GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are found in the great majority of processed foods sold in most supermarkets across the country. According to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, GMOs are present in between 75 and 80 percent of all processed goods on store shelves. This complicates the task of determining which foods contain GMOs, but there are a few important considerations to bear in mind.
Companies Aren’t Required to Inform You of GMOs
Currently, corporations in the United States are not obligated to inform you if the food they sell contains GMOs. Efforts to enforce GMO labeling in the United States have been repeatedly defeated, owing to the legalized “personhood” of corporate organizations by US courts.
Corporations now have the same free speech rights as living, breathing human beings as a result of their personhood. These rights include the right to be silent, which has been used as a legal foundation for opposing forced labeling. This means you’ll never know for sure whether or not a corporation employs GMOs unless they voluntarily tell you.
Many governments have either banned or labeled GMOs. You can easily detect which foods contain GMOs in these nations. If you live in the United States, however, you will have to go to great lengths to obtain this information, and you may never be quite certain.
How to Avoid GMOs in Your Diet
According to the USDA, 94 percent of all soy and 75 percent of all corn produced in the US is genetically modified. Animal feed and high fructose corn syrup are both made from genetically modified crops. Everything from baked goods to yogurt and frozen fruits contains high fructose corn syrup. Soy is a common protein source in vegan and vegetarian dishes.
A smart first step in avoiding GMOs is to avoid corn and soy products that aren’t clearly labeled as 100 percent organic. Organic foods cannot contain genetically modified organisms, according to USDA Organic Program guidelines.
While containing certain GMOs, a corporation can nevertheless represent a product as being created from organic components. It is likely to include a blend of organic and non-organic agricultural materials if it is not designated as 100 percent organic.
There are also a variety of labeling initiatives that allow producers to identify themselves as GMO-free businesses. The Non-GMO Project is a voluntary labeling program that inspects products to certify that they are free of genetically modified organisms.
Make Use of Organic Shopping Guides
Due to the fact that companies are not obligated to disclose whether or not they use GMOs, the best resources will only be able to tell you whether or not companies may use GMOs.
The Organic Consumers Association has prepared a free shopping guide that includes a list of corporations that have been proven to be GMO-free as well as companies that may utilize GMOs.
During the creation of this guide, they contacted companies one by one and inquired about certain brands. Companies that refuse to respond are labeled as “possibly containing GMO substances.”
Brands that may contain GMO’s include (but aren’t limited to) the following:
- Nestle
- PepsiCo
- General Mills
- Coca Cola
- Bertoli
- Heinz Products
- Pepperidge Farms
Do Your Own Digging
There is no reliable, authoritative, or comprehensive list of foods that are 100% GMO-free. The best thing you can do is do some research about the food and then make a decision based on what you discover. Organic foods are the only way to be confident that you are not eating GMOs in this field, and they are the only way to know for sure unless you’re making the food yourself from your own crops.
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