Last updated on April 1, 2019
 Q: What are GMOs?A: GMOs – genetically modified organisms – occur when the genetic material in a seed or animal has been altered in a way that cannot occur in nature. Biotech companies have figured out how to take DNA from different sources, and combine them into one molecule to create a new set of genes. It is always done in a laboratory. It is not the same as cross-breeding or a hybrid. A lesser known fact about GMOs is that it takes a vector, or vehicle of transport, for the sources of DNA to be combined. This vector generally comes from a bacterial or a viral source. Imagine…This is our food!Q: Why were GMOs created? A: Initially seeds were genetically modified to withstand the use of extremely toxic herbicides in order to control weed growth and/or insect infestation. These GMO seeds were sold to farmers with the promise that they would reduce their work load. This was because the seeds could be planted, and being genetically engineered, could then be mass-sprayed with herbicides and pesticides without fear of hurting the crops. But over time many genetically engineered plants have mutated, and now require more and stronger pesticides to be sprayed on them. This is our food! 
Q: Why are people so concerned about GMOs?
A: Despite what the biotech and packaged food industries would like consumers to believe, the fact is that GMOs have never been fully tested for safety. Therefore there is no reason to believe – or know – that they really are harmless to humans. In fact, they have been shown to be harmful to animals, a research finding that often transfers over to humans. This is our food!Q: Are GMOs safe for the environment? A: There is documented evidence to the contrary! Genetically engineered plants have mutated and now require the spraying of more and stronger herbicides and pesticides. There are “superweeds” and “superbugs” that have mutated as well; they have outsmarted the toxic chemicals that have been sprayed for years. You cannot mess with Mother Nature. In addition to all this, there are the environmental issues of water run-off containing chemical residue from the spraying of toxins on GMO crops, air and pollen drift from GMO crops that contaminate conventional and organic fields, and a host of other environmental woes. This is our food!   Q: How much of our food comes from genetically engineered seeds?A: Good question, scary answer! Of the “big 5” crops – corn, sugar beets, cotton, soy and canola – the percentage is between 80 and 95%! While it may not seem like these raw materials apply to YOU they find their way into so many processed foods that a whopping 70% of all foods in the American marketplace contain GMOs.
Q: How do I know what foods GMOs are in?
A: You don’t, because there is no mandatory labeling of GMOs in the United States. 64 countries around the world have mandatory labeling laws in effect, however the U.S. is one of the only industrialized nations that does not! Until we do, there are a few things you can do to try to avoid GMOs:1 – Buy Organic: the organic label excludes the inclusion of GMOs. 2 – Look for the Non-GMO Label: many manufacturers are now pro-active about labeling their products, or better yet, getting their product certified as “GMO-free” by a 3rd party verification service such as the Non-GMO Project Verified. 3 – Get Educated: if you know what GMO foods are, it’s easier to avoid them. Read labels! 
If you are interested in more information, including a detailed listing of where GMOs are lurking in our food system, please take a look at my new book GMOs: What’s Hidden In Our Food, now available on Amazon.
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PDF available for reprint. For permissions please contact me. Copyright © 2014 Michele Jacobson, CCN. All rights reserved.Do you have a question about GMOs? |
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