author's writing style to be refreshing given the subject matter. People are allergic, chronically sick and prematurely dying. Here's your smoking gun. Sadly, the more you know the scarier it gets, but this is a situation where ignorance is NOT bliss. Be informed and do the best you can for yourself and your family.
Your food impacts every aspect of your life, and life is better without ingesting poison.
Your food impacts every aspect of your life, and life is better without ingesting poison.
February 17, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
I can't understand a lot of science, my brain just doesn't work that way, but this book was very informative in a way that even a layman like myself could realize what's going on with our food sources. There was a lot of things in here that I didn't know about, some I've heard about, and many that were shocking to even consider. Thank you for a very informational book from a woman's, wife's, and mother's point of view!
I can't understand a lot of science, my brain just doesn't work that way, but this book was very informative in a way that even a layman like myself could realize what's going on with our food sources. There was a lot of things in here that I didn't know about, some I've heard about, and many that were shocking to even consider. Thank you for a very informational book from a woman's, wife's, and mother's point of view!
August 16, 2018
In Modified Shetterly tells her story of being allergic to GMO corn as she travels across the country interviewing both pro-GMO and anti-GMO people. There is a good balance of her personal journey and useful information.
https://greengroundswell.com/gmos-and...
https://greengroundswell.com/gmos-and...
November 29, 2024
I didn’t finish this book. I can’t read a book about a really important topic that i’m very interested in while the author throws in so much opinion and bias, and footnotes like
“And don’t we as parents have enough to freak out about with ice caps melting and disease carrying mosquitoes and ISIS?”
That is not a footnotes. That is a random thought.
1.5 stars
“And don’t we as parents have enough to freak out about with ice caps melting and disease carrying mosquitoes and ISIS?”
That is not a footnotes. That is a random thought.
1.5 stars
March 12, 2017
Something to ponder.
December 15, 2023
In summary, issues with GMOs in the United States as of the publication date of this book:
- There has been no required testing by the FDA and EPA regarding the safety of GMOs.
- Companies like Monsanto do their own internal research and actively discredit and discourage anyone who questions or speaks against GMOs, including researchers. As a researcher, researching this topic could be damaging to your career.
- Companies that create GMOs (like Monsanto) could have chosen to make their crops sterile, but they did not, so there is cross contamination into not only organic farms (which by definition have to be non-GMO) but also remote regions of Oaxaca.
- This cross contamination, particularly in the crop's country of origin (Mexico), is dangerous for biological diversity and crop survival in the future. Even seed banks have been contaminated with GMO DNA.
- Furthermore, because Monsanto has a patent on the GMO crops, THEY SUE FARMERS who have had the gene show up in their crops through no fault of their own (through cross pollination contamination).
- By creating pesticide resistant corn (and other crops) through genetic modification, Monsanto encourages the use of pesticides and neonicotinoids, which are dangerous for bees and the environment at large. These pesticides have been found in widespread places where they shouldn't be, such as umbilical cord blood of pregnant mothers.
- If you're like this seems sus, I want to avoid GMOs, it is extremely difficult to do so because of lack of labeling laws, which Monsanto has lobbied against, and the fact that corn is used in basically everything from additives to natural flavors to fillers to packaging. Given the cross pollination contamination issue, even buying organic is not a guarantee to avoid GMOs.
An opinion article I found while reading this book, "The difference between the vaccine and the
GMO food debates" doi:10.1017/S1742170517000436 , summarizes many of these issues and adds this:
"By labeling convincing and well-founded political and
economic critiques of GM crops as anti-science, we are
doing a disservice to a true understanding of science
and relatedly, of sustainable and renewable food
systems. While it is valid for people to be concerned
about vaccines and their health and safety—it is a
closed case. Alternately, in the case of GM crop, the concerns are less about safety and more about a broader set of issues—namely political and economic ones which are yet
to be addressed by GM crop proponents."
- There has been no required testing by the FDA and EPA regarding the safety of GMOs.
- Companies like Monsanto do their own internal research and actively discredit and discourage anyone who questions or speaks against GMOs, including researchers. As a researcher, researching this topic could be damaging to your career.
- Companies that create GMOs (like Monsanto) could have chosen to make their crops sterile, but they did not, so there is cross contamination into not only organic farms (which by definition have to be non-GMO) but also remote regions of Oaxaca.
- This cross contamination, particularly in the crop's country of origin (Mexico), is dangerous for biological diversity and crop survival in the future. Even seed banks have been contaminated with GMO DNA.
- Furthermore, because Monsanto has a patent on the GMO crops, THEY SUE FARMERS who have had the gene show up in their crops through no fault of their own (through cross pollination contamination).
- By creating pesticide resistant corn (and other crops) through genetic modification, Monsanto encourages the use of pesticides and neonicotinoids, which are dangerous for bees and the environment at large. These pesticides have been found in widespread places where they shouldn't be, such as umbilical cord blood of pregnant mothers.
- If you're like this seems sus, I want to avoid GMOs, it is extremely difficult to do so because of lack of labeling laws, which Monsanto has lobbied against, and the fact that corn is used in basically everything from additives to natural flavors to fillers to packaging. Given the cross pollination contamination issue, even buying organic is not a guarantee to avoid GMOs.
