Avoiding GMOs in Food
It can be a challenge to avoid GMO products. In fact, the most common foods on the genetically engineered food list include diet staples, such as corn (nearly 85% in the U.S.), soy, alfalfa, canola (around 90% in the U.S.), and milk. However, by looking for the “Non-GMO Project” butterfly logo on products, you can be sure that you’re eating foods without GMOs. Finding products with this labelling will ensure that you are staying away from genetically engineered food sources. Why would people want to avoid GMO products? Read on to find out.
What are GMOs?
What does GMO mean? This is a common question as more people and companies are talking about the value of non-GMO and organic foods. Simply put, GMO stands for genetically modified organism, which means that some aspect of a food has been genetically engineered or has used GMO crops during manufacturing. This is different than crossing different breeds of plants or animals to create new species. This instead involves cloning and inserting foreign DNA and modified organisms into animals and plants.
The number of so-called GMO ingredients and products in the supermarket are growing, but the body of research surrounding their effects on the human body is not increasing as rapidly. This is mostly due to the type of research needed can take years or even decades to complete and while the research is being slowly conducted GMO foods seem to be flooding the market. This is just one of the problems with GMOs. We don’t yet fully understand the GMO benefits and risks. With both adult and children’s health on the line, not knowing the negative impacts of GMOs can be dangerous.
The Benefits and Risks of GMOs
GMOs wouldn’t exist if they didn’t have some benefits. The U.S. Department of Energy listed several potential benefits of genetically engineered foods, including improved taste, more nutrients, resistance to pests and disease, and faster crop growth. Proponents of genetically modified animals claim that modifying their genes allows them to produce better meat, milk, and eggs, while also improving their health and resistance to disease.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations suggested that GMO crops and other genetic modification sources may allow farmers to produce more nutritious food. For example, rice, which feeds 50% of the world’s population, could be genetically modified to have more vitamin A to reduce vitamin deficiency in the developing world.
It’s true that GMO products could potentially have these benefits, but there could be some negative effects of GMOs as well.
Because scientists mix genes from different foods together in order to make genetically modified foods, it can lead to allergic reactions and unintended side effects. As an example, soybeans were genetically engineered in 1996 to have the same proteins as Brazil nuts. Thankfully, researchers realized that these soybeans had the same allergens as the nuts, so they were not released to the public. Obviously, genetic sciences have come a long way since 1996, but a lot of the risks still remain.
In addition to allergy problems, some fear the modifications in food could also affect the effectiveness of antibiotics, making it more difficult to treat infections and illnesses in the future.
But our health isn’t the only concern. Some genetically engineered crops are more resistant to pesticides, which could allow farmers to use more of these chemicals on the land. The result could be polluted bodies of water, due to runoff, and damaged soil. Clearly, the negative effects of GMOs could span from our health to our environment.
Why Munk Pack is Non-GMO Verified
We strongly believe that consumers have a right to know what is in their food. This is why, all of our Oatmeal Fruit Squeezes and Protein Cookies are perfect vegan snacks that are free from GMOs and all other genetically engineered crops. Just look for the non-GMO logo! These products all have the Non-GMO Project Verified Seal. We work closely with our suppliers to ensure that we use only high-quality, non-GMO ingredients that adhere to the Non-GMO Project Verified regulations. Know you are getting the best product on the market with our non-GMO labeling! When buying snacks and other products, always look for the non-GMO label.
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