Genetically Engineered Food

[ShantiDass]

Is there a list somewhere of what is and isn't genetically engineered food? I'm still learning about this and am not always sure what is safe to buy.

I did buy some organic heirloom tomatoes to use in the chili recipe that was posted and they were so expensive!! They ended up being $3 each and they weren't large. So, I got some plants!

[tanishamarshall]

To be honest I've been learning that most of our food is modified, but to be safe I'd suggest all Organic. As for a list check this one out.

http://www.truefoodnow.org/shoppersguide/guide_printable.html
http://www.westonaprice.org/federalupdate/aa2003/actionalert_072403.html

and
http://www.newswithviews.com/Smith/jeffrey.htm

[RawPaw]

There are only a few widely distributed GMO foods on the market. Corn and soy being the most popular. It's easy if you look at the numbers. I think five digit number beginning with 9 is organic. Other five digit numbers are GMO, and four digit numbers are conventional.

Plus, with the "food supply issues", the GMO industry is dropping in to save us from high food prices. If our gub'ment didn't subsidize conventional farms, organic food would be cheaper because it yields more crop than GMO and conventional.

[Veganforlife]

This is pretty scary! Thank goodness I eat raw!

http://www.truefoodnow.org/shoppersguide/guide_printable.html

[Gittel]

Wow! Lucy, that list is amazing! And scarey.

Gittel

[tanishamarshall]

This is pretty scary! Thank goodness I eat raw!

http://www.truefoodnow.org/shoppersguide/guide_printable.html


I guess we were thinking alike, I pasted the same link above.

[Veganforlife]

Oops, my bad - however, gr8 minds...:cool:

Another thing I would like to add is the little stickers that they put on fruits and veggies? Anything with a 9 (the starting number) is organic. 8, you want to avoid like the plague. Remember to hate eight. And 3's and 4's are okay.

[tanishamarshall]

Oops, my bad - however, gr8 minds...:cool:

Another thing I would like to add is the little stickers that they put on fruits and veggies? Anything with a 9 (the starting number) is organic. 8, you want to avoid like the plague. Remember to hate eight. And 3's and 4's are okay.

I think Truefoods have the best list.

I remember long ago I didnt' know what the numbers meant. I am glad they have a number system.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Unfortunately, you need to watch out with organic food too. Because, they don't need to say GMO if organic. You may buy organic toffu, but this is gmo.

Typically if you buy fruit or vegetable with a code number starting with 8xxxx this is GMO, starting with 4xxxx this mean pesticid or chimical has been used, with 9xxxx this means this is organic and no pesticid were use, etc... but unfortunately if GMO and Organic, the product will start with 9xxxx So you need to watch out. Preferrable to support local farmers if you can or grow your own garden. I buy only organic or from farmers but i just found out about the GMO mix with organic which upset me.

Here are some information
http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Genetically-Modified-Foods

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_269/ai_n15929281

Labels on processed foods may also be a bit confusing. If a label on processed food states "100% Organic," the product must contain one hundred percent certified organic ingredients. If the label simply says, "Organic," it must have at least 95% organic ingredients. Labels that read, "Made with Organic Ingredients," must have at least 70% organic content. (1)

[RawPaw]

Unfortunately, you need to watch out with organic food too. Because, they don't need to say GMO if organic. You may buy organic toffu, but this is gmo.

:mad: Argh!

[avanderland]

Unfortunately, you need to watch out with organic food too. Because, they don't need to say GMO if organic. You may buy organic toffu, but this is gmo.



By definition, aka in order to be certified, certified organic fruits & vegetables cannot be GMO/GE products.

Of course, I'm always a fan of buying local too :D Go Farmer's Markets, CSAs, and U-pick!

[ShantiDass]

Thanks for all the replies. It has helped. I do buy mostly organic and go to an organic farmers market. I can only make the farmers market on the weekend and things don't always stay fresh for a week so I do go to the local HFS.

What about things like seedless watermelon and grapes? I see them organic but haven't they been "messed with" in some way?

