Most of us have been aware for some time that a good percentage of the food we consume these days may contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). I decided to take a deeper look into the issue and decided that it is definitely something not to overlook while you are out shopping for groceries.
According to the Institute for Responsible Eating, GMOs have been linked to possible toxins, allergens, carcinogens, new diseases, antibiotic resistant diseases, and nutritional problems.
In the United States, commercialized GM crops include soy, cotton, canola, corn, zucchini and yellow squash, Quest® tobacco, and our very own Hawaiian Papaya. Any products that are made with any of these ingredients can contain GMOs.
Other sources are:
• Dairy from cows injected with rbGH
• Food additives, enzymes, flavorings, and processing agents, including the sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet®) and rennet used to make hard cheeses
• Meat, eggs and dairy products from animals that eat GM feed
• Honey and bee pollen that may have GM sources of pollen
• Contamination or pollination caused by GM seeds or pollen
You are guaranteed a product that is free of GMOs when you buy organic. Another option is to grow your own vegetables, but you’ll have to do some research to make sure that the seeds or plants that you are getting do not come from a GM crop.
Because the US does not require GMO labeling and we rarely have time to read labels, I strongly recommend downloading a copy of the “Non-GMO Shopping Guide”. For more details about GMOs visit the Institute for Responsible Technology.