The One and Only Way You Can Tell if a Food is GMO-Free
Story at-a-glance
Vermont
has recently introduced bill H.722, requiring labeling of foods
containing genetically engineered ingredients. Such products would also
be prohibited from using advertising or promotional material that states
or implies that the food is “natural”. If passed, the bill will take
effect in 2014
Other US states pushing for mandatory labeling of genetically modified (GM) foods include California, Michigan and Washington
Mandatory
labeling of GM foods is becoming even more important to counteract laws
that prevent anti-GMO efforts. So far, 14 US states have passed laws to
protect the unabated expansion of GM seed use. Pending legislation in
Michigan now also seeks to prohibit local governments from passing
ordinances that impede or prohibit the use of GM seeds of all kinds. Message from Dr. Mercola:
A bill has recently been introduced in the Vermont state legislature
that would require food to be labeled as genetically engineered if it is
entirely or partially produced with genetically engineered ingredients.
If passed, the bill, H.722, also known as the 'VT Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act' i, will take effect in 2014.
The bill also forbids any such food from using advertising or promotional material that states or implies that the food is:
"natural"
"naturally made"
"naturally grown"
"all natural," or
Any words of similar meaning
According to the language of the bill, it would require:
"... in the case of a raw agricultural commodity, on the package
offered for retail sale ... the clear and conspicuous words,
'genetically engineered' on the front of the package ... [or] on a label
appearing on the retail store shelf or bin in which such commodity is
displayed for sale. ... in the case of any processed food, in clear and conspicuous
language on the front or back of the package ... the words, 'partially
produced with genetic engineering' or 'may be partially produced with
genetic engineering'". ii
More U.S. States Starting to Demand Labeling of GM Foods
Finally we're starting to see some real opposition against genetically engineered foods in general, and unlabeled
GMO's (genetically modified organisms) in particular, in the U.S.!
Aside from this Vermont bill, California, Michigan and Washington are
also working on ballot initiatives to get mandatory labeling of
genetically modified (GM) foods in their states. Vermont takes it a step
further though, as the legislation would effectively also end phony
"all natural" claims for products that in actuality contain wholly unnatural, GMOs.
Personally, I believe GM foods must be banned entirely, but labeling
is the most efficient way to achieve this. Since 85 percent of the
public will refuse to buy foods they know to be genetically modified,
this will effectively eliminate them from the market just the way it was
done in Europe.
Sheer ignorance on the part of American consumers has allowed
Monsanto and other biotech companies to saturate the market with their
genetically altered wares. And misuse of the "all natural" label has
only made matters worse. According to a 2010 Hartman Group poll, more
than 60 percent of consumers erroneously believe that the "natural"
label implies or suggests the absence of GM ingredients, but that is
sadly NOT the case... In fact, at the current time, the ONLY label that
can protect you against GM ingredients is the USDA 100% Organic label.
After reading the Cornucopia Institutes' 2011 report Cereal Crimesiii,
many, including myself, were shocked to discover some of their favorite
natural and even some organic brands were using GM ingredients! For
example, natural products that contained 100 percent genetically modified grains included:
Kashi®
Mother's®
Nutritious Living®
General Mills Kix®
GoLean®
Bumpers®
Hi-Lo®
Two breakfast cereal products that are currently enrolled in the
Non-GMO Project, Barbara's Bakery's Puffins and Whole Foods' 365® Corn
Flakes, contained more than 50 percent GM corn. Meanwhile,
the control, Nature's Path® USDA certified organic corn flakes,
contained only trace amounts of GM contamination (less than 0.5
percent). Another sign that American consumers are getting fed up with
being stonewalled on the GMO labeling issue is the fact that lawsuits
are starting to crop up, accusing food manufacturers of deceptive and
misleading practices over their "all natural" claims. Here are just a
couple of recent examples:
Frito-Lay is being sued by a New York consumer over their 'all
natural' snacks that are actually made using GM ingredients, such as
Tostitos and SunChipsiv
On August 31, 2011, a class action lawsuit was filed against
Kellogg/Kashi® for allegedly misleading consumers with its "natural"
claims. One Kashi® product in particular, GoLean® Shakes, is composed
almost entirely of synthetic and unnaturally processed ingredients,
according to the plaintiff
Why We MUST Insist on Mandatory Labeling of GM Foods
As I said earlier, mandatory labeling may be the only way to stop the
proliferation of GM foods in the U.S. because while GM seeds are banned
in several European countries such as Hungary, Germany and Ireland, in the United States, certain states are passing legislation that protects the use of GM seeds and allows for unabated expansion! At present, no less than 14 states have passed such legislation. Michigan's Senate Bill 777v, if passed, would make that 15. The Michigan bill would prevent anti-GMO laws, and would remove "any
authority local governments may have to adopt and enforce ordinances
that prohibit or regulate the labeling, sale, storage, transportation,
distribution, use, or planting of agricultural, vegetable, flower or
forest tree seeds."
