My interest and knowledge of health has grown over the years. When I was first beginning to take interest in my personal health, I learned about calories and frequency of meals. From there, I began focusing on less processed foods, followed by organic and local options. Now, the growth continues as I’ve become more aware and interested in the negative effects of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
What is a GMO? GMOs are plants (or animals) that have had their genetic codes (DNA) altered in a way that does not occur naturally. Scientists go into plant DNA and remove and/or add genes to make the plant take on a characteristic that is not naturally occurring in that species.
Why are companies creating GMOs? There are many reasons: to increase yield, to make the plant resistance to pesticides, to make more money, for appearance or shipping purposes (a great example is found in this article describing why grocery store tomatoes are flavorless).
So what’s the problem? There are a few. First of all, genetically engineered foods were first introduced in 1996 and now make up 80% of the soybeans, corn and cotton in the US. (source) Americans eat a large amount of GMOs without even knowing it. Since it isn’t required for GMOs to be labeled, unless you buy foods that are labeled 100% organic, there is no guarantee that GMOs aren’t in the product. The FDA claims GMOs are safe, despite a growing number of studies suggesting they aren’t.
Additionally, although you can’t patent a natural life form, you can patent a genetically altered specimen, which Monsanto, a large US agricultural biotechnology corporation, has done. This allows them to make ridiculous amounts of money on their patented seeds and herbicides, like Round Up. Furthermore, since a field growing GMO plants can cross pollinate with a nearby field growing traditional, non-GMO crops, the non-GMO crops can be contaminated and start to grow the GMO plants without the farmer’s knowledge. Monsanto is finding the small farmers that have GMO crops unknowingly and suing them for patent infringement, thus leading to many losing their farms. This is just one reason why there is a growing uprising against Monsanto.
Why is this a problem in the US and not other countries? Currently in the US GMOs are not required to be labeled, thus consumers aren’t able to vote with their dollar. Other countries have the opportunity to refuse GMO foods by not buying foods labeled as containing GMOs and they do refuse to buy them, which leads to less being grown.
What can we do? We can educate ourselves via resources like the Non-GMO Project. We can use our dollar to vote against GMOs by using these techniques to avoid buying GMO products. We can support companies that are committed to not using GMOs. We can talk about it. You can join in the conversation on twitter by using and following the #JustLabelIt hash tag.
There are the basics. Now let’s chat…
Are you familiar with GMOs?
What are your thoughts on genetically altered foods?
Emily S says
I have become increasingly interested in this, yet I still don’t know too much. The wiki link says buy foods that are “labelled 100% organic.” Is that the same as USDA Organic? Is there a difference?
Brittany says
My understanding is that unless a box of crackers, for example, says 100% organic, then some ingredients could be GMOs. Similar to a product labeled whole wheat. Unless it says 100% whole wheat, it’s probably a blend oh whole wheat and another flour.
I’m still reading more into it everyday, though, because I still have a lot to learn!
Sarah says
I read in Barbara Kingsolver’s book, Animal Vegetable Miracle, that the USDA organic label also is associated with some controversy, so trying to find foods labeled with other organic certifications can be beneficial. Also, if you are shopping local, i.e. at a farmer’s market, talk to the vendor about their practices. An organic certification is very costly; many farmers and producers are probably 100% organic, but can’t afford the certification.
Emily S says
thank you both for the insight!
Sherry says
And I thought store bought tomatoes were tasteless only because they were picked green–interesting.
Natalie says
here’s a great article about tomatoes! http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/06/01/154072388/how-to-grow-the-tastiest-tomato-the-secret-s-in-the-soil
Kathy says
Good post Brittany. Monsanto gets my blood boiling! I CANNOT believe the gull they have to sue those poor innocent farmers not to mention the legal involved allowing them (Monsanto) to win. Where are peoples morals these day?
Stefanie says
It’s scary the things we don’t know about the food we eat. I’m glad you’re bringing this up!
Natalie says
It’s also important to know what you’re getting with USDA organic. http://www.neverhomemaker.com/ just shared this article on facebook about the organic industry: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/business/organic-food-purists-worry-about-big-companies-influence.html
It’s difficult sometimes not to make myself sick over worrying about whether or not what the label says is really true, but mostly it’s just disappointing.
Thanks for sharing about GMOs! This is very helpful, and I wish I had more to add, but I think you’ve done a better job summing up my own knowledge than I could 🙂
Lisa says
Great post! This is definitely something I have been paying more attention to. It can really effect our health in the long run I believe, so its important to be aware of these. Its definitely scary about some of the processed foods people eat, especially brands like Kashi who just released they actually had GMOs in them, and no one really knew before. Hopefully things like this will have to show up on products, instead of being hidden for so long.
Michaela says
it´s not only scary, but sad what is done to our food, and therefore us.
I can only hope that somewhen people will realize what harm they do and put health before money.
Danielle says
What’s so frustrating about this is how difficult it is to educate yourself and be clear about what’s what. Example- the link to the non-GMO brands we should support lists Kashi as a non-GMO using company. Aren’t they under fire right now for this very reason? What are we supposed to believe?
lauren says
I’ve been reading and learning about GMOs and organics for awhile now and the more I learn, the madder I get.
It’s crazy to me that our country lets this practice go on without labeling – especially when so many other countries either label it OR don’t allow it in the first place. Aside from soy, one of THE WORST offenders is corn – the whole corn industry in this country is beyond messed up. A friend recently recommended I watch King Corn to see just how deep the problem is.
lauren says
Just wanted to share what I was reading over the weekend, I think you’ll find these interesting!
This one is about the issue of “big business” getting into organics, and goes on to talk about the non-organics allowed in organic food. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/business/organic-food-purists-worry-about-big-companies-influence.html?pagewanted=all
I found this site/blog from the above article, but even aside from this link, it looks like it has a lot of good info. http://livingmaxwell.com/organic-watergate-cornucopia-institute
KatieTX says
I did a paper on the genetically engineered salmon debate for a environmental policy course in grad school, so I am pretty familiar with this topic. At the time (Fall 2010), FDA was in limbo deciding on whether to allow genetically modified salmon to start being sold. It would have been the first GM animal sold for direct human consumption. Luckily, the FDA received SO much hate mail/negative attention that they would not allow it. I would really love if FDA would wake up and start requiring labels on GMO products. Too bad they are in bed with Monsanto, so that won’t be happening anytime soon…….
Laury@TheFitnessDish says
I have been signing petition after petition after petition for YEARS against Monsanto. Ughhhh! They make me SO angry!!!! Thanks for posting this! We really need to vote with our dollars! I refuse to support them!
Jane Preston says
Great post Brittany!!!
Katie @momslrb says
Looks like a great trip! Cute pictures!
Liz @ iheartvegetables says
I’m a super nerd for documentaries, so I’ve watched a couple about GMO’s and honestly, they freak me OUT!!!! Aghhh! It’s honestly scary to think about what we’re putting in our bodies (and the things people don’t even know about!!)
Shannon says
Great post! I have a biopsychology degree and this was a HUGE topic throughout school! What frustrates me the most it not only what they are doing to our food but what they are doing to the animals. I’m very big into cruelty free products, it’s amazing how many products out there that have both of these issues. It’s a huge eye opener and very, very frustrating and disturbing.
Katie D. says
Good post!
Intrestingly enough, a few weeks ago, some friends of mine that own a dairy farm posted some stuff for GMOs (they grow corn, which they feed to their cows. Not sure if they use GMO or not, their knowledge, etc) that stated part of the problem is the increase in food consumption and decrease in farmland, so to keep up with the demand, many farmers turn to GMOs to increase their yields.
Danica @ It's Progression says
This is such a fantastic post, Brittany! This is exactly why I buy organic food whenever possible–there’s so much hidden crap in our foods, even ‘the good stuff’ like fruits and veggies, which just makes me furious. I agree that we have to vote with our dollar and we have to push to make GMOs modified.
Rachel says
Kathy,
I know how you feel! Monsanto also has MY blood boiling. I am livid. Have they no shame? Like seriously, we have to do something about this..this is not ok!!!
Rachel