Protesters criticized companies that alter the genetic making of foods such as Monsanto.

Monsanto is a corporate giant that makes genetically modified seeds for foods like corn and soybeans, making them more able to survive pesticides.

“They have done four-generation studies on hamsters, and after eating GMOs for four generations, all the hamsters go sterile, their teeth grow out of their jaws and their jaws lock shut,” a protester said, adding that other studies had pointed to liver and other organ failures.

Among genetically modified foods protesters were warned to avoid are Tofu and any of the many foods containing corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup.

Some protesters were also spreading word about the privatization of the country’s water supply.

“If people knew nationally, that our water was being stolen by three top companies, Nestle, Coke, and Pepsi, owning 70 percent of the world’s water, I think they would be upset. But I just don’t think they understand that.”

The Occupy movement owes its inspiration to the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protests, which began when a group of demonstrators gathered in New York's financial district on September 17, 2011 to protest against the excessive influence of big corporations on the US policies and the high-level corruption in the country.

SZH/JR