The explosion of biotechnology in farming has allowed for more food to be produced and to resist weather changes, pests, insects and poor soil conditions. Genetically modified organism, or GMO, foods are not labeled, although most Americans want labeling of GMO foods to be mandated, according to The Weston A. Price Foundation. There are four major GMO crops -- corn, soy, cotton and canola. Knowing the ingredients that are derived from these crops can help you to avoid GMO foods.
Animal Foods
Many animals are fed GMO derived feed. According to Weston A. Price Foundation, meat, dairy, farmed fish and eggs are given GMO fed from corn, soy and wheat to raise these animals for market for consumers to buy. In order to avoid GMO-fed meats, dairy products, fish and eggs; look for organically fed animals or 100 percent grass-fed. Look for organic dairy products that are derived from cows that are not injected with bovine hormones to increase milk production.
Bacteria and Yeast Ingredients
Bacteria and yeast are used to develop seasoning, flavoring and processing agents. Notes the Weston A. Price Foundation, aspartame the artificial sweetener sold as NutraSweet and Equal is derived from GM organisms for mass production of the sweetener. Many of these microorganism ingredients are found in diet drinks, medicines, vitamins and nutritional supplements, gum, candies, baked goods, artificially sweetened yogurts and dessert mixes.
Fruits and Vegetables
Tomatoes, potatoes, papaya, zucchini, squash and canola oil are other GMO crops. These crops are not commonly known as GMO crops, according to the Weston A Price Foundation. When shopping for vegetables, purchase organically grown fruits and vegetables.
Soybean and Cottonseed
Soybean and cottonseed oils are being grown with genetically modified pesticides encoded into the DNA of these plants. Cottonseed has grown as a valuble GMO crop beyond manufacturing cotton for clothing. The oil is used for margarines, fat hardening and most commonly used for potato chip frying. According to Margaret Mellon, Ph.D., J.D. and Jane Rissler, Ph.D. with the Union of Concerned Scientist, GMO crops increase the possibility of introducing new allergens to humans with the cross-pollination of new genes from other plants, animals and microorganisms. Introducing new genes to plants from animal, human or other plant sources that normal wouldn't cross-pollinate under natural circumstances may pose a risk to humans.
Corn
Corn is used primarily as a concentrated sweetener for baked goods and carbonated soft drinks. High fructose corn syrup is widely used in consumer goods. Cooking oil made from corn oil is derived from genetically engineered corn. Bees and monarch butterflies populations have decreased with the growth of GMO corn. The GMO foods pose an environmental threat by destroying bee and butterfly populations, according to Mellon and Rissler. Bees and butterflies naturally pollinate flowers of crops that ensures the natural growing cycle of plants. By disrupting this cycle with the introduction of corn crops that are coded with a pesticide introduces plants that naturally are not supposed to survive. The coded pesticide inside the GMO crops kill insects that are not resistant to the pesticide.Scientists do not fully understand the environmental effects of losing bees and butterflies.
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