Now That I know The Risks of GMO’s, How Can I Avoid Them?
Most GMO’s come from only 5 plants, those of which 90% are genetically modified. Remember the 2 S’s and 3 C’s!*
- Soy- Used in soybean oil, lecithin, protein powders, and vegetable protein added to many packaged foods.
- Sugar Beets- refined into sugar
- Corn- used to make corn syrup, corn oil, and feed for many animals.
- Canola- Made from the rapeseed plant, this oil is a common ingredient in salad dressings, mayonnaise, and snack foods
- Cottonseed- Oil is used to fry processed foods such as potato chips. common ingredient in baked foods and margarine.
5 Ways to Avoid GMO Foods*
- Buy Organic- by law, organic food may not contain GMO’s, so buying organic products is the best and most simple solution.
- Look for the Non-GMO seal- the Non-GMO Project is a non-profit organization that certifies non-GMO foods with a Non-GMO Project Verified seal (see image below)
- Avoid Synthetic Hormones- Look for beef and dairy products without the synthetic hormones rBGH or rBST.
- Avoid Obvious GMO Ingredients- On labels, the top 5 GMO ingredients- soy, sugar beets, corn, canola, cottonseed- are often obvious. Corn syrup, soy flour, and cottonseed oil are all examples. Avoiding these will drastically reduce your GMO intake.
- Recognize Hidden GMO’s- Many food ingredients are derived from the 2 S’s and 3 C’s but their names obscure the fact. For example, citric acid, a popular preservative, typically comes from GMO corn or sugar beets.
Stay Tuned to Part 3 of our GMO series to learn more about recognizing hidden GMO’s, seeking organic labels, cracking PLU codes on produce, and understanding deceptive labeling on food products.
*Information from Dr. Baylock’s Guide to Avoiding GMO Foods