Content

• Steps
• Advice

Agricultural crops are often genetically modified to improve resistance to pests and diseases, improve nutritional value or increase their ability to grow under different climatic conditions. The US Food and Drug Administration FDA has approved the use of genetically engineered organisms (GMOs) and regulates the use of these products. Scientifically, there is a general consensus that GM crops do not pose more health risks than traditional foods, but some studies have shown that they can be detrimental to health. healthy people and the environment ..

Many of the foods we are eating have ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms, so you need to decide whether to consume these products. Avoiding genetically modified products is easier if you live in Europe, as the law requires that this be stated on the product label. However, in the United States and Canada, food manufacturers are not required to state whether their products are genetically modified.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Buy food

1. 

   Buy foods that are labeled 100% organic. The U.S. and Canadian governments do not allow manufacturers to label their product 100% organic if it is genetically modified or contains an animal ingredient that has been fed GMO food. You may find organic foods more expensive and look different from conventional produce.
   • Trusted organic certification bodies, including the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), International Quality Assurance Organization (QAI), Oregon Tilth, and the California Association of Certified Organic Farmers ( CCOF). Look for their certified seal on the product label.
   • In addition, a product that is labeled "organic" does not mean it does not contain GMO. The fact is that they can still contain up to 30% GMO, so make sure the label says "100% organic".Chicken eggs labeled "free", "natural", or "free" do not necessarily contain GMO, you must look for 100% organic eggs.

2. 

   
   
   Identify fruits and vegetables with a code number. Fruit and vegetable products are often labeled with the price tag (PLU) printed on it. These numbers can be used to identify whether the food is of genetically modified origin or using GM technology.
   • If it is a 4-digit number, the food is traditionally produced, but may or may not contain genetically modified ingredients.
   • If it's a 5-digit number and starts with 8, it's genetically modified. However, do not believe that foods that are genetically engineered will have such a check mark number, as labeling of the price tag is optional.
   • If it's a 5-digit number and starts with 9, it's organic and has no genetically modified ingredients.

3. 

   
   
   Buy 100% grass-fed meat. Most cattle in the US are fed with grass; however, they live on the farm and may be fed GM maize for a period of time prior to release for the purpose of increasing muscle fat and creating veins in the meat. If you want to avoid GMO foods, make sure you buy 100% grass-fed meat.
   • Some meats from livestock like pigs or chickens cannot be 100% grass-fed. In that case, you should look for meat that is labeled 100% organic.
   • You should also buy wild caught fish instead of farmed fish. Farmed fish are usually fed genetically modified seeds.

4. 

   Look for products that are specifically labeled as non-GMO or GMO-free (non-GMO). In the past, such products were quite rare, but thanks to organizations such as the Non-GMO Project, such products are increasingly popular. You can also search websites that list companies and foods that are not GMOs. However, it should be noted that some information is often incomplete, and controversial opinions may not be disclosed.

5. 

   Buy at local markets. More than half of all genetically modified foods are made in the US, but most are produced from large technology farms. You can avoid genetically modified products, while you can also save money by shopping at farmers' markets, subscribing to the Agricultural Support Community farm, or walking around in cooperatives. local.
   • When you buy food locally, you also have the opportunity to talk to farmers and ask them what they think about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and whether they use them in farming or production.
   • However, buying food at your local market does not guarantee that you will avoid GMOs. Many farmers also use genetically modified seeds.

6. 

   Buy whole, raw foods. You should favor foods that you can cook and prepare for yourself over processed foods (for example, anything packaged in a box or bag, including fast food). Although it loses the convenience, but in return, you can save money and achieve your goals with peace of mind. Try cooking one or two meals a week from fresh ingredients; Maybe cooking will make you enjoy and decide to cook more often.

7. 

   Grow food crops yourself. If you grow your own, you will need to buy non-GM seeds. This way, you will know exactly what you are growing and all the materials you use in the growing process.
   • Many websites sell non-GMO seeds. If you are in the US, you can visit the Seed Savers or Seeds Now website to find non-GMO seeds.
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Method 2 of 2: Identify foods most likely to contain GMO

1. 

