You’ve probably heard the buzz lately about GMOs, or genetically modified organisms. But what exactly are GMOs, and do they pose a risk to our health? GMOs are plans or animals that have their genetic material altered using genetic engineering to produce desired characteristics that don’t occur naturally. For example, a crop may be genetically altered to improve a plant’s resistance to pests (or pesticides) or increase yield.
The most common GMOs are soy, cotton, canola, corn, sugar beets, Hawaiian papaya, alfalfa, and squash (zucchini and yellow). GMOs are also hidden in common processed food ingredients, including ascorbic acid, citric acid, flavorings, high-fructose corn syrup, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, molasses, xanthan gum, and more.
GMOs’ effects on our own health and the health of the environment are a concern of many consumers. According to the Non-GMO Project, most GMOs are engineered for herbicide tolerance, so as a result, the use of toxic herbicides has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced. GMO crops also contribute to the emergence of “super weeds” and “super bugs,” which can only killed with ever more toxic chemicals. The long-term implications of GMOs are unknown.
Avoiding GMOs — and identifying products that contain them — is a challenge. Even though an overwhelming percentage of Americans believe that foods containing GMO ingredients should be labeled, labeling is not mandatory. If your aim is to avoid GMOs, choosing certified organic products is an excellent first step, since the USDA National Organic Standards prohibit the use of GMOs.
Consumers can also look for the Non-GMO Project Verified label on products. The Non-GMO Project is North America’s only independent verification for products made according to best practices for GMO avoidance. Those practices require ongoing testing of all at-risk ingredients. It uses an Action Threshold of 0.9 percent, which is in alignment with the laws in the European Union, where any product containing more than 0.9 percent GMO must be labeled.
For more information on GMOs and labeling, visit www.nongmoproject.org.