Tofu and soy are healthy? An American myth

The truth about soy … according to Monsanto and DuPont

Monsanto is the largest supplier of soya bean seeds in the world and DuPont is the largest manufacturer of soya protein. So studies into the nutritional and health benefits of soya and tofu are largely paid for, lobbied and stimulated by these two American multinationals. Most information about soya is thus biased: we are inundated with information about the benefits of soya – but is it really so healthy?

A tale of two controversial companies:

The internet, Vandana Shiva and the documentary ‘The World According to Monsanto’ by Marie-Monique Robin, all tell us what we would rather not know about Monsanto. Monsantoequals pollution, herbicides, toxic PCBs, DDT, dioxins, corruption and food manipulation including growth hormones and GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). Monsanto is a threat to the ecological balance of the planet: 70% of all soya is genetically engineered soya from Monsanto! Our conclusion: Monsanto is a chemicals company that we would all – humans, animals and the environment – be better off without.

In 2007, the chemical giant DuPont was fined $4 million and forced to invest $66 million to reduce air pollution in four of its factories. DuPont is one of the worst offenders in the world when it comes to air pollution. Dupont is also the producer of the toxic Teflon. In 2011, DuPont was legally compelled to invest $8.3 million in water filters due to its years-long contamination of tap water with the toxic, likely carcinogen PFOA (an ingredient of Teflon). In late 2011, DuPont was ordered to pay a fine of $0.5 million for having discharged untreated wastewater (containing nitrogen chloride, titanium tetrachloride, ferric chloride, titanium and other chemicals) into the Delaware river on numerous occasions. For DuPont, chemistry is not a science but big business. DuPont was also the largest producer of CFCs, the main cause of the hole in the ozone layer. DuPont Pioneer sells hybrid seeds and GMOs. According to www.Motherjones.com, DuPont is 4th on the list of the top 20 largest dumpers of toxic chemicals. DuPont dumped 2,000,000 kg toxins in the environment. DuPont is also the owner of Solae, which sells soya proteins to the bakery, beverage and meat industries, to chocolate bar manufacturers, vegetarians and bodybuilders.

Monsanto and DuPont also work as a team.

Together, they sold the toxic insecticide DDT and told the world about its benefits. However, in 2004 DDT was banned as an insecticide in 170 countries. Monsanto and DuPont were also the largest suppliers of ‘Agent Orange’ during the Vietnam war, a defoliant that would go on to maim generations of people. Both companies continue to tell us that genetically modified (GM) foods are good for us. Both companies have resisted at all costs the mandatory labelling of GMOs. For example, in 2012, Monsanto and Dupont were the largest financial backers of a campaign against a Californian law that sought to restrict GMOs. They won. Monsanto and DuPont control the soya bean trade. What we know about soya comes primarily from them and not the Asians. This needs to be made absolutely clear!