Good Earth Interview

             Last week, my fellow interns and I had the pleasure of interviewing Al Baylacq, one of the partners of Good Earth Natural Foods. Good Earth is an all natural food store located in Fairfax, California whose motto is “ORGANIC TO THE CORE SINCE 1969”. For most of his life, Baylacq has been a passionate advocate for organic and natural foods and has continued to actively spread his message to promote a healthy lifestyle. In the Marin community, Baylacq has been a strong proponent and part of the movement to provide healthy, organic lunches for children in school. One of the fundamentals of the healthy school lunch campaign is “Anti-GMOs” in food. Baylacq is a staunch advocate of the campaign against GMOs being used in any foods.

GMOS, which is a term short for genetically modified organisms, are produced from a biotechnology process that combines the DNA of different species to create variations of genes found in plants, animals, bacteria and viruses. Essentially, the process is used to attain and create desired traits and characteristics in organisms. In the agricultural industry, GMOs are primarily used to create and sustain transgenic plants that will supposedly produce a larger yield, are more nutritious, and are more resistant to natural disasters, such as a drought. The crops GMOs are found most widespread in include corn and soybeans. 

When asked what has shaped his views against the use of GMOs in food, Baylacq was very knowledgeable about the topic and confident in his answer. Essentially the answer to the question boils down to a matter of science. “The justified use of GMOs,” says Baylacq, “is unproven in terms of safety.” He continued to explain how a protein manufactured in a laboratory, and not naturally occurring in nature, is not a wholesome product to put into your body. GMOs were first introduced in foods in 1994 and were popularized in food in the consumer market in the early 2000s. Since then, the amount of GMOs found in foods has skyrocketed and the lab-created genes can be found in most processed food. Unfortunately for the customer, most companies do not label their products as “containing GMOs” and these customers have unknowingly been consuming them for years. The biotechnology industries that produce these foods try to combat the criticism and fears that their products are not safe by releasing scientific studies proving that they are in fact safe. However, Baylacq explains, what the majority of people do not realize is that the biotechnology industries are the ones conducting the studies themselves and skewing the data in their favor. The studies that are supposedly conducted to make the consumers feel safe buying GMO ridden products are in fact manipulating them with biased and false information. This is one of the reasons that Good Earth maintains an all-natural and organic mantra, so that their customers know exactly what they are buying and putting into their bodies.

            In further questioning, I asked Baylacq what effects GMOs have on the human body. His answer corresponded directly to the previous question, saying, “We need more long term research, and not just from the biotech industries.” Since genetically modified food has been on the market for just over a decade, not enough research has been conducted to discover its long-term effects. So far, studies have only been carried out on mice and not humans. Baylacq insists that if a long-term study was conducted, even if only on mice, a great deal of information could be learned about the effects the GMOs have on humans. Already, research has tied allergic reactions to GMOs in food. Likewise, in the years since GMOs were introduced to the food market, research has indicated a rise in gluten free intolerance, autism, and decreases in brain activity; which Baylacq believes is quite possibly linked to GMOs. In Baylacq’s opinion, these effects are not surprising when people are consuming proteins that are genetically manufactured instead of naturally occurring. Since GMOs are a manufactured product, research and time has shown that they can stay in your stomach, as your stomach cannot break down a synthetic protein. He says that the key to protecting yourself is educating yourself; being able to identify the ingredients that are indicators of GMOs. The primary ingredients that indicate GMOs in the product include corn or any kind of modified corn (i.e. corn starch), soy lecithin, canola oil, and cottonseed oil.

Despite the supposedly harmful effects of genetically modified food in the body, Baylacq believes that food is also a healing power. There is an old saying, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” from Hippocrates, the Greek Father of Medicine. When asked his stance on the saying and its relevance to his life, Baylacq shared how firmly he believes in its validity. He explained, “What you eat directly influences the way you feel and your health.” Through his job, Baylacq has encountered many people whose health was transformed by a shift in diet. In many instances, Baylacq explains, focusing on the food you are putting into your body and avoiding the bad stuff, mainly GMOs, can directly help improve poor health symptoms. Baylacq suggests trying a raw food diet as he has witnessed its positive effects. In his own personal experience, Baylacq recounts how on a recent trip to Hawaii he gained about fifteen pounds because a lot of the food he ate contained high amounts of sugar and fats. Upon returning to Marin, he made a shift in his diet and ate greens and vegetables for lunch everyday, exercising the same amount as usual; and the pounds shed away quickly. He noted what a simple transformation in his diet he made and the positive effects it had on his health, highlighting the importance of a healthy lifestyle. He also emphasized the benefits of  “avoiding a high sugar, processed food diet.” The key, in Baylacq’s opinion, to a healthy lifestyle is eating fresh foods that are dense in good nutrients like fiber and vitamins. Ultimately, Baylacq’s mission, along with his partners at Good Earth Natural Foods, is to inform customers of what they are putting in their bodies, to warn against the purchase of foods containing GMOs, and to preach having a healthy diet that will result in a healthier lifestyle. 

-Olivia Poletti