1. Steer Away From the Most Common Culprits
The easiest way to steer clear of bio-engineered vegetables is to know your most common offenders. Search the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website to find the most common genetically engineered foods. You will also find the latest FDA take on their use and rules about what can be genetically engineered, the potential benefits to the farmer and food supply and what the FDA's research has shown. Instead of trying to identify genetically engineered vegetables, you might want to avoid certain foods altogether, like corn and soy. Corn and other corn products are some of the biggest culprits with corn being the single most genetically engineered vegetable available today. Choose locally grown corn and you may or may not have bio-engineered food. Ask the farmer if his seed stock is free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to be sure. Taking an all or nothing approach might seem drastic, but in many cases the foods that commonly receive bio-engineering treatment are food allergens anyway, so steering clear of them also gives you a chance to see if your digestive system reacts positively.
2. Ask the Manufacturer
If you are concerned about the possibility that your food might be genetically modified, give the manufacturer a call. Most food manufacturers have their phone number right on the back of the label. Ask the representative directly if there is any genetically engineered foods in their product. You might also want to ask if they use radiation to destroy contaminants in their products as well. Then, do your shopping at a market you know has a selection of GMO-free veggies. Ask your market's produce manager which vegetables might be genetically modified, and avoid those.
3. Check the Label
Speaking of labels, "organic" also means GMO-free. The rules for growing organic produce include a statement about using only non-genetically engineered seed. So, if you choose organic, it is already non-GMO food. You might also see "All Natural." This may be an indicator of non-genetically modified foods as well. Request them to change their label by adding "GMO Free" to the front of their package. Express to them that this helps you as a consumer choose the best food product for your family and you are more likely to choose their product next time if they change their label.
4. A Look Toward the Future
We'll be seeing less genetically engineered food as long as consumers keep demanding it. These might seem like great advances to the food industry, but if we as consumers ask for non-GMO foods, the food industry will follow. The Flavr Savr tomato is an example of one of those failed experiments, with processing uneconomical and potential safety concerns, this modified vegetable, though marketed in the US, was never sold here. Most consumers are now rejecting genetically modified foods, as long as they know they are genetically modified.
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