   Find out with high-risk crops. These products are often genetically modified. Commonly genetically modified crops include soybeans, corn, rapeseed, beets, cotton, Hawaiian papaya, zucchini and zucchini, alfalfa.
   • Soy products aren't just limited to soybeans. See articles on how to live with a soy allergy for information on avoiding soy products. Make sure products like soy milk, Japanese soybeans and tofu are 100% organic certified.
   • Corn products include cornstarch, ground corn, corn oil, corn starch, gluten and corn syrup.
   • Rapeseed oil is also known as Rapeseed oil. This ingredient can be found in many processed foods. If you often use canola oil for cooking, try switching to olive oil.
   • Beetroot is present in any sugar that does not include 100% cane sugar. Be sure to read the product label carefully.
   • Cottonseed oil is also a common ingredient in vegetable oils and margarine.
   • Many dairy products contain GMOs. Some farmers inject the genetically modified hormone rBGH / rBST into cows and / or feed them with genetically modified seeds. Look for dairy products on the label that don't contain rBGH or rBST.
   • Hawaiian papaya is also genetically modified. Buy papaya that is grown in other regions, such as the Caribbean.
   • Usually, we don't eat alfalfa directly. This grass is often grown to feed dairy cows and other livestock. Alfalfa is grown in both organic and genetically modified ways. You can avoid genetically modified alfalfa by choosing grass-fed meat and 100% organic certified dairy products.

2. 

   Be wary of ingredients derived from GMO crops. Not only can the plant be genetically modified, but its ingredients can also be genetically modified. If you buy processed foods, read the label and avoid any of the following ingredients: amino acids (synthetic, not natural in protein), aquatic vegetable proteins feces, lactic acid, aspartame, ascorbic acid (synthetic vitamin C), citric acid, sodium citrate, ethanol, natural and artificial flavors, high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrins , molasses, monosodium glutamate (monosodium glutamate), sucrose, dry vegetarian protein, xantham gum, vitamins and yeast products.
   • About 75% of the processed foods sold at grocery stores contain these ingredients. These include foods such as soda water, cakes, bread and chips. You can avoid these ingredients by cooking yourself from fresh ingredients and being careful when choosing what to buy.

3. 

   Use instruction board. You cannot know all the foods that contain GMOs. If in doubt, check out the GMO food guidebook. The US Food Safety Center has developed apps for iPhone and Android that can help you avoid GMOs while shopping. You can also download or use the online instruction sheet.

4. 

   Be careful when eating at restaurants. When eating out, ask your manager or waiter if they are consuming organic or GMO foods. If they don't eat organic foods, you should avoid tofu, Japanese soybeans, popcorn crackers, popcorn, and any products that contain corn or soybeans. The majority of sugar-containing products also include GMO ingredients.
   • You should also ask them what cooking oils they use for their cooking. If they say to use vegetable oil, margarine, cottonseed oil or corn oil, ask if they can substitute with olive oil.
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Advice

• Don't let "natural" or "wholly natural" statements fool you. This is just a shrewd advertisement with no meaning. Studies show that consumers often prefer the "natural" label over organic! People often think "natural" means organic, but in fact it has no value when it comes to quality or healthy properties.
• Manufacturers that label their products as GMO-free (non-GMO) do not claim anything related to health.
• For restaurant chains or single restaurants, you can ask if the food there contains GMOs, but the waiters and kitchens may not know either. Ask them what cooking oil they use.There are usually four popular cooking oils: corn, soybeans, canola or cottonseed. You can ask to be replaced with butter, although it is common to feed the cows with GM foods; that is the secondary product.
• During festivals (such as Hallowen, the full moon) and children's gatherings (such as birthdays) you should consider giving them your favorite toys instead of candies, products that usually have genetically modified ingredients.
• You should also understand why plants are genetically modified. There are two types of genetically modified crops: Bt and Ht. Bt crops are resistant to pests. This includes corn, soybeans and cotton. Ht crops are resistant to herbicides so that growers can use high doses of herbicides without fear of killing the plants. These crops include rice, soybeans, beets and rapeseed.