I can't believe we humans are still considering genetically-modified organisms as a food source.
But the Big Agra lobby is very big, and puts a lot of pressure on money-grubbing politicians to do the wrong thing. (What can you expect with a political system where millions of dollars are needed to run a campaign? But I digress.)
Larry wrote about the pervasiveness of Big Agra after watching Food Inc. last March.
(In the US, the only way to be sure of not eating gmos - genetically modified organisms - is to buy organic or to check for a label like the one in the picture above on a bottle of canola oil. Or on the bag of soy flour lower left. Canola, soy and corn are the most genetically-modified foods, so always read labels for them.)
However, I have good news. In July, genetically-modified food took a large step backwards when the US refrained from opposing the gmo labelling guidance document in the Codex. Now any country who wants to require genetically-modified foods to be labelled as such is free to do so.
(The Codex alimentarius is a project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization. They are codifying worldwide food practices. I first heard of them 20 years ago when they were attacking the vendors of herbs like echinacea, saying their products were not patented like drugs are, and therefore were less effective. Say the word Codex in parts of Canada and to various natural health practitioners and they will growl at you.)
But since the Codex will govern most of the world food production, a line in it saying countries can demand that genetically-modified organisms be labelled as such is a great step forward.
Note that the US did not vote for this excellent rule. They abstained from fighting it. Big Agra (I'm talking about you Monsanto and perennial NPR supporter Archer Daniels Midland) can live to fight another day.
The only way you can be sure the food you eat is not genetically modified is to buy organic. For a non-gmo shoppers guide, click here.
For more information on the Codex deal, click here.
Why do I care about genetic modificiation? As a vegetarian, I don't want to eat fish genes in my tomatoes (yes, they've tried that). Plus, nature has been doing great for thousands of years without us. The only benefits I can see of genetic engineering is it makes square tomatoes which ship more easily and it creates corn that is not killed by Roundup so farmers can spray more pesticides on my food.
With my food dollars I vote no on gmo. I hope you do too.
Dear Joy, it is a delight to read your blog !
ReplyDeleteBeing all vegetarians ( except, partially, my oldest daughter) in the family , some of us also vegan, we appreciate very much recipes without violence, and a life in which food is not just seen as carburant for material life, or pure enjoyment, but something that makes our all beings: we are what we eat ! (in the broadest sense)
Thank you !