GMOs – Genetically Modified Organisms
Have you heard about genetically modified organisms aka GMOs ? They’ve been quite the talk of the town. Remember Prop 37 in California, the proposition that would have required the labeling of all genetically modified (GM) foods? I still haven’t gotten over the fact that it didn’t pass. I can’t imagine not wanting to know what we are consuming and feeding our families.
GMOs are plants or animals that have been genetically modified to withstand the use of herbicides and/or to produce an insecticide. This is done by using the DNA from viruses, bacterias, or other plants or animals and combining it to the other plant or animal.
The supposed concept behind GMOs was to create a sturdier crop that would yield more and be more resistant to drought. What GMOs have produced instead is more health and environmental problems.
In addition, a few companies, Monsanto, in particular are positioning themselves to own the crops of the world. Nobody likes a monopoly especially when it comes to the food supply.
GMOs Banned around the world
In more than sixty countries, there are either significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs. We, in the US, are so far behind that GMOs were approved by our government because of the studies conducted. Ever wonder who did those studies? You guessed it. The same companies that produce them and hugely benefit from them. But apparently some don’t see that as a conflict of interest.
The good thing is that consumers like you and me want to know what’s in our food. We already have to deal with so many pollutants in our day to day life that we don’t want to consume something that we know is bad for our health.
Helping eliminate GMOs
How you can help eliminate GMOs from the Supermaket and your diet:
Make informed decisions by knowing which companies are using GMOs. Do not buy processed foods because 80% of all processed foods are genetically modified. Remember: Supermarkets only carry products that sell in volume – if they don’t sell the Supermarket will drop them).
You can also stop buying any of the products from any of the companies below. They were all against Prop 37:
- Naked Juice (owned by Pepsi-Co)
- Back to Nature (Kraft)
- Honest Tea (Coca-Cola)
- Odwalla (Coca-Cola)
- Simply Orange Juice (Coca-Cola)
- Cascadian Farm (General Mills)
- Muir Glen (General Mills)
- Larabar (General Mills)
- Kashi (Kellogg)
- Morningstar Farms (Kellogg)
- Gardenburger (Kellogg)
- Bear Naked (Kellogg)
- R.W. Knudsen (J. M. Smucker Co.)
- Santa Cruz Organic (J. M. Smucker Co.)
- Unilever (Ben & Jerry’s)
- Horizon Organic (Dean Foods)
- Silk (Dean Foods)
- Similac (Abbott Nutrition)
- Welch’s
- Goya Foods
Here is a list of crops that are at risk of being genetically modified:
- Alfalfa
- Canola
- Corn
- Flax
- Papaya
- Rice
- Soy
- Sugar Beets
- Zucchini
- Yellow Summer Squash
To also help you figure out which products are not GMOs, here is a list of non-GMO products.
Raising awareness about GMOs
Another great thing you can do is spread the word and bring awareness to the big bad wolf, Monsanto. Tomorrow, make your voice heard. All over the world, there will be a march against Monsanto. Check out the March against Monsato website to find out what is going on in your city.
Every little bit helps. Please join the movement against GMOs and Monsanto by spreading the word and voting with your feet and money.
Thank you!