Genetic Engineering (GE) or Genetic Modification (GM) of
food involves the laboratory process of artificially inserting
genes into the DNA of food crops or animals. The result is
called a genetically modified organism or GMO. GMOs can be
engineered with genes from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals,
or even humans. Most Americans say they would not eat GMOs
if labeled, but unlike most other industrialized countries, the
U.S. does not require labeling.
This Non-GMO Shopping Guide is designed to help reclaim
your right to know about the foods you are buying, and help
you find and avoid GMO foods and ingredients.
Tips for avoiding GM crops
TIP #1: BUY ORGANIC
Certified organic products are not allowed to contain any
GMOs. Therefore, when you purchase products labeled “100%
organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic ingredients,” all
ingredients in these products are not allowed to be produced
from GMOs. For example, products labeled as “made with
organic ingredients” only require 70% of the ingredients to
be organic, but 100% must be non-GMO.
TIP #2: LOOK FOR“NON-GMO” LABELS
Companies may voluntarily label products as “non-GMO.”
Some labels state “non-GMO” while others spell out “Made
Without Genetically Modified Ingredients.” Some products
limit their claim to only one particular “At-Risk” ingredient
such as soy lecithin, listing it as “non-GMO.”
TIP #3: AVOID AT-RISK INGREDIENTS
Avoid products made with any of the crops that are GM. Most
GM ingredients are products made from the “Big Four:” corn,
soybeans, canola, and cottonseed, used in processed foods.
Some of the most common genetically engineered Big Four
ingredients in processed foods are:
Corn
■ Corn flour, meal, oil, starch, gluten, and syrup
■ Sweeteners such as fructose, dextrose, and glucose
■ Modified food starch*
Soy
■ Soy flour, lecithin, protein, isolate, and isoflavone
■ Vegetable oil* and vegetable protein*
Canola Canola oil (also called rapeseed oil)
Cotton Cottonseed oil
*May be derived from other sources
Additionally, GM beet sugar recently entered the food
supply. Look for organic and non-GMO sweeteners, candy and
chocolate products made with 100% cane sugar, evaporated
cane juice, agave, or organic sugar, to avoid GM beet sugar.
BUY PRODUCTS LISTED in The True Food Shopping Guide ( read below for details)
Today, thousands of products on supermarket shelves are made with ingredients from genetically modified (also known as genetically engineered <GE>) crops. But GM foods are not labeled in the U.S., despite warnings from doctors and scientists that these foods may not be safe in the diet or the environment. This lack of mandatory labeling can make it difficult to determine which products are made with GM ingredients and which are not. The True Food Shoppers Guide is designed to give you the tools you need to make informed purchasing decisions.
The True Food Shoppers Guide also arms you with valuable information regarding common GM ingredients, as well as brands to look for, and to look out for. The application includes a “Four Simple Tips” section, which offers easy ways to avoid GM ingredients, a “Supermarkets and GMOs” section to help consumers identify GM and non-GMO private-label store brands, and a rbGH and rbGH-free dairy guide.
In addition to a list of brands that produce foods with no GM content, the application also offers contact information for companies that do use GM ingredients. This feature enables consumers to personally voice their opposition to the use of GM foods directly to the parties involved. As a result, the app serves not only as a shopping guide and teaching tool, but one that can be used for widespread advocacy as well. The app also has a “Take Action” section allowing people to contact state and federal agencies and officials to demand better regulatory oversight, safety testing and labeling laws for GM foods and crops.
The mobile app was created to help you find and avoid GE ingredients wherever you shop. Our guide gives you valuable information on common GE ingredients, brands to look for, and look out for, and common sense tips to keep you in the know. Stop shopping in the dark and download your new pocket shoppers’ guide today!
Get it for free on iTunes (for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad) or Android Market by searching for “True Food.”
Don’t have a compatible mobile phone? Download our NEW printable True Food Shoppers Guide, updated for 2011 instead!
Go behind the label and get the facts on genetically engineered foods.
App Features:
• Our “Four Simple Tips” section gives you easy ways to avoid genetically modified ingredients in any product
• “What’s New” brings you an always-updated feed of the Center for Food Safety’s latest news and campaign developments on GMOs and other important food issues. You can even share these articles and announcements with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Digg and more, right from the app!
• Our “Action” center brings you our latest action alerts on simple things you can do to demand True Food!
• “Supermarkets and GMOs” lists major supermarket chains across the US and their policies on GMOs and rbGH use. Here you can find non-gmo and rbGH-free store brands, and supermarkets that are entirely non-gmo in their private-label brands!
• You can browse the Shoppers Guide by category (16 categories in all) in a simple “Green” and “Red” list format, or search for products by brand name or food type
• The Shoppers Guide also includes the ability to call or email companies listed in the “Red” (those who do not avoid GM ingredients in their products) to let them know you will not buy their products until they drop GMOs
• Learn about the risks of gm crops and foods, the benefits of and where to buy organics, gm crops in development, rbGH, and more in “More Info”
• Join the CFS True Food Network or our new Mobile Activists list and get updates and action alerts on the most pressing food issues via email or text message! We are over 100,000 members strong, and growing. Add your voice!
• Connect with the CFS True Food Network on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube
The True Food Shoppers Guide was compiled because you have the right to know what’s in your food!
The Guide was compiled primarily from direct communications with food producers. In some cases, we received company policy statements from consumers who passed these on to us. In addition to written statements, we spoke to many company representatives to clarify or assess their position. Products on the RED list contain ingredients that come from the most common GE crops (corn, soy, canola, cotton). Companies with products on this list have confirmed that their products may have or are likely to be made with GE ingredients, or have not denied using GE foods when given the opportunity to do so. Companies on the GREEN list have made a concerted effort to avoid GE ingredients and have company policies asserting their position on avoiding GE foods.
As ingredients change in products all the time, the best thing is to check the ingredients list of the products you buy often. Keep a look out for:
Corn: corn oil, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, corn starch, corn meal
Soy: soy protein, soy lecithin, soy oil, soy sauce, soy isolates
Canola: canola oil
Cotton: cottonseed oil
Click below to download the NEW True Food Shopper’s Guide to avoid GE foods, updated for 2011, or get our True Food Shoppers Guide mobile application for iPhone and Android!
http://gefoodlabels.org/about/true-food-shoppers%e...
Source: The Center for Food Safety
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