For hundreds of years American farmers have been growing crops, saving seeds from one year to plant the next. Remember Almanzo Wilder and his hidden wheat during The Long Winter? From seed potatoes to corn and wheat, keeping a portion of the crop to be planted for the next growing season is a perfect example of being self sufficient. Once a grower harvests his first crop, he or she will never have to purchase seeds again, barring any natural disasters
That all changes though, when we add genetically engineered seeds into the mix. (Also called genetically modified organisms or GMOs.) There’s plenty of debate about the health and safety of GMO crops, but one thing is certain: crops that require farmers to purchase seeds from the patent owner every year are not sustainable. When we buy foods made from genetically engineered crops, we support the notion of unsustainable farming. (Who could have imagined such a concept a generation ago?)
It’s estimated that 85% of America’s corn crops are genetically modified, 91% of soybeans, and 88% of cotton are genetically modified. Other genetically modified crops on the market include sugar beets, canola, cotton, and papaya. (There are questions about GMO squash, wheat, and potatoes being on the market, but I’ve yet to find anything definitive.) Unless you’re buying organic, odds are good that many of the products you’re eating include GMOs. California’s Prop 37 is bringing the GMO debate front and center as proponents push for mandatory labeling, but what if you want to avoid GMOs now? Unless you’ve been successful at becoming completely self-sufficient, it’s tough. Really tough.
Want to take a closer look at where GMOs are hiding in our food? Scroll down or click ‘read more’ below. Don’t care? Maybe you’d like to read the most popular post on this site to date.
CORN
Obvious:
- Corn on the cob
- Frozen corn
- Corn meal
- Corn tortillas
- Tortilla chips
Not so obvious:
- Drinks and desserts sweetened with high fructose corn syrup
- Cornstarch (check ingredients lists for this, too)
- Battery raised meat fed corn
- Factory farmed eggs from chickens raised on corn
- Dairy products from cows raised on corn
- Specialty coffee drinks
- Cat and dog foods
SOY
Obvious:
- Edamame
- Soybean oil (check ingredients lists)
- Soy milk
- Soy sauce
Not so obvious:
- Vegetable oil
- Lecithin
- Tofu
- Non-dairy frozen desserts
- Teriyaki sauce
- Battery raised meat fed soy
- Factory farmed eggs from chickens raised on soy
- Dairy products from cows raised on soy
- Texturized vegetable protein, a meat substitute commonly found in canned chilis, soups, and sauces
- Cat and dog foods
- Canola oil
- Tortilla chips (especially sneaky are the ones that shout ‘made with organic corn’ but are fried in GMO canola)
- Baked items
- Salad dressing
- Peanut butter
- Mayonnaise
Sugar beets
- Any granulated sugar that doesn’t specifically say ‘cane sugar’
- Baked goods made with sugar
- Specialty coffee drinks
- Textiles made from cotton
- Cottonseed oil
- Battery raised meat fed cottonseed
- Factory farmed eggs from chickens raised on cottonseed
- Dairy products from cows raised on cottonseed
- Baked and prepackaged items that include cottonseed oil
This is by no means a comprehensive list. But it made you think, didn’t it?
Wow. Thanks for pointing out the not-so-obvious. Would never have known or suspected things like tofu and peanut butter.
Just had a conversation with someone on FB about Whole Foods selling GMO food. Some people believe just because they are buying stuff there, it is automatically healthy and GMO free. Good post.
Yes, I saw posted to Facebook that Whole Foods allows GMOs. It is hard to avoid them, as you point out, although I do try. One cereal that is GMO-free is Nature’s Path. I’m hopeful Prop 37 will pass. All it does is require GMO labels though. I suggest everyone watch Food, Inc. That film really opened my eyes. The problem is that companies that manufacture GMOs, like Monsanto, infiltrate the government, which is why GMOs have become so pervasive. I do not believe adequate testing has been done. The best we can do is spread the word. For now, contact everyone you know in California to vote YES on Prop 37. That will be a start anyway.
This is such an important topic. I never stopped to think where all those GMO’ed products actually end up in addition to the obvious.
Brette recently posted..Gastronomic Delights in Florence
I am back to say there is a new movement to get GMOs labeled across the nation. Please sign.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/448/913/868/?z00m=20411632
What an eye-opener!
I am very disturbed by this issue and saddened by how we are puttin profits over people and the environment. We try to buy as much organic as we can but it is not enough. I wish the government would do something about Montsantos dirty deeds.
NZ doesn’t allow GMO foods to be grown here, but having them imported, especially in products like corn chips are a different matter. Even here we have to watch.
Melanie @ Frugal Kiwi recently posted..Circles Crocheted Rag Rug
Melanie, something you might want to keep an eye on: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9579158/GM-cows-produce-hypoallergenic-milk.html
Kris @ Attainable Sustainable recently posted..Avoiding GMOs in our Diet
This is both amazing and disturbing. Thanks for increasing my awareness.
ruth pennebaker recently posted..D is for Defiance
What a helpful post. So many people, myself included, had no idea of many of these less obvious sources. But, clearly, this is a scary and concerning topic.
I’m still learning about this topic, but I thought you might be interested in this: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444358804578018472810435506.html
I had no idea that GMO’s had infiltrated so many of our foods. Do you know if GMO seeds grown in one field can contaminate the field next to it growing organic products? If so, it won’t be long before all of our seed is contaminated with GMO’s. The reason I ask – there is a field near our house that has a sign indicating they are growing GMO alfalfa. Animals like deer and birds eat the seed in the field. When they move to the next field and poop, surely they are spreading GMO seed to non-GMO fields. I live in a big hay growing area. The hay is sold as winter feed for cattle and other animals.
Donna Hull recently posted..Saturday’s scene: Autumn in Siberia
Donna, YES. That’s another of the HUGE problems with genetically engineered foods. And not only can the GMO seeds contaminate our non-GMO food sources (uncontaminated corn in particular is already hard to find – and how do we undo that mess??), corporations like Monsanto are suing farmers for “stealing” their technology when it drifts. Check out the story of Percy Schmeiser. Monsanto sued him and he fought, finally winning his case. Other farmers have just gone bankrupt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Schmeiser
Kris @ Attainable Sustainable recently posted..Avoiding GMOs in our Diet
Very enlightening. I had no idea about the hidden GMOs.
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[...] typically made from canola or soy oil, both products made from crops that are commonly genetically modified. I spent a small fortune on a “certified non-gmo” canola mayonnaise a couple of months [...]