Genetically Modified Foods

Try to avoid the following foods unless they are grown organically as they have been genetically modified (GMO) or genetically engineered (GE).  The primary reasons foods are modified is so they can resist herbicides and pesticides.  This starts a cycle of increasingly larger amounts of chemical used.  In addition to having their genes modified, these crops get sprayed more.  The GMO/GE process includes inserting virus genes, which have been adulterated to contain a desired trait, into the target crop.  This means that viruses, whose long term effects are unknown, are inserted into food for human and animal consumption.  Unfortunately, the promise of these foods - greater crop production - has not been realized (1) and GMO/GE crops have been shown to have detrimental health effects on people and animals (2).

Some of the crops most effected are:
Corn      
Alfalfa   
Soy           
Sugar Beets
Cotton (Cotton Seed Oil)       
Canola Oil
Zucchini and Yellow Crookneck Squash
Papaya (Hawaiian, Chinese)
Aspartame, Processed Foods
Artic® Apples
Potatoes

I highly recommend the award winning documentary: “Genetic Roulette” http://geneticroulettemovie.com
My intention in writing this is to create awareness.  It is not about never eating these foods but about making it a priority to substitute organic.  Put these items, as well as the Dirty Dozen™, at the top of your organic grocery list.  Processed foods are problematic and should be avoided as much as possible.  If you do buy packaged foods, look for the “Non GMO Project Verified” label.  On produce look for the #9 to be the first digit of the PLU number.  Be aware of second generation GMOs.  By this I mean try to avoid farm raised fish and meat from animals that have been fed GMO corn, soy or alfalfa.