While this type of legislation sounds like crazy nonsense to normal
people, such bills are essentially bought and paid for through the
millions of dollars Monsanto and other biotech companies spend lobbying
the U.S. government each year. In the first quarter of 2011 alone,
Monsanto spent $1.4 million on lobbying the federal government -- a drop
from a year earlier, when they spent $2.5 million during the same
quarter.
Their efforts of persuasion are also made infinitely easier by the
fact that an ever growing list of former Monsanto employees are now in
positions of power within the federal government.
Learn More about Genetically Modified (GM) Foods
Due to lack of labeling, many Americans are still unfamiliar with
what GM foods are. We have a plan to change that, and I urge you to
participate and to continue learning more about GM foods and helping
your friends and family do the same.
To start, please print out and use the Non-GMO Shopping Guide,
created by the Institute for Responsible Technology. Share it with your
friends and family, and post it to your social networks. You can also
download a free iPhone application, available in the iTunes store. You
can find it by searching for ShopNoGMO in the applications.
Your BEST strategy, however, is to simply buy USDA 100% Organic
products whenever possible, (as these do not permit GM ingredients) or
buy whole fresh produce and meat from local farmers. The majority of the
GMO's you're exposed to are via processed foods, so by cooking from
scratch with whole foods, you can be sure you're not inadvertently
consuming something laced with GM ingredients. When you do purchase
processed food, avoid products containing anything related to corn or soy that are not 100 percent organic, as any foods containing these two non-organic ingredients are virtually guaranteed to contain genetically engineered ingredients, as well as toxic herbicide residues.
To learn more about GM foods, I highly recommend the following films and lectures:
Your Opportunity to Eliminate Genetically Engineered Foods from the U.S.
In 2007, then-Presidential candidate Obama promised to "immediately"
require GM labeling if elected. So far, nothing of the sort has
transpired.
Labeling of genetically engineered food is way overdue... Here's how you can get involved to rectify the situation:
Whether you live in California or not, please donate money to this historic effort
Talk to organic producers and stores and ask them to actively
support the California Ballot. It may be the only chance we have to
label genetically engineered foods.
Distribute WIDELY the Non-GMO Shopping Guide to help you identify and avoid foods with GMOs. Look for products (including organic products) that feature the Non-GMO Project Verified Seal
to be sure that at-risk ingredients have been tested for GMO content.
You can also download the free iPhone application that is available in
the iTunes store. You can find it by searching for ShopNoGMO in the
applications.
For timely updates, please join the Organic Consumers Association on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.
In the meantime, the simplest way to avoid genetically engineered
foods is to buy whole, certified organic foods. By definition, foods
that are certified organic must never intentionally use genetically
engineered organisms, must be produced without artificial pesticides and
fertilizers and come from an animal reared without the routine use of
antibiotics, growth promoters or other drugs. Additionally, grass-fed
beef will not have been fed genetically engineered corn feed, although
now that genetically engineered alfalfa is approved, grass-fed will not
always mean they animals have not consumed genetically engineered feeds.vi
Be assured that what happens in California will affect the remainder
of the U.S., so please support this important state initiative, even if
you do not live there!
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