According to the World Health Organization, (GMO’S) the term Genetically Modified Organisms is used to describe any living thing, such as animals, plants, or bacterias, that has had its genetic material (DNA) “altered in a way that does not occur naturally.”
In March 2013, Whole Foods Market announce they would label all products in their US and Canadian stores to indicate whether they contain Genetically Modified Organism (GMO). Some of the food in the USA that is loaded with GMO’s, include corn, soy, canola, and cotton seed to name a few. Whole Food vowed to having all products labeled by 2018, but many will be labeled ahead of the scheduled time. Whole Food is the first market to set a deadline for GMO transparency. In Europe, avoiding GMO’s is so much easier, because laws in Europe require labeling, and in USA and Canada manufactures are not required to label GMO’s. An appeal to the Food and Drug Administration to mandate labels across the USA drew millions of signatures . The labeling bills have been proposed (Proposition 37) and have been turned down in California where Monsanto rules, and the fight continues.
Consumers have a right to know whats in their food. Taking genetic matter from somewhere and put it in the food (processed food) is unhealthy. When you eat, for example BPA, a chemical used in plastics, is used also in food packaging and pink slime, an ammonia treated additive in your meat. GMO Salmon, first of its kind now being marketed to consumers. When will it end? Scientist at the FDA warned the government about GMO foods being dangerous and might create hard to detect allergies, poisons, gene transfer to gut bacteria, new disease and nutritional problems. Animals that were fed GMO’s had a variety of problems and the rise in Autism, Obesity, Diabetes, Asthma, Cancer, Heart Disease, Allergies and Reproductive problems have been all linked to GMO’s.
There is a pocket guide, Non-GMO Shopping Guide, co produced by the Institute for Responsible Technology and the Center for Food Safety, which you can download. The guide can be found in natural food stores and many doctors office. Some of the ways to avoid GMO products, you should buy organic. The USDA label on organic food does not allow the use of GMO’s. The food labeled Non-GMO project verified, are foods you should purchase. Also, eating more fruits and vegetables, some require you to purchase them organic and others non organic, The fruits and vegetable with less pesticide can be eaten non organic.
Vermont recently passed the country’s, first state bill, requiring labeling of Genetically Modified Foods (Processed food). This will take effect July 2016, allowing food producers time to comply. As the fight continues for all the other states to get onboard, we as consumers must never give up the fight. We have a right to know what’s in our food and we need to make the government accountable. Food is your medicine, so lets fight the good fight to label all our food products so that we as consumers choose what we want to eat. Transparency is the key.
