Helpful tips for avoiding GMOs

Thursday, April 05, 2012 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer


(NaturalNews) Since mandatory labeling of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) in the food supply is still just a cause worth fighting for in the United States, avoiding these toxic poisons can be difficult and confusing for many people. But once you know which crops tend to be GM, and learn how to identify the ingredients derived from them in foods, the process becomes a lot simpler.

The big three GMOs - corn, soy, and cotton

According to the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS), up to 86 percent of all corn; 90 percent of all soybeans; and 93 percent of all cotton planted in the U.S. is of GM origin (ERS/USDA Data - Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S.). This means that virtually all food products containing corn-, soy-, or cotton-derived ingredients that are not certified organic are also of GM origin.

Paying attention to avoid just these "big three," which are prevalent throughout the food supply, is a great first step to eliminating GMOs from your diet. But in order to do this effectively, you need to be aware of the various ingredients and additives derived from these crops that are also commonly added to foods.

Besides the obvious culprits like corn chips or soy milk, many foods that may not necessarily appear to be derived from corn, soy, or cotton actually contain one or more of their derivatives. Corn meal, soy flour, corn starch, cottonseed oil, and soy lecithin are just a few of the GM ingredients you will find in many food products on store shelves today.

According to an information page created by Seeds of Deception, the following soy, corn, and cotton ingredients and additives are most likely of GM origin when not certified organic:

• vegetable oil, vegetable fat, or margarine
• soy flour
• soy protein
• soy isolates
• soy isoflavones
• soy lecithin
• vegetable proteins
• textured vegetable protein (TVP)
• tofu
• tamari
• tempeh
• corn flour
• corn gluten
• corn masa
• corn starch
• corn syrup
• high fructose corn syrup
• corn meal

Be sure to check out the Seeds of Deception page for complete information about GMO ingredients and additives, and what to look out for:
http://www.seedsofdeception.com/Publ...-GMO/index.cfm

Canola oil, sugar beets, conventional meat and dairy

Canola oil, also known as rapeseed oil in some countries, is another major GM product found in many salad dressings, dips, snack products, and practically anything that contains oil additives. Nearly all of the canola grown in the U.S. is grown in North Dakota, and at least 90 percent of it is said to be of GM origin (Genetically Modified Canola 'Escapes' Farm Fields : NPR).

Conventional products that do not specifically list sugar additives as "cane sugar" may be using beet sugar, the vast majority of which is of GM origin as well. At its peak, GM sugar beets represented a whopping 95 percent of all domestically-grown sugar beets (Grist | Environmental News, Commentary, Advice).

Then we have conventional meat and dairy products, which typically contain GMOs due to the feed given to animals at conventional, factory farming operations. Unless certified organic or pasture-based, conventional meat and dairy products likely contain GMOs that made their way into the final product through the food chain.

Buy local and organic as much as possible

When in doubt about whether a product contains GMOs, just ask. Manufacturers that refuse to disclose whether or not their products contain GMOs are likely using them, so just avoid them. And always buy local and organic whenever possible to avoid GMOs