Genetically modified (GM) foods to eat or not to eat.

So today I went to the farmers market and got the sweetest sweet corn I have had in a long time. I got to thinking about the fuss with Genetically modified foods. Is the fact that we are genetically changing our foods some how change the taste? Plus it is so confusing the whole controversy. Is it really as bad as I hear about?


GM foods help feed the world. They are modified to be insect pest resistance and or to help keep the weeds from growing. Food crops are not the only thing that is modified. They are modifying the poplar tree to help clean up soil contaminated with heavy metals. Researchers are trying to develop edible vaccines. The idea is that it would be easier to ship. That would make it so easy to get your little one to take their medicine or even your pets. But then how easy would it be that that same little one overdosing because it taste like food.

Well we have been eating GM foods for almost 10 years now. 54% of our soybean crops are GM and 25% corn with cotton, rapeseed (or canola) and potatoes trailing behind.

There are three different government agencies that over look GM foods. The EPA evaluates GM plants for environmental safety, such as pesticides or toxins that may cause harm to the environment. The USDA evaluates whether the plant is safe to grow, and the FDA evaluates whether the plant is safe to eat. Then of course there is a lot of talk of this agency doesn't cover corn being used for cattle feed and it just is so confusing.

BUT the downside........

Our children are developing life-threatening allergies to peanuts and other foods. The GM foods can be in your baby food without you knowing.

Gerber baby foods and Frito-Lay refuse to use GM foods. Heinz is changing their policies due to the public outcry.

The bees and monarch butterflies are dying has be sited as the insect pest resistance plants don't target the bad, but can kill the helpful bugs. How do we know that we are not making super bugs. Mosquitoes developed resistance to the now-banned pesticide DDT.

European Parliament has passed a law that all food must be labeled as GM food. Beginning the first of 2010 they must be marked. US is one of few countries that doesn't have a law stating GM foods must be label as such.

But I found something interesting on line at Plu codes users guide. Page 7

PLU codes on the labels on your fruits and veggies.
A four-digit number or a 0 means it's conventionally grown.
A five-digit number beginning with 9 means it's organic.
A five-digit number beginning with 8 means it's genetically modified.

Yea now I can tell if they are GM foods because really can we afford to keep killing a group of animals off and damaging our children for fear of the next dust bowl?

I think I will try to get to the farmers market more often. Stay away from a five digit number ending in a 8. Being that person with the allergies, never know what my body might nopt be able to process.