Genetically Modified Foods Are Everywhere!

And you wouldn’t even know it…

What do most European nations, Australia, New Zealand and about 50 other countries—including China—require of food manufacturers that the US does not? Labeling of genetically modified foods.

While the strictness of these labeling laws varies by country, hundreds of food-safety groups now say that products made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) should be marked as such in the US.* Lawmakers in more than two dozen states are considering GMO labeling legislation.

What you need to know about GMO foods…

THE DEBATE RAGES ON

For nearly two decades, food manufacturers have increasingly relied on GMOs as a way to, among other things, improve a plant’s resistance to pests and tolerance of herbicides, making them more apt to survive weather changes and increasing crop yield. In addition, GMOs are a cheap source of feed, which also reduces the overall cost of food production.

Now: In the US, about 80% of packaged, processed foods—and even some fresh foods, such as certain vegetables and fruits—contain GMOs. For example, 90% of corn crops in the US are genetically modified…93% of soy crops, which may include some seemingly healthful foods such as certain edamame (soybeans in the pod) products…and 95% of sugar beets, which are used to produce sweeteners that are then added to thousands of products.

Here’s how it works: Today’s GMO foods are not just old-fashioned “hybrids” like the ones plant scientists have been breeding for more than a hundred years. Instead, to make today’s GMO foods, scientists use much more recent technology to insert genetic material from a variety of organisms, including not only plants and animals but also bacteria, viruses and insects, into the foods that we eat every day.

Food manufacturers insist that genetically modified crops are safe because they have not been proven to cause harm or illness in humans. Meanwhile, most food-safety advocates argue that humans are being used as guinea pigs in consuming these products without proof that they are safe.

The fact is, no one knows how safe these foods are. There are no published studies proving that GMOs are safe for human consumption, and results of animal studies are worrisome. Several animal studies suggest significant health risks, including infertility, immune problems and impaired insulin regulation.

PLAY IT SAFE

Because it sometimes takes decades of scientific research to definitively prove harm in humans, I recommend playing it safe—avoid GMO foods whenever possible.

Even though processed foods are generally known to contain the highest percentage of GMO ingredients, many whole foods—including most of the milk, eggs and meats in the grocery store—may contain ingredients and additives that were produced from GMOs. That’s because the animals from which these foods are derived were nourished with genetically modified feeds.

Be a smart shopper: Most people are surprised to learn that even some food products with food labels that say “made with organic ingredients” are allowed to include up to 30% nonorganic ingredients, including GMOs.

Best approach: When shopping for multi-ingredient products, such as soups, pastas and sauces, look for the USDA Organic seal on the label. This verifies that the product is 95% certified organic—therefore, these foods will contain few or no GMOs. To avoid GMOs or reduce your intake of these foods…

• Fresh produce. Most fresh produce is GMO-free, but there are exceptions—zucchini, yellow (crook-neck) squash, Hawaiian papaya and sweet corn. These are the only vegetables and fruits in US grocery stores that can be genetically modified—for now. A new apple (brand name: Arctic Apple) has been genetically modified to prevent it from turning brown. It may appear in stores within the next two years.My advice: Even though there are currently only four vegetables and fruits that can be genetically modified, I recommend opting for organic produce whenever possible because it ensures that no potentially dangerous pesticides or antibiotics (which are sometimes sprayed on fruit trees and vegetable crops to combat disease) have been used.

• Dairy. Dairy cows are routinely given GMO soy and corn for cheap feed, so nonorganic milk may contain ingredients and additives from GMOs.My advice: Whenever possible, purchase dairy that is labeled USDA organic. It comes from animals that were not given GMO feed and ensures that the animals weren’t given antibiotics or hormones—both are widely used in the US, even though antibiotics in animals are believed to promote antibiotic resistance in humans and synthetic growth hormone has been linked to various types of cancer.

  Examples of milk that’s GMO-free: Organic Valley Grassmilk…Traders Point Creamery Creamline Milk. Or try organic nondairy almond or coconut milk.

• Meat. Choose beef from animals that were grass-fed and pork and poultry from pasture-raised animals, which ensures that the animals did not consume GMO feed. The meat (and dairy) from grass-fed/pasture-raised animals is higher in essential micronutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids. Grass-fed and pasture-raised animals are also unlikely to have received antibiotics or hormones.Alternative: Look for the USDA Organic seal to ensure that the animal did not receive GMO feed, antibiotics or hormones.

• Fish. About half of the fish that is sold in the US comes from fish farms. Farming makes sense for sedentary mollusks, such as mussels and oysters. However, much of the fish that most Americans eat—such as salmon and tilapia—are raised in overcrowded ponds and given unnatural feed.Example: One company is seeking to get FDA approval for a genetically modified salmon that will grow twice as fast as its natural, non-GMO counterpart. Even when farm-raised fish are not directly genetically modified, they’re routinely fed GMO pellets.

  My advice: Eat wild-caught fish—Alaskan salmon, haddock, Atlantic mackerel, etc. Unfortunately, you can’t always find wild-caught fish in mainstream supermarkets.

  Helpful: Stores that mainly sell farmed fresh fish will sometimes stock wild-caught fish in their frozen-food sections.

• Breakfast cereals. Because most of the corn and virtually all of the soy in the American diet have been genetically modified, many breakfast cereals—including whole-grain cereals—contain GMOs.The more ingredients that you see on a cereal box, the more likely it is to contain GMOs. The recent discovery of GMO wheat in a field in Oregon has raised fears that the US wheat supply could contain GMOs.

  My advice: Choose a grain-free breakfast like old-fashioned organic eggs and bacon. If you must eat cereal, choose organic GMO-free cereals that are made only from grains such as oats, rice, quinoa, buckwheat, millet and amaranth.

  GMO-free products that are low in sugar include Pocono Cream of Buckwheat…Louise’s Grain Free Granola Bites…and Lydia’s Organics Sprouted Cinnamon Cereal.

*The Whole Foods grocery chain recently announced that every GMO product sold in its stores would be labeled by 2018.