Go Green, Go and Grow Organic

How To Avoid Genetically Modified Foods From Your Diet!

Whether Genetically Modified (GM) foods are harmful is still controversial, but some people would prefer to avoid them until the evidence is clear. Most foods we eat may contain ingredients derived from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)--everything from baby formula and food to our dairy to even our meat. If you live in or, have ever travled Europe, avoiding GM foods is easier since laws require labeling. However in the US and Canada food manufacturers are not required to label if their food is genetically modified or not. As such, here are some guidelines for steering clear of GM foods in your diet, if that is your choice.

 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 (Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4) and inserted into soybeans to make them more resistant to herbicides.
• Corn - Gene from the lepidoptera pathogen microorganism Bacillus thuringiensis inserted into corn genome to produce the Bt toxin, which poisons insect pests and may even be present in high fructose corn syrup - prevalent in a wide variety of foods in America. 
• Rapeseed/Canola - Gene added/transferred to make crop more resistant to pesticides
• Sugar cane - Gene added/transferred to make crop more resistant to pesticides
• Rice - Genetically modified to resist herbicides; not currently available for human consumption, but trace amounts of one GM long-grained variety (LLRICE601) may have entered the food supply in the USA and Europe. There is also rice which is Genetically Engineered (GE) to produce higher levels of vitamin A.
• Cotton - Used for making cottonseed oil.
• Dairy - Cows injected with GE hormone rBGH/rBST; possibly fed GM grains and hay.

 Buy food labeled 100% organic. The US and Canadian governments do not allow manufacturers to label something 100% organic if that food has been genetically modified or been fed genetically modified feed. However, you may find that organic food is more expensive and different in appearance from conventional products. Also, just because something says "organic" on it does not mean that it does not contain GMs. In fact, it can still contain up to 30% GMs, so be sure the labels say 100% organic.

 This also applies to eggs. Eggs labeled "free-range," "natural," or "cage-free" are not necessarily GE/GM-free; look for eggs to be 100% organic.

 Purchase beef that is 100% grass-fed. Most cattle in the U.S. are grass-fed, but spend the last portion of their lives in feedlots where they may be given GM feed, the purpose of which is to increase intramuscular fat and marbling. If you're looking to stay away from GMOs, 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. There is also the slight possibility that the animals were fed GM alfalfa, although this is less likely if you buy meat locally. With non-ruminants like pigs and poultry that cannot be 100% grass-fed, it's better to look for meat that is 100% organic.

 Seek products that are specifically labeled as non-GM or GMO-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 genetically modified 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 subscription from a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) 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, fruit, herbs).
• Shopping locally may also give you the opportunity to speak to the farmer and find out how he or she feels about GMOs 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 processed or prepared (e.g. anything that comes in a box or a bag, including fast food). What you lose in convenience, you may recover in money saved and satisfaction gained, as well as increased peace of mind. Try cooking a meal from scratch once or twice a week--you may enjoy it and decide to do it more often.

• If you have the land, time, and resources, grow your own food and learn how to can and preserve. 
• Make sure you're not buying GM seeds.
• At chain and non-chain restaurants, you can ask which, if any, of their foods contain GMs, but the wait and kitchen staff are not likely to know.

Feel free to reprint this article and distribute it to your employees as part of your overall wellness and nutritional  education  efforts. For more information on how to develop an Employee Wellness Program that's right for your company, please visit http://www.strictlyhr.com or call us at 330-575-2029.