For about two years now, Food Nation Radio Network has been covering the issues that affect our food supply. During the course of our research, investigations and interviews for the show, we came across a particularly disturbing piece of information in the genetically modified food puzzle. It’s the possible relationship between agrobacterium, genetic engineering and Morgellons Disease.

Agrobacterium is a bacteria that causes tumors in plants through a transfer of DNA. It is used for genetic engineering of corn, soybeans, canola, sugar beets, alfalfa and other foodstuffs. Some studies have shown agrobacterium can also affect the DNA of humans.

A study done on Morgellons Disease patients by Vitaly Citovsky, a professor of molecular and cell biology at Stony Brook University in New York (SUNY) found all patients tested positive for the presence of agrobacterium, while the healthy control patients did not. Morgellons is a disease one would think would be in a science fiction novel. It is characterized by lesions on patients and fibers containing minerals growing underneath the skin. For many years, nearly the entire medical community (including the CDC) maintained it was a psychiatric condition, with patients causing their own lesions and other symptoms. As of January, 2012 the CDC appears to maintain that stance, although researchers and respected scientists in Oklahoma, New York, Toronto and other parts of the world are taking this possible epidemic seriously.

Some notable individuals claim to suffer from Morgellons, including musician, Joni Mitchell and former baseball player Billy Koch. It is possible this is an infectious disease, due to the presence of it in entire families and it is found more among nurses and teachers who come into contact with a number of people on a daily basis. Morgellons is reported more in California, Florida and Texas than anywhere else, although it is found throughout the world.

Here is our recent interview with accomplished genetic researcher, Professor Joe Cummins, Professor Emeritus at the University of Western Ontario on the possible Morgellons Disease/GMO connection FNRN Highlight – Prof Joe Cummins on Morgellons .

Elizabeth Dougherty has been a food writer for over 10 years, attended culinary school and holds a Bachelor’s degree, Magna Cum Laude in Hospitality, Business and Labor Relations from NYIT. She has been a talk show host of nearly 150 episodes of Food Nation Radio which airs each Saturday morning at 6 on AM1010 CBS and other stations. You can read her articles and hear previous shows on her podcast page on the Food Nation Radio Network website and on Facebook.