Know If Your Food Is Genetically Modified

Depending on where you live, you may have had some genetically modified food in your breakfast, lunch, or dinner today. GMO, genetically modified organisms, are in processed foods found in our stores across the country. They could be in the form of potatoes with a built-in insect repellent, or tomatoes that stay firm longer after being picked. In any case, the GM food or ingredient may not have been labeled, and you could hardly distinguish it from the natural one. Just what is genetically modified food? These are foods that have their DNA changed through genetic engineering (genes from other organisms). Unfortunately, 75-80 percent of processed foods on the store shelves contain it. It is very important to be able to tell if your food has been a target of genetic modification, or sprayed with pesticides. Genetically modified food crops may include corn, tomatoes, potatoes, soy beans, sugar, strawberries, and more! We cannot tell if EVERY food is GMO, as these foods are not required to be labeled, so it can be difficult to identify them. There are some things that can help us. Let's take a look at a few:

1. 1
   Reading Labels

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   You know those little stickers on our fruits and veggies? They have numbers them on for a reason. You can identify whether it is organic or not. If you see a number "4" at the beginning of the label, it is conventional produce. This may mean that it has been sprayed with pesticides. A code that starts with a "9" means its organic. If the code starts with an "8", it is genetically modified.

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2. 2
   If a product is labeled "ORGANIC" it does not mean it is

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   The label should read "100% Organic". (If it has the USDA SEAL, it is GMO FREE.)

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3. 3
   Look for products that are labeled "Non GMO" or "GMO Free".

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4. 4
   High Fructose Corn Syrup is known for being GMO

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   Avoid products containing this ingredient.

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5. 5
   Products containing "SOY" are high in GMO

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   91 percent of soy grown in the U.S. is GM.

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GMO food and products have been created to serve as answer to the growing need of food of the fast growing world population. Just like about everything, there are two sides of the coin. There will always be a good and bad side to these kinds of food. Read on and learn more about them.

Advantages

• GMO crops have additional nutrients which help in meeting the needs of the malnourished population of some poverty-stricken countries.
• Crops become more resistant to pest infestation. Farmers spend a lot on pesticides every year and this could bring hazard to the consumers. GMO crops, though, do not need such chemicals thus producing safer crops and giving more savings to the farmers.
• Crops become tolerant to drought and the cold. Extreme weather can sometimes bring wide devastation to crops. Anti-freeze and anti-drought genes are injected into the seedlings, thus keeping the crops safe. With this, there is a consistent supply of produce, despite any weather condition.

Disadvantages

• Possible health risks to human. Since foreign genes are introduced into the system, the body may have a negative reaction to them. There have been some studies that show a large number of kids have developed allergies to crops like potatoes and peanuts. Studies still are continuously conducted to know the other possible effects of GMO food to human.

• Cancer. The organisms used for GMOs are could increase the risk of colon and stomach cancer.
• Morgellons Disease. There is not much information about this skin disease but sufferers complain about a fibrous-looking thing that sticks out of their wounds or skin sores. They also feel an itchy sensation underneath their skin.

• Read the ingredients of packaged food to see if they contain soy, corn, canola or wheat.
• Do Your Research. You can find tips and warnings on the internet concerning GMO.

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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