Genetically Modified Food is Out There

Genetically modified food also referred to as genetically modified organisms, have had genes or traits from other organisms introduced into their DNA.  The most commonly known genetically engineered crops are canola oil, corn, soy, and cotton   Less commonly known foods that are now very commonly grown from genetically modified seed are sugar beets and Hawaiian papaya.  And there are others, but, in the United States, unlike some countries, it is not mandatory to label foods as genetically modified.  Wikipedia has a good entry with a lot of useful information, including the modifications found in particular plants.  You can check this out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food.  You can see what the US government has to say about genetically modified organisms and the issues involved at    http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml.

A lot of the challenges regarding genetically engineered foods have to do with the unknowns.  What effect will raising  humans (or animals) on  genetically grown food have in a few decades?  Genetically engineered food first entered the marketplace in 1996, so currently, people have only been consuming such food for about  15 years.  What long range effect may it have on the  environment?  The risk of cross-pollination spreading the genetically engineered "super plants" is very real.  What are and could be the effects of genetic modification of plants on the land in which they grow?  The organisms that normally live in the soil?  Anyone that grows plants knows that besides sun and water, plants need to grow in rich, healthy soil, that is teeming with life, not just that of the plants.  When we introduce changes at a genetic level, there most likely is a domino effect, and the long term effects could be catastrophic.

What can we do now?  Unfortunately, the plants are already out there, growing,  being purchased, often unwittingly by consumers.   We can start by saying "No to GMOs."  Purchase organically grown food - part of the current organic standards does not allow genetically engineered food to be labeled as organically  grown.  When purchasing products which contain some inorganically  grown ingredients, look for the No GMOs or non GMO label, which some companies opt to use, to show that they have determined their products are free of GMO ingredients.  And get involved!  Look for organizations that are spreading the word on the dangers of genetically modified foods, in your area.  The group that first introduced me to the issues was The Mothers for Natural  Law.  You can read a bit about them and the group  now carrying on the work they started  at http://www.safe-food.org/-campaign/about.html.  But no worries...  Remember knowledge is power.  Do your best and then call it a day.  Until tomorrow....