Spread of Norovirus through Pesticide Spraying

As Dr.Mercola mentioned in his article “Pesticide Spraying may Spread Norovirus” norovirus is the leading cause of food-borne outbreaks in the US, with fresh produce, especially leafy vegetables and fruits) among the most common culprits.

Reality is that contaminated water is a potential introduction source of norovirus to fresh produce. This has centered on water used to irrigate crops. Several researches were done to determine if irrigating water could be a source of norovirus spread and the results showed that it could. Environment Health Perspectives reported that in seven of the eight pesticides tested, norovirus persisted even two hours later.

“Farmers mix pesticides with water from sources including wells, irrigation ditches, rivers and lakes. All these water sources have been known to harbor norovirus. Until recently, no one had tested whether norovirus in contaminated water remains infectious after pesticides are added.”

Researches showed the virus is able to stay in contaminated water and be active when it’s sprayed onto crops.

So pesticides “may not only be a chemical hazard, but also a microbiological hazard for public health. The inclusion of antiviral substances in reconstituted pesticides may be appropriate to reduce the virologic health risk posted by the application of pesticides.”

Researches came with recommendations to add antiviral substances to water, a much simpler and healthier.

Buy organic as much as possible, since this eliminates the use of chemical pesticides.

Russia won’t Import #GMOs, Has "Enough Space and Opportunities to Produce Organic Food"

(NaturalNews) Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has announced that Russia will not import any more GMO food products or seeds.
The Russian government has taken a bold stand against genetically altered food ingredients, believing there is no need for them in their country. Medvedev also declared that Russia has "enough space and opportunities to produce organic food," and they will no longer be encouraging the production of GMOs.
He commented, "If the Americans like to eat GMO products, let them eat it then. We don't need to do that."
Russian Minister of Agriculture Nikolai Fydorov agrees, saying that Russia should remain free of genetically modified products to prevent its citizens from being poisoned.
The importation ban, issued with the consent of the Russian parliament, was initiated in late February. As the orders trickle down, a widespread monitoring effort will be placed over the Russian agricultural sector. Imports will be heavily inspected to assure that GMOs aren't entering the country. This new all-out ban strengthens very restrictive policies already put in place. Current Russian law requires producers to label any product containing GMOs in excess of 0.9 percent of the product.
GMOs to remain banned until a standard of control is established proving human health safety
Awareness of GMOs in the food supply is growing. In late 2013, Russia created a Unified State Register that documents various genetically modified plants. The realization that they are untested for their effects on human health and the environment is making many concerned around the globe.
Furthermore, labeling GMOs is always a shadowy issue; the biotech industry likes to keep people in the dark, as not to raise suspicion. Scientific studies like the Seralini study may show the dangers that GMOs pose to animals (inciting tumors) but these studies are often swept under the rug and discredited by the biotech industry and propagandists.
However, Russia's State Duma's Agriculture Committee has suggested that GMOs remain banned until scientists establish a working system of control to establish the effects of GMOs on human health and the environment. With no standards of safety to go by, GMOs are pushed into agriculture as experimental science. Breeding, growing and cross-pollinating these genetic alterations into the natural world changes animals, plants, and microorganisms in startling ways. There are no controls to observe the long-term effects. Russia, though, is putting their foot down as a nation, prohibiting GMOs until safety controls are established and proven.
Irina Ermakova, the Vice President of Russia's National Association for Genetic Safety, stated that it's necessary to ban GMOs, taking the advice of prominent Russian scientists who declared that a moratorium should be imposed on GMOs for at least ten years.
Ermakova stated, "While GMOs will be prohibited, we can plan experiments, tests, or maybe even new methods of research could be developed. It has been proven that not only in Russia, but also in many other countries in the world, GMOs are dangerous. Methods of obtaining the GMOs are not perfect, therefore, at this stage, all GMOs are dangerous. Consumption and use of GMOs obtained in such way can lead to tumors, cancers and obesity among animals. Bio-technologies certainly should be developed, but GMOs should be stopped. We should stop it from spreading."

Biosefaty and Genetically Modified Organizms

While the jury on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is still out, there is a growing body of evidence on environmental risks such as threats of gene flow, secondary weeds and pests, and the effects of toxins on non-target species. Supporters of GMOs claim improved characteristics of GM products, high yields, and low costs.

The health risks of GMOs include potential allergenicity of several GM foods and food ingredients, increased toxicity, and the potential development of antibiotic resistance and immunodeficiency. Moreover, there is a threat that genetic engineering can have social and financial effects, enabling transnational companies to monopolize and control the technology by enforcing intellectual property claims. For example, to ensure patent rights protection of GM-seeds, corporations have produced “terminator” seeds, which are sterile in subsequent generations, thus forcing farmers to buy seeds every year (Harutyunyan, 2005).

Armenia, as a country in transition, ranks high in vulnerability to the consequences of importation, production, and usage of GMOs due to such factors as dependency on agriculture, high necessity for

crop improvements, deficiency in GMO regulating legislation, and imperfect institutional capacity. Officially, GMOs are neither imported nor commercially produced in Armenia. However, according to some experts, NGO representatives, and officials there are apprehensions that many products imported to Armenia contain GM ingredients; in particular, GM soy, which was introduced initially as humanitarian aid and then on a commercial basis (Harutyunyan, 2005). This is partly because the genetic origin of imported seeds, plants, and animals is not registered at national border crossings due to lack of GMO testing laboratory. Thus, this field is not properly regulated (Harutyunyan et al.,2008).

It is worth noting that Armenia is a country of rich biodiversity and is a center of origin for wild ancestors of crops and livestock. There are more than 3,500 high plants, 4,000 fungi, and around 17,500 invertebrate and vertebrate species recorded in the territory of Armenia. Indeed, Armenia falls within one of the five centers of diversity and origin of the world’s major food crops described by Vavilov (1992), the creator of the world’s largest collections of plant germplasm. Hence, it is critically important for Armenia to strengthen its capacity to pursue biosafety policies based on well balanced decisions on the introduction of biotechnological innovations. The country should be responsible for providing a safe and healthy environment and conserving its genetic diversity for present and future generations (Harutyunyan, 2005).  

  So think before using those.