GMO plants are created in labs where their genetics have been changed to make versions that could not happen in nature or the usual crossbreeding. Large scale sale of GMO foods took off in 1994. By 2012 close to 90% of corn, soy and cotton crops were GMO. The nine most prominent GMO crops sold today are: soy, corn, cotton oil, canola oil, sugar beets, zucchini, yellow squash, papaya and alfalfa.
GMO wheat has been in the wings for a while. It was put aside in 2004 because of concern it would be rejected by foreign buyers. Rejection would be a major problem as we are the 2nd largest wheat exporter in the world.
Not a big shocker. Other countries, often, are much more strict, than the U.S. on what they allow on the market. Think this might have anything to do with us being #43 in health?
Animal studies suggest GMO foods cause harm to the immune system, kidneys and liver. So we want to read labels as it can show up where we don’t expect it as additional ingredients in things like tomato sauce, ice cream, peanut butter, spices, seasoning mixes, soft drinks with corn syrup or aspartame, salad dressings…
READ!: if you see soy on a salad dressing label and it doesn’t say “organic soy”, then it’s almost certainly GMO soy. (salad dressing is one of the easiest things to make. If you want my favorite recipe, let me know.)
Tip for today: buy organic (they can’t use GMO) and read labels on foods that have multiple ingredients.
GMO is also used in supplements. If you want to know what we use that is all GMO free, get in touch. You can use these products with peace of mind they aren’t damaging you!