How To Avoid Genetically Modified Foods

Why are Genetically Modified Foods dangerous? The documented health risks of Genetically Engineered Foods are the following:
GM Potatoes Damaged Rats. Rats Fed GMO Tomatoes got bleeding stomachs, several died. Rats Fed Bt Corn had multiple health problems. Mice Fed GM Bt Potatoes had intestinal damage. Workers exposed to Bt cotton developed allergies. Sheep died after grazing in Bt cotton fields. Inhaled Bt corn pollen may have triggered disease in humans. Farmers report pigs and cows became sterile from GM corn. Twelve cows in Germany died mysteriously when fed Bt corn. Mice fed Roundup Ready soy had liver cell problems. Mice fed Roundup Ready soy had problems with the pancreas. Mice fed Roundup Ready soy had unexplained changes in testicular cells. Roundup Ready Soy Changed Cell Metabolism in Rabbit Organs. Most offspring of rats fed Roundup Ready soy died within three weeks. Soy allergies skyrocketed in the UK, soon after GM soy was introduced. Rats fed Roundup Ready canola had heavier livers. Twice the number of chickens died when fed Liberty Link corn. GM peas generated an allergic-type inflammatory response in mice. Eyewitness reports: Animals avoid GMOs. A GM food supplement killed about 100 people. (see Genetic Roulette by Jeffrey Smith for more details) Furthermore, the disappearance of the bees in North America relates to GM pollen.

How To Avoid Genetically Modified Foods:

1. Buy Organic: Certified organic products cannot be produced using GMO ingredients. So if you can, buy only products labeled "100% organic", "organic," or "made with organic ingredients."

2. Look for "non-GMO" labels. Companies may voluntarily label products as "non-GMO." Some labels state "non-GMO" while others spell out "Made Without Genetically Modified Ingredients." Products that carry the Non-GMO Project Seal have third party verification as being in compliance with Non-GMO Project standards for GMO avoidance. Some products limit their claim to only one particular “At-Risk” ingredient such as soy lecithin, listing it as “non-GMO.” Look for dairy products labeled "No rBGH or rBST,” or “artificial hormone-free.”

3. Avoid at-risk ingredients. If it's not labeled organic, avoid products made with the "Big Four" GM crops: Corn, Soybeans, Canola, and Cottonseed, used in processed foods. Also, more than 50% of Hawaiian papaya is GM and a small amount of zucchini and yellow squash. Also, become familiar with our list of invisible GM ingredients and avoid sugar from GM Sugar Beets.

Corn
• Corn flour, meal, oil, starch, gluten, and syrups
• Sweeteners such as fructose, dextrose, and glucose
• Modified food starch (May be derived from other sources)

Soy
• Soy flour, lecithin, protein, isolate, and isoflavone
• Vegetable oil and vegetable protein (May be derived from other sources).

Canola Canola oil (also called rapeseed oil)

Cotton Cottonseed oil
Sugar Avoid anything not listed as 100% cane sugar. GM beet sugar recently entered the food supply. To avoid it, look for organic and non-GMO sweeteners, candy and chocolate made with 100% cane sugar, evaporated cane juice or organic sugar.

Aspartame The artificial sweetener also known as NutraSweet and Equal, which is derived from GM microorganisms.

4. Download the shopping guide at www.nongmoshoppingguide.com. Use it when you write out your shopping list. Keep it with you whenever you shop and buy products listed in the Guide. Store it inside your reusable shopping bag, put in your coupon holder or check book, or leave it in your car.

Buy organic eggs where hens are fed non-GMO grain, grass-fed beef (not GMO grain fed), organic raw milk and wild-caught fish (not farm-raised). Buy organic honey since otherwise the bees are fed GM corn syrup. Processed foods often have hidden GM sources (unless they are organic or declared non-GMO). The following are ingredients that may be made from GMOs. Aspartame (also called AminoSweet®, NutraSweet®, Equal Spoonful®, Canderel®, BeneVia®, E951), baking powder, canola oil (rapeseed oil), caramel color, cellulose, citric acid, cobalamin (Vitamin B12), colorose, condensed milk, confectioners sugar, corn flour, corn gluten, corn masa, corn meal, corn oil, corn sugar, corn syrup, cornstarch, cottonseed oil, cyclodextrin, cystein, dextrin, dextrose, diacetyl, diglyceride, erythritol, Equal, food starch, fructose (any form), glucose, glutamate, glutamic acid, gluten, glycerides, glycerin, glycerol, glycerol monooleate, glycine, hemicellulose, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), hydrogenated starch, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, inositol, inverse syrup, inversol, invert sugar, isoflavones, lactic acid, lecithin, leucine lysine, malitol, malt, malt syrup, malt extract, maltodextrin, maltose, mannitol, methylcellulose, milk powder, milo starch, modified food starch, modified starch, mono and diglycerides, monosodium glutamate (MSG), Nutrasweet, oleic acid, Phenylalanine, phytic acid, protein isolate, shoyu, sorbitol, soy flour, soy isolates, soy lecithin, soy milk, soy oil, soy protein, soy protein isolate, soy sauce, starch, stearic acid, sugar (unless specified as cane sugar), tamari, tempeh, teriyaki marinades, textured vegetable protein, threonine, tocopherols (vitamin E), tofu, trehalose, triglyceride, vegetable fat, vegetable oil, vitamin B12 vitamin E, whey, whey powder, xanthan gum, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) although usually derived from corn, is probably not GM because it is not likely made in North America.