By now chances are you’ve probably heard of GMOs but with all the information out there it’s tough to know exactly what GMO means. Here’s the bottom line.
GMOs (short for Genetically Modified Organisms) are organisms that have been created through the use of genetic engineering; also known as gene-splicing or recombinant DNA technology. This avenue of biotechnology involves removing genes from an organism or introducing the DNA of one species into another in the hopes that the new creation will have attributes of both original species. Anything produced in this way is called a Transgenic Organism. Existing transgenic organisms range from virus-resistant papaya to glow-in-the-dark gold fish. GMOs can involve plants and animals as well as viruses and bacteria.
Sound creepy? Well, Australia, the EU, Japan and around thirty other countries think so. They’ve either strictly regulated or banned the use of technology. Here in the US, though, we aren’t regulating the use of GMOs. What’s more, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved a number of GMO compounds based solely on the safety testing and studies of the companies who create and sell the GMOs!
If this all sounds a bit dicey to you, you’re not alone. There are a growing number of consumers calling for closer regulations and inspections for our food. They’re advocating for real, independent, rigorous scientific examination of what exactly is in our food and the long-term health effects of eating it. An easy way to determine whether or not a product is or contains anything genetically modified is to go to the NON-GMO Project’s web page. There they’ve compiled a list of certifiably verified non-gmo products, many of which we carry here at Nature’s Corner. So far no one really labels their products as being genetically modified so you have to look for the Non-GMO labeling.
The practice and protocol (not to mention legislation) on genetic modification is constantly changing. Keep checking back in here. We’ll keep updating so you can stay informed!
