Correlation Does Not Mean Causation: And How Labeling Can Help.

Last Month, the following graph appeared on twitter. It seems a little ridiculous, which I believe was the original author’s intent – to show that correlation does not always prove causation.

People have been eating organic food since the beginning of time. It was called “food.” Autism incidence has increased dramatically since GMOs and the chemicals they are engineered to resist were introduced into our food supply.  An increasing number of people are purchasing “organic” food as they learn that conventional food may contain contaminants such as glyphosate, neonicotinoids, 2,4-D (a component of Agent Orange,) atrazine, gluphosinate, dicamba, and other chemicals.

We can’t prove that the increase in sales of organic food has anything to do with the rise in autism, which is the point, I believe that the original author was trying to make: coincidental data does not prove causation.

There are no studies indicating that organic food causes autism.  However, over 1,800 scientific references including studies, surveys, and analyses suggest various adverse impacts and potential adverse impacts of genetically engineered (GE/GMO) crops, foods and related pesticides.

Source

The rise in organic food sales has nothing to do with the rise in the autism rate, and everything to do with the growing awareness of food contamination. This contamination of our food and water is causing toxins to get lodged in our bodies where they slowly degrade our health and take away our lives. Here is an interesting article indicating that 80% of American parents report purchasing organic foods, and why.

From birth (through formula or breast milk containing chemicals) until we’re on our death beds (where we are often given “supplemental nutrition,”) we are being exposed to such toxins.

Once GMOs are labeled, we will be able to more easily trace intakes of GMOs and their corresponding chemicals as they relate to autism and other chronic disease. Once GMOs are labeled, we may be able to prove that, in a given case, correlation does indeed prove causation.  Once GMOs are labeled, we may finally be able to hold the companies who have been altering our food accountable and liable.