What Is a GMO?

According to the Non-GMO Project website: “GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This experimental technology merges DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.”

Approximately 90% of these crops are genetically modified: corn, soy, canola, sugar beet and cotton. Some summer and zucchini squash, and most alfalfa and Hawaiian Papaya are genetically modified. As of early 2017 some apples and potatoes have been genetically modified so they will not brown. The animals you eat are fed GMOs and therefore, you are ingesting GMOs too.

GMOs have never been proven safe for human consumption and have actually been shown to cause tumor growth in rats.

How can you avoid GMOs? You can eat anything that has the “USDA Certified Organic,” seal on it and anything that has the “NON GMO Project “seal on it. It doesn’t mean there are not traces of GMOs in it due to cross-pollination, but the levels will be very low.

Any product or produce that is organic cannot knowingly use GMO products or seeds.  Anything that has the NON GMO Project seal on it has been verified by a third-party not to have any GMOs in it. Buy organic meat if you want to avoid ingesting GMOs via animals.