Which Companies Don’t Want GMO’s Labeled?

GMO. Pesticides. Chemical fertilizer. Herbicides. Antibiotics. Animal Confinement. Industrialization. rBGH hormone. Toxins. Round Up. Monsanto. Biotech. Factory Farms. Did I miss anything?

I’m pretty sure we can all say when you hear any of those words listed it never means anything good and they all seem to interconnect with each other in some way or another.

GMO is the keyword here. GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) are organisms that had their DNA split in a laboratory. Bio-tech scientists can take a gene from one plant, animal, bacteria or virus and put it into another gene of a plant, animal, bacteria or virus. Thus creating something that is not created in nature. For example, they are trying to get a “no brown” GMO apple to be approved. You heard that right… an apple that never browns or bruises. So when do we know when the apple has gone bad? Oh wait, we won’t be able to know?! Why must humans mess with Mother Nature?

Helloooo?! Am I the only one who thinks this is a serious problem? Fortunately, I’m not.

Right now in California there is a huge campaign going. Have you heard of the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act (also known as PROP 37)? If you haven’t heard about it but care about what’s in your food, read more here. Basically the California people have spoken and they want to take the labeling issue to the November ballot. This is a serious issue and just like anything, there are both sides to this campaign.

By the way, did you know in a recent poll taken about 90% of people favor labeling of GMOs?

Kellogs, Coca-Cola, Pepsi Co., Hormel all have something in common. They are members of the powerful Washington, DC-based Grocery Manufacturer’s Association (GMA), a multi-billion-dollar trade association which represents America’s $1.2 trillion “Big Food” industry. The GMA itself has already pitched in $375,000 to the anti-labeling campaign. And it’s still early in the game.(1)

According to the Organic Consumers Association these big brand names have donated money to defeat Prop 37. As you will notice in the list, these companies also have organic brands who strive to market that their foods are “all-natural” and “good for the earth.”

To put it in a nut shell, these companies (even though they market ‘natural,’ ‘organic,’ and ‘good for you’ foods) are willing to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to keep you from knowing what is in your food.

Here’s the golden question: If your GMO-laden foods are so good for us, then why does it matter if there is a label saying the food contains GMOs?

Are GMOs safe any way? Unfortunately there has been no long term studies done to see the results of humans eating genetically modified foods. This is actually quite scary because what if it can diminish a whole generations worth of strong, healthy kids? There have been short-term animal studies which indicate many serious illnesses and diseases.

One of the most commonly used toxins is called the Bt-toxin. Bt-toxin is designed to split open a bugs stomach once ingested and instantly kills them. How unappetizing when you consider that Bt-toxin is used on things like corn (which is in everything) and we eat the corn. What’s even worse is studies are showing that Bt-toxin can be found in about 80% of unborn fetuses! That’s right, the toxin is in your baby before it’s even born.

The bio-tech companies insist the toxin is safe but there has been no independent testing to back the information up so I can only assume the best thing to do is to stay away from that toxin and the food it’s used on.

You want to especially make sure you stay away from all these conventional foods because they have been approved in the United States to be GMO-

• Canola
• Corn
• Soy
• Alfalfa
• Papaya
• Zucchini
• Squash
• Sugar beet
• Chicory
• Cotton
• Flax
• Potato
• Rice
• Tomato

While it is true that currently organic foods are not allowed to contain GMOs, please be aware that if you buy a processed food labeled organic it does not necessarily mean all ingredients are organic and you are safe from GMOs.

It is common to see the foods listed above in other terms to confuse the consumer into not knowing what the ingredients are (if the consumer even LOOKS at the ingredient list). For example, when making preservative, additives and sugars, the GMO corn can be used and named things like: fructose, high fructose corn syrup, lactic acid, corn starch, natural flavors… etc.

The golden rule here is to only buy food that you can pronounce each ingredient with the list preferably not amounting in more than 5 or 6 ingredients (also depending on how “clean” you want to be). Read every label. It is SO important. If something claims to be organic, read the ingredient list and make sure before every ingredient there reads the word organic. If only 1 out of 5 items has the word organic, then you know the food isn’t truly organic. Please also keep in mind GM grains are used to feed the pigs, chicken and cows so it’s equally important to know the source of your meats.

There are a couple things you can do to help win Prop 37 and once and for all get our food labeled:

• You can donate any amount you can to help this grassroots campaign to educate people on why we need our foods labeled! You’ve seen the amounts donated that we are up against so any contribution will help.
• Sign up for the Organic Consumers Association to be notified on GMO campaign updates
• Educate all your friends and family about the health risks of GMOs and why it’s important to get them labeled
• Boycott and stop buying all the foods from the above manufacturers
• Volunteer for YES on 37
• Share this post on your facebook, tweet YES on 37.. blast it all over the social media

And most importantly, the biggest thing you can do to help is to head over to the polls on election day and Vote YES on 37. Together we can make a difference.

Until next time,
Loriel - Healthy Roots, Happy Soul

(1)https://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_26023.cfm
photo credit