Sometimes, eating food in its natural form is just easier. Instead of checking every label of processed and packaged food, you know you’re taking care of your wellbeing – and your family’s – if you opt for “real food”. After all, an apple is an apple, right? According to sports dietician and environmental wellness expert Heather Neal, maybe not.
‘As if we don’t have enough to worry about in our food, here’s one more thing to add to the list,’ says Neal. ‘Genetically modified organisms. If that sounds like a middle school science project, you’re not too far off. GMOs are plants and animals that have had their genes altered using DNA from bacteria, viruses, or other plants and animals. The genes are combined in experimental combinations that wouldn’t otherwise happen in nature. GMOs are used in a multitude of ways, such as medical research, pharmaceutical drugs, agriculture, and more. Maybe some of it is good – if gene therapy can lead to a cure for cancer or cystic fibrosis, then I might be all for it. But one place I don’t want to see humans messing with experimental DNA combinations is in my food.’
Neal warns, ‘Unfortunately, you’re probably consuming GMO in food on a daily basis and don’t even know it. GMOs are used in food in order to make crops resistant to herbicides and pests, to create new colors and crop variations, to increase shelf-life, and to increase tolerance to harsh environments. The controversy over genetically modified crops, also known as biotech crops, is multifaceted. It’s debated whether genetically modified food is safe for human consumption, whether modified crops are necessary to help with global food supply, and what role big business and intellectual property law should have in food production.’ But how do you go from talking about crops and science and then leap over to big business?
‘When you create something that didn’t already exist, you then have the ability to patent it; to claim it as your own,’ Neal explains. ‘Things you own can be sold and regulated. The biggest producer of genetically modified crops is the US-based company Monsanto. (Other companies include Syngenta, Bayer CropScience, and Du Pont, among others.) Since it’s founding in 1940, Monsanto has been a major producer of plastics, LEDs, and at one point, the toxic insecticide DDT, Agent Orange, and recombinant bovine somatotropin (an artificial growth hormone for cows). The company first genetically altered plants in 1983 and led the way in using biological patents and creating uniformity among plant breeders. Monsanto’s proposed practices directly conflicted with those of farmers, which was to save, reuse, and share plant varieties instead of owning them.’
She adds, ‘What used to be simple farming is now a potential lawsuit waiting to happen because Monsanto holds patents on many of these seeds. That means farmers cannot use these seeds without paying Monsanto…Small farms don’t stand a chance against multi-billion dollar companies. While the fate of small farms may seem inconsequential, their loss of business has a widespread effect.’ So GMOs may affect economic wellness, as well as your own health, but which foods should you watch out for? Here are the most common genetically modified crops:
1. Canola: ‘Approximately 90% of US crop,’ is genetically modified, Neal details.’
2. Cotton: Neal notes, ‘Approximately 90% of US crop in 2011,’ was genetically modified.
3. Soy Beans: ‘Approximately 94% of US crop in 2010,’ says Neal. ‘Also includes soybean oil, soy flour, soy protein isolates, and soy protein concentrates. These processed items are found in infant formula, non-dairy creamer, cheese, whipped topping, salad dressing, cereal, pasta, and more.
4. Corn: According to Neal, the genetic modification of corn accounts for ‘88% of US crop in 2011. Corn is also processed into grits, cornmeal, and flour. Corn products are found in baking mixes, packaged snacks, baby food, muffins, doughnuts, masa, tortillas, taco shells, English muffins, pizza, and more.’
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