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October 31, 2013

The True Food Shoppers’ Guide to Avoiding GMOs

Today, thousands of products on supermarket shelves are made with ingredients from genetically modified (also known as genetically engineered [GE]) crops. But GM foods are not labeled in the U.S., despite warnings from doctors and scientists that these foods may not be safe in the diet or the environment. This lack of mandatory labeling can make it difficult to determine which products are made with GM ingredients and which are not. The True Food Shoppers Guide is designed to give you the tools you need to make informed purchasing decisions.

The True Food Shoppers Guide also arms you with valuable information regarding common GM ingredients, as well as brands to look for, and to look out for. The application includes a “Four Simple Tips” section, which offers easy ways to avoid GM ingredients, a “Supermarkets and GMOs” section to help consumers identify GM and non-GMO private-label store brands, and a rbGH and rbGH-free dairy guide.

In addition to a list of brands that produce foods with no GM content, the application also offers contact information for companies that do use GM ingredients. This feature enables consumers to personally voice their opposition to the use of GM foods directly to the parties involved. As a result, the app serves not only as a shopping guide and teaching tool, but one that can be used for widespread advocacy as well. The app also has a “Take Action” section allowing people to contact state and federal agencies and officials to demand better regulatory oversight, safety testing and labeling laws for GM foods and crops.

The True Food Shoppers Guide was compiled because you have the right to know what’s in your food!
The Guide was compiled primarily from direct communications with food producers. In some cases, we received company policy statements from consumers who passed these on to us. In addition to written statements, we spoke to many company representatives to clarify or assess their position. Products on the RED list contain ingredients that come from the most common GE crops (corn, soy, canola, cotton). Companies with products on this list have confirmed that their products may have or are likely to be made with GE ingredients, or have not denied using GE foods when given the opportunity to do so. Companies on the GREEN list have made a concerted effort to avoid GE ingredients and have company policies asserting their position on avoiding GE foods.
As ingredients change in products all the time, the best thing is to check the ingredients list of the products you buy often. Keep a look out for:
Corn: corn oil, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, corn starch, corn meal
Soy: soy protein, soy lecithin, soy oil, soy sauce, soy isolates
Canola: canola oil
Cotton: cottonseed oil
http://truefoodnow.org/shoppers-guide/

Organic companies against labeling GMOs?

If Proposition 37 in California passes, foods that contain genetically modified (GM) ingredients would be required by law to have a label saying so. This would be a huge step forward for those of us who care about not eating GM food. It would also be a step forward for those who think we just have the right to know what is in our food.
Unfortunately, while the proposition has a lot of people support, it has significantly less funding in support of it. Companies have raised $23.5 million to fight Prop 27, while only $2.78 million has been raised in support of it. With GM ingredients in so many store-bought brands, it is hardly surprising that money is being thrown against this prop. However, what is surprising is how some of our organic purchases could be helping the cause against labeling GM foods!
The Cornucopia Institute released a fact sheet sharing many brands that were under a “corporate parent” that gave even millions of dollars to fight against GM labeling. These brands include Larabar, Naked, Horizon Organics, Odwalla and other familiar brands.
http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/blogs/organic-companies-against-labeling-gmos

Free boycode guide
http://truefoodnow.org/shoppers-guide/

1 comment:

  1. This article is good and it also tells us about the foods to be avoided.....

    ReplyDelete