3 Ways to Avoid Genetically Modified Food in Your Diet

It is debatable whether or not genetically modified food is truly bad for humans or not and scientists are still trying to figure out the whole truth. However, if you are on a diet and simply do not want this type of food in it there are ways to help ensure it does not sneak in. If you can remember three techniques, you can maintain a GMO-free diet.

Purchase Organic Foods

By law, if a food product has a USDA Organic label on it it cannot contain any GMO ingredients in it. This label means that the product has been thoroughly inspected and it is pretty much a guarantee. This label also means that the product does not contain any sewage sludge, synthetic fertilizers and most pesticides.

Know Your Ingredients

Certain ingredients can contain GMOs without seeming like they would. Non-organic soybeans, cottonseed, corn and canola are good examples. The majority of these - if not organic - will contain GMOs. In the case of canola oil, you can avoid GMOs by simply buying olive oil. Some yellow squash and zucchini and most Hawaiian papaya are genetically modified as well.

Know that most non-organic products containing sugar get their sugar from sugar beets which are genetically modified. If it does not say that cane sugar is in the product, it is likely safe to assume that cane sugar was not used.

When you are choosing your dairy products you want to make sure that the cow that supplied the milk was not injected with growth hormone. Seek out products with no rBST, rBGH or artificial hormones.

Also, once you find a good non-GMO product that you like it is a good idea to stick with it and start making yourself a shopping list so that you can remember what the product is and where you got it.

Non-GMO Project Verified

This is a logo placed on products free of GMOs. Everything with this label has been tested by the Non-GMO Project. This project is a non-profit organization whose sole mission is to help you find foods that are GMO-free. It is important to make sure that the label is from this group, however, and not an imposter. Any other non-GMO label may not be authentic and you may not be able to trust all third-party groups. So be wary unless the label is from the Non-GMO Project.

Resources

Human Genome Project: Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms