Learn more about GMO

Learn more before making decisions about GMOs

We were having dinner with friends recently and a discussion started about GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Are they good, are they harmful, do we need to avoid food that has been genetically modified?

Food is being genetically modified or genetically engineered to increase yields, bolster nutrition and strengthen growing plants against herbicides.

But, are the modifications safe or harmful?

There are studies being done on rats and mice that show a bacterium (bacillus thuringiensis — Bt for short) that is being injected in corn can cause problems with immunity in the gut and also create resistance to antibiotics. Research is in its infancy and inconsistent.

Soybeans and corn are the most common genetically modified foods, with more than 50 percent of all soybeans genetically modified.

Food has been genetically modified naturally since the beginning of time. Birds and animals transplant seeds all the time, but is that controversial? No. The controversy is whether injecting foods with Bt is harmful to us. It is believed by some that the rise in food allergies in children could be caused by genetically modified foods.

How do we know if a food is genetically modified?

As of now in the United States, there are no laws in place that require labeling of genetically modified food. If you look at the PLU (price look up code) you can sometimes tell by the number whether it is a GMO food. If there is a five-digit number beginning with an 8, this is a genetically modified food.

Some foods are labeled non-GMO or No GMO. If a food is 100 percent organic, it is not genetically modified. The U.S. does not allow 100 percent organic food to be genetically modified.

With more research will come more labels giving us additional information about the food we are eating.

This topic may be new to you and if you would like to learn more about genetically modified food the Internet has lots of information — both for and against GMO foods. The more informed you are, the better the decision you can make.