[rawfoodistdavid]

At one time societies took food adulteration seriously and the food cheats were punished.
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/non-fiction/article3246321.ece

Nowadays corporations seek to control all aspects of our food supply down to the genetic level. By barging mother nature out of the equation we become dependent on them. The vast rush to genetic adulteration over the past few years is a psychological 'shock and awe' on consumers. They know people are broadly uncomfortable or utterly disgusted by frankenstein food and hope by making fake food hard to avoid people will just shrug and give in.

We should demand new adulteration laws and put Monsanto in jail.

[avanderland]

Thanks for all the replies. It has helped. I do buy mostly organic and go to an organic farmers market. I can only make the farmers market on the weekend and things don't always stay fresh for a week so I do go to the local HFS.

What about things like seedless watermelon and grapes? I see them organic but haven't they been "messed with" in some way?

I know seedless watermelons are a hybrid, but they are the "old-fashioned hybrid," which has been done for thousands upon thousands of years. Basically, they choose the seeds they want to plant, or selectively breed seeds from this plant and that plant together, etc. People have been selectively choosing seeds and saving them for years, which is a very very different from a laboratory injecting pesticides and RoundUp resistance straight into a piece of food, at least to me.

It may not be 100% "natural" but neither is planting and cultivating seeds to begin with, if you want to look at it that way. It's certainly not man-made fruits, designed in a lab, with all profits going towards (in my opinion) the most evil of all corporations -- Monsanto.

[solarliving]

Thanks all of you who posted links to the lists of frankenfoods. We can see that something isn't quite right when 1/3 of the bees are dying. I encourage everyone to start growing your own food if possible. There are some really innovative green house designs available now.

Also you might want to look into Codex Alimentarius.

http://www.livingnutrition.com/articles/codex.html

[acjazz28]

One thing I've noticed in the produce section lately is that the corn doesn't have any PLU codes on them. So far I've been hard pressed to find any fresh corn that is organic...even at Whole Foods. At this point I go the safe route and buy organic frozen corn (and let it thaw and use it however...) I think that the big agribusinesses know that the public is looking for those 8xxxx numbers, that's why some GMO produce may not be labeled. I haven't seen any of those numbers at the grocery stores I frequent...have any of y'all???

acjazz28

[NoGMO!]

Also you might want to look into Codex Alimentarius.

http://www.livingnutrition.com/articles/codex.html
What does this mean to a raw foodist?? would all the food be GMO'd and pasturised in 2009 if that bill passes? :confused:

**GMO's... If anyone does not understand the concern about GMO's, they should rent the documentary Future of Food?

[kaybee]

acjazz28--

Someone correct me if im wrong, but my understanding was that
EVERYTHING whole foods sells, organic or not, is GMO free. True or False?

[avanderland]

acjazz28--

Someone correct me if im wrong, but my understanding was that
EVERYTHING whole foods sells, organic or not, is GMO free. True or False?

I believe so. I believe they were one of the corporations who stated that they would not stock anything GMO.

Also, organic corn DOES exist, but you might have to look around and find some farmer's markets near you. We have organic and nonorganic at my coop, and I've seen both around Farmer's Markets. It's starting to be much more plentiful as the summer goes on.

It's strange that the produce where you are has no stickers on any of it, because even at my coop, it either has a sticker, or a code that is associated with that item, even if it has no sticker.

[solarliving]

If you want to understand codex alimentarius you might want to check out agenda 21 sustainable development. There is a plan for one world government otherwise known as The New World Order. If the following link does not come up just go to you tube and type in agenda 21.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOHwz6R8z2Q

[oai]

Another thing I would like to add is the little stickers that they put on fruits and veggies? Anything with a 9 (the starting number) is organic. 8, you want to avoid like the plague. Remember to hate eight. And 3's and 4's are okay.

what do 3's and 4's signify? :confused:

[Raw Angel Mom]

3's is the same as 4's. It is use only because they ran out of 4's. It is grown with pesticide etc.. this isn't GMO.

Glad to see that we can trust organic fruit and vegetable code with 9's

Great topic!