An opinion article I found while reading this book, "The difference between the vaccine and the
GMO food debates" doi:10.1017/S1742170517000436 , summarizes many of these issues and adds this:
"By labeling convincing and well-founded political and
economic critiques of GM crops as anti-science, we are
doing a disservice to a true understanding of science
and relatedly, of sustainable and renewable food
systems. While it is valid for people to be concerned
about vaccines and their health and safety—it is a
closed case. Alternately, in the case of GM crop, the concerns are less about safety and more about a broader set of issues—namely political and economic ones which are yet
to be addressed by GM crop proponents."
February 17, 2017
I came across this book after reading an interview of the author on Food52.
A quite an engaging book on GMOs and I did learn a lot - about American history, why GMOs came about (we have to admit that it seemed like the right decision at that point in time with food shortage and desire to conquer nature) and honey.
Even though, I am in science, I did not really analyse GMO foods that much because I do believe GMOs have their uses. This book gave me a comprehensive overview of GMOs.
I fully sympathize with the author when she fell sick because of GMOs and I can understand how most of conventional medicine cannot sometimes pinpoint the answer. At times like these, it is unpopular to say that you are affected by GMOs or something like that but I can say with experience that even the healthiest foods might cause some reaction (even if not an allergy) in several people.
I learnt a lot about these large corporations, actually, I was familiar with many of these companies and I am surprised at the amount of money they invest in controlling scientific research and lobbying.
The Negatives:
1. Her fear of big ag seem a little exaggerated and they are portrayed like some gangster style thugs. This does not serve her well because people can extrapolate this exaggeration to cast doubts on her credibility.
2. She writes that on her flight from Boston to Italy, she felt like she was not in US the moment she boarded the plane and that it was like a foreign country where she heard only Italian. She had to order her food on the flight by speaking 'italofranspanglish'. That seems like a complete exaggeration to me. You mean to tell me that there were no American tourists flying from Boston to Italy and even the air hostesses could not speak decent English when flying from USA?
3. She has tendencies to ramble away talking about another story or explaining the significance of some song/item in her life when starting off with one story. Sometimes, I forgot what she started on about.
4. Too many needless details. For example, p. 256 - "I had a light yellow spiral -bound notebook I'd bought at a dollar store back home for 99 cents" Does this really matter for the story or have a point? Not at all.
Despite all the negatives, I did like the book.
Note on the edition: It was good. Though I would have liked it better if the font had been a little larger.
A quite an engaging book on GMOs and I did learn a lot - about American history, why GMOs came about (we have to admit that it seemed like the right decision at that point in time with food shortage and desire to conquer nature) and honey.
Even though, I am in science, I did not really analyse GMO foods that much because I do believe GMOs have their uses. This book gave me a comprehensive overview of GMOs.
I fully sympathize with the author when she fell sick because of GMOs and I can understand how most of conventional medicine cannot sometimes pinpoint the answer. At times like these, it is unpopular to say that you are affected by GMOs or something like that but I can say with experience that even the healthiest foods might cause some reaction (even if not an allergy) in several people.
I learnt a lot about these large corporations, actually, I was familiar with many of these companies and I am surprised at the amount of money they invest in controlling scientific research and lobbying.
The Negatives:
1. Her fear of big ag seem a little exaggerated and they are portrayed like some gangster style thugs. This does not serve her well because people can extrapolate this exaggeration to cast doubts on her credibility.
2. She writes that on her flight from Boston to Italy, she felt like she was not in US the moment she boarded the plane and that it was like a foreign country where she heard only Italian. She had to order her food on the flight by speaking 'italofranspanglish'. That seems like a complete exaggeration to me. You mean to tell me that there were no American tourists flying from Boston to Italy and even the air hostesses could not speak decent English when flying from USA?
3. She has tendencies to ramble away talking about another story or explaining the significance of some song/item in her life when starting off with one story. Sometimes, I forgot what she started on about.
4. Too many needless details. For example, p. 256 - "I had a light yellow spiral -bound notebook I'd bought at a dollar store back home for 99 cents" Does this really matter for the story or have a point? Not at all.
Despite all the negatives, I did like the book.
Note on the edition: It was good. Though I would have liked it better if the font had been a little larger.
May 8, 2019
I found the author's voice to be a little inconsistent- the book was by turns colloquial and over-dense. The information, however, is fantastic and makes the book absolutely worth reading.
The author does a solid job of sharing her own story of being ill herself (for 4 years!) and then the trials of dealing with her infant son's equally baffling and frustrating health struggles, her helplessness and aggravation with the medical industry, and the completely different trials that set in when they finally got their "you are allergic to GMO corn" diagnoses and had to begin navigating the world differently.
She also takes the reader along on an exceptionally well -researched forays into the vagaries of not only the food system but international issues in a dozen directions related to GMO corn that add to the complex tangle that is our current mess. So while it is not light reading, it is extremely informative and goes places that many other books I've seen on the subject don't, making it a worthwhile addition to your reading list.
The author does a solid job of sharing her own story of being ill herself (for 4 years!) and then the trials of dealing with her infant son's equally baffling and frustrating health struggles, her helplessness and aggravation with the medical industry, and the completely different trials that set in when they finally got their "you are allergic to GMO corn" diagnoses and had to begin navigating the world differently.
She also takes the reader along on an exceptionally well -researched forays into the vagaries of not only the food system but international issues in a dozen directions related to GMO corn that add to the complex tangle that is our current mess. So while it is not light reading, it is extremely informative and goes places that many other books I've seen on the subject don't, making it a worthwhile addition to your reading list.
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