October is National Non-GMO Month. So, I’m sure some of you are wondering what GMO’s are and why don’t we want it? GMO’s are Genetically Modified Organisms. It is the direct human manipulation of an organisms DNA in a laboratory environment. It’s unnatural, so why would we want to be putting it into our bodies, or feeding it to our families? GMO Foods have only existed in our groceries since the late 1990’s which means there hasn’t been long term testing on the effects of eating foods that contain GMO’s. I for one, do not want to be the one testing out the long term effects GMO will have on myself or my children. Unfortunately, many of us are eating products that contain GMO’s and we don’t even realize it!
According to Non GMO Project,
In North America, over 80% of our food contains GMOs. If you are not buying foods that are Non-GMO Project Verified, most likely GMOs are present at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The most common GMOs are soy, cotton, canola, corn, sugar beets, Hawaiian papaya, alfalfa, and squash (zucchini and yellow). Many of these items appear as added ingredients in a large amount of the foods we eat. For instance, your family may not eat tofu or drink soy milk, but soy is most likely present in a large percentage of the foods in your pantry.
GMOs may be hidden in common processed food ingredients such as: Amino Acids, Aspartame, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin C, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Flavorings (“natural” and “artificial”), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Lactic Acid, Maltodextrins, Molasses, Monosodium Glutamate, Sucrose, Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Xanthan Gum, Vitamins, Yeast Products.
Try checking the ingredient list of a product in your pantry. Chances are, it will contain one of these ingredients!
Non-GMO Month was created by the Non-GMO Project in 2010 as a platform for raising awareness on the GMO issue. It’s so important to raise awareness and let people know what they are or may be consuming.
Disclosure: Prize is being provided by PROBAR, Livin’ The MOMMY Life is not responsible for prize shipment.
I’m not totally decided, because I am waiting for more research, however, I’m avoiding non-GMO products as much as possible.
I worry because we really do not know the long term effects from it.
I avoid GMO’s whenever I can. I’m leery about eating food that has been genetically modified.
THey are horrible and I do everything I can not to buy, eat or support the companies that are behind this evil empire.
I do not shop there.
I didn’t realize how much of our food is GMO.
so far they sound healthy and good for you, i am wondering since i am lactose intolerant, that maybe these GMO’s might be a good thing for me.
Personally, I don’t think it’s worth the risks, as you don’t know what effect GMO’s will have on you.
I read articles on GMO foods and their effects (I had a dietetics career before nursing) so you don’t have to tell me they’re bad news. I’m glad it’s getting so much press but many have no clue and don’t care.
Scary! My kids are very skeptical about what they eat, when they found out goldfish crackers had gmo’s in them they refused to eat them and that makes me very proud since their 12, 10 and 6! Smart kids, and sometimes they tell me what foods gmo’s are in. Were a very healthy family and we don’t want any genetically modified organisms in our diet!! YUCK!
AS STATED BY OTHERS STILL NOT DECIDED. IF WE HAD NOT DONE THIS TO SOME CROPS WE WOULD BE HURTING FOR FOOD. BUT THEN THE GOVT WOULD HAVE HAD TO KEEP OUR FOOD FOR US. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE OUR CROPS MORE FRUITFUL & SAVE THEM FROM BUGS. WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THIS WILL NOT BE HURTFUL TO US. ALOT OF GMO PRODUCTS SUCH AS GRAINS & CORN GO TO FEED OUR FEED ANIMALS. THEY ARE NOT HURTING BECAUSE OF IT BUT AGAIN WHAT IS IT DOING DOWN THE LINE. FOR THAT MATTER MANY OF OUR FEED ANIMALS ARE BRED FROM SELECTIVE STOCK PICKED BECAUSE THEY ARE BETTER. HAVE THE HUMANS NOT ALWAYS DONE THIS SO WE AVOID CERTAIN STRAINS OF DISEASE & MALFORMATIONS. FARMERS FOR CENTURYS HAVE SELECTED THE SEED FROM A BETTER PLANT TO MAKE CROPS FOR NEXT YEAR. THEY IN A WAY HAVE ALREADY DONE THIS FOR US. THANKS FOR LETTING ME VOICE MY OPINION
Ooh, I want to try these!
I am still learning about GMO but very much against them!!
I have never used them but I would love to try them. They look yummy!!!
I think it’s sad that people think it’s OK to add them to our food. I think they are the cause of many health issues.
i really dont know much about it i need to read up on it.we never eat out i make everything home made
With all of the illnesses our children have, we have been looking into reducing GMOs in our household. It seems a lot of kids in our area are sick.
I’m learning more and more about them all the time. I didn’t realize they were so bad until just recently. It’s great that blog and people like you are making people more aware.
I believe we should eat as naturally as possible.
I am learning more and more about non-gmo through reading articles online. It makes me think that we should avoid gmo products.
Our food has become so altered…It’s scarey. Like everyone I just want to know my food is safe!
I can’t believe I didn’t hear about them before this year. There are so many dietary problems with Americans – that we didn’t appear to have 30 years ago – that it is scary wondering what you are unknowingly doing to yourself. And our politicians seem to be too happy to take money from the corporations rather than worry about our rights. Big business has gotten away with too much in the US. GMOs are labeled in many other countries and should be done so here. GMOs are poison, plain and simple.
i’ll spare you the rant but they disgust me and we avoid them at all costs. once upon a time people ate real food. its a shame its a fairy tale.
They are not good for you
I am really undecided. there is so much info out there that I have trouble deciding what’s true and what’s just speculation and scare tactics.
i think they are dangerous and am appalled that the united states is so corrupt that we haven’t done anything about them yet. (read: FDA controlled by Monsanto)
I feel I don’t know enough about it yet to decide either way. But from what I have read I am leaning towards not being for it.
I have read a lot of articles about GMO’s and frankenfoods. I think its appalling that they think it is okay to put this stuff in our foods without knowing the effects it will have on our bodies. I prefer to eat organic and pure foods but sometimes you never know what is hidden in your food.
i do not trust GMOs
I’m trying to avoid them as much as possible. I feel that it is better to eat non gmo food and food that isn’t processed and has had tons of sugar added to it.
I’m undecided because I’ve not heard all sides of the story. However, I tend to side with the non GMO side. It’s scary to think big companies have been doing this on the sly.
It scares the living daylights out of me. It starts with our food, what’s next?
I worry about what it will do to the food supply and sustainability around the world.
I think they are scary and try to avoid them.
I don’t think GMO’s are a good idea to eat. I live in farm country and 1 farmer loves gmo seed because they have to fertilize less, and the next day a different farmer says the reason why they don’t have to fertilize as much is because the ROUNDUP- the poison used to kill weeds in our yards, is ingrained in the seed…yummy! We are the experiment.
I think they need to stop messing with our food and putting all of that junk in it.
i don’t know why we need GMOs – they were made to help places that don’t have a lot of food, but in america we have lots and really don’t need that ick in our food
I first started hearing about GMO’s last year. Now I am hearing about it all the time. I think it’s needs to be banned in this country along with food-dyes.