Avoiding GMO foods - shopping lists and tips

February 16, 3:30 AMNutrition ExaminerAnnie Kay

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If you aren't avoiding GMO, you're eating them.  Photo

Most American would not choose to eat GMO (genetically modified organisms). Unfortunately, without GMO labeling, they don't have a choice. It's highly likely that every American has eaten GMO soy, corn or milk. This is a huge food safety issue that no one seems to know much about. Or, I think people think that they can't do anything about it.

But you can.

If you are concerned about the lack of testing and potential health problems of eating GMO products, there are a growing number of shopping lists to guide you. You can also let the FDA know that you are an American avoiding GMO foods by signing one of the several petitions floating around.

Here are some basic rules of thumb to help you and you family avoid GMO foods:

Choose organics: Certified organic foods can not contain GMO.

Know the high risk foods: Soy, corn, tomatoes, and milk are the biggies, as well as Hawaiian papayas (especially those from the Big Island) and beet sugar. The only way you know these foods are natural is to buy organic or non-GMO labeled foods.

Get a GMO free shopping guide. I know of two of them out there. One by the Center for Food Safety, and the other I found through the Institute for Responsible Technology. I think both organizations collaborated on this one, which I like and use.

Get active. Let you grocery store manager, your state and federal Dept of Agriculture, and others know that you do not want GMOs in the food supply until they are tested as safe. Let them know that you put time and effort into avoiding purchasing GMOs for your family's meals. Author and GMO expert Jeffrey Smith says that if just a few percent of Americans stand up and noisily refuse to buy GMO foods, that like bovine growth hormones in milk, large food companies will begin to announce that they will no longer use these products and, in essence, the mass experiment will have failed.

To me, the worst part of this issue is that I know where loads of GMO products go, even now. It's that great dumping ground of American agricultural commodities - the schools. To our children, years before they reach reproductive age. You know that saying that a society is judged by how it cares for its most vulnerable? Well, bless those few school food service people I know who've (successfully!) pushed for GMO-free schools.

OK. After this rant, it's back to healthy cooking and other lighter matters this week...but, this is one topic where I let myself go into the flow of hysteria. I hope you do too - it's that important.