If you’re a CLG subscriber, you probably already avoid GMO’s to the best of your ability.
But the web of hidden GM components in food is so wide spread and complex that even the most cautious shopper will benefit from the Non-GMO Shopping Guide.
If you’re not sure where you stand on organic food, consider at least avoiding GMO’s. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine reported that animal studies have positively linked GMO’s to “infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system.”
Genetically modified ingredients have been incorporated into an overwhelming portion of processed foods for over a decade now. The biggest offenders are industrial shape shifters corn and soy. of which
90% of all corn and over 95% of all soy is genetically modified
This means that because nearly all processed foods contain either corn or soy, nearly all processed food products not labeled “USDA Organic” are made with GM components. If in the last ten years any non-organic processed foods have been part of your diet, you have been eating GMO’s. Don’t worry, you’ll live–the human body is remarkably resilient.
But if you want to take control, the best way to steer clear of GMO’s is by eating mostly whole foods and shopping for organic ingredients, even if it’s not a certified organic farm, but from a farmer you trust at your local Farmer’s Market.
Many people are pressed for time when shopping and can’t make the Farmer’s Market–don’t stress, shop as usual, just buy Organic when it comes to the foods listed below.
GMO Crops
Summary of genetically modified food crops within the U.S.:
- Soy (91%)
- Cotton (88%)
- Canola (80-85%)
- Corn (85%)
- Hawaiian Papaya (50%+)
- Alfalfa
- Apple (“Golden Delicious”)
- Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
- Eggplant (Solanum melongena)
- Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.)
- Flax (Linum usitatissumum L.)
- Maize (Zea mays L.)
- Melon (Cucumis melo)
- Papaya (Carica papaya)
- Plum (Prunus domestica)
- Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
- Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
- Rose (Rosa hybrida)
- Yellow Squash (Cucurbita pepo)
- Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris)
- Sugarcane (Saccharum sp)
- Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum)
- Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)
- Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)
- Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Other Sources of GMOs
- Dairy products from cows injected with rbGH
- Food additives, enzymes, flavorings, and processing agents, including the sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet®) and rennet used to make hard cheeses
- Meat, eggs, and dairy products from animals that have eaten GM feed
- Honey (when not Organic)
