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No one really knows if genetically modified foods are beneficial or harmful. To say the least it is a very controversial issue. For me I would rather avoid them until it is made absolutely clear whether they are or not. Most of the food we eat can contain ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms. Things such as baby formula. Everything from our dairy all the way to our meats. If you are a resident of Europe avoiding a genetically modified food is much easier since the law requires explicit labeling. As for most of us in the US and Canada food manufacturers are not required to label if the food has been genetically modified. Since this is the case here are some guidelines for steering clear of genetically modified foods in your diet. Become familiar with the most common applications of genetic modification. These are the products (and their derivatives) that are most likely to be genetically modified:
Soybeans - Gene taken from bacteria and inserted into soybeans to make them more resistant to herbicides.
Corn - Gene from lepidoptera pathogen micro organism bavillus thuringiensis inserted into corn genome to produce the BT toxin which poisons insect pests. May be present in high fructose corn syrup which is prevalent in a wide variety of American foods.
Rapeseed/Canola - Gene added to make crop more resistant to pesticides.
Sugar Cane - Gene added to make crop more resistant to pesticides.
Rice - Genetically modified to resist herbicides. More recently golden rice a different strain of rice has been engineered to produce significantly higher levels of beta carotene which the body uses to produce vitamin A. Golden rice is still undergoing testing to determine if it is safe for human consumption.
Dairy - Cows injected with GE hormone rBH/rBST; possibly fed GM grains and hay.
Best bet is to buy food labeled 100% organic. The US and Canadian governments do not allow manufactures to label something 100% organic if that food has been genetically modified or beef fed genetically modified feed. However, you may find that organic food is more expensive and different in appearance from conventional products. Just because something says organic on it does not mean that it does not contain GM’s. In fact it can still contain up to 30% GM’s, so be sure the labels say 100% organic.
This applies to eggs as well. Eggs labeled free range, natural or cage free are not necessarily GE-free; look for eggs to be 100% organic.
Recognize fruit and vegetable label numbers. The code on that little sticker is quite meaningful. If it is a 4 digit number beginning with a 9 it is organic. Sometimes a market will mislabel a bin or food as organic. If the number is a 5 digit beginning with an 8 it is genetically modified.
Purchase beef that is 100% grass fed. Most cattle in the US are grass-fed but spend the last portion of their lives in feedlots where they may be given Genetically modified grain, the purpose of which is to increase the intramuscular fat and marbling. If your looking to stay away from MO’s make sure the cattle were 100% grass fed or pasture fed, sometimes referred to as grass finished or pasture finished. The same applies to meat from other herbivores such as sheep.
Seek products that are specifically labeled as Non GM or MO free. However , it is rare to find products labeled as such, you can also research websites that list companies and foods that do not use GM foods. But be aware that information is often incomplete and conflicting interests may not be declared.
Shop locally. Although more than half of all GM foods are produced in the US, most of it comes from large industrial farms. By shopping at farmers markets signing up for a subscriptions to the local community supported agriculture farm or patronizing a local co-op you may be able to avoid GM products and possibly save money at the same time. More and more small farms are offering grains and meat directly to customers, in addition to the usual fare, vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Shopping locally may also give you the opportunity to speak to the farmer and find out how he or she feels about Gmo’s and whether or not they use them in their own operation.
Buy whole foods. Favor foods that you can cook and prepare yourself rather than foods that are process or prepared. What you lose in convenience you may recover in money saved and satisfaction gained. After all peace of mind is priceless. Try cooking a meal from scratch once or twice a week, you may enjoy it and decide to do it more often.
The ultimate idea in practice would if you have the land, time and resources is to grow your own food. As long as you make sure your not buying GM seeds, and aren’t near and GM plants which could cross pollinate you will know for sure that the food which comes from your garden is not Genetically modified.
What do you do to avoid genetically modified or genetically enhanced food products? Do you believe that the American and Canadian governments should label foods that are modified?
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Big Ben Patton
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