Non-GMO Month and the March Toward Labeling Laws

Ken Roseboro is the editor of the Organic & Non-GMO Report, and author of “The Organic Food Handbook” and “Genetically Altered Foods and Your Health.” I sat down with Ken at the recent Mother Earth News Fair and spoke with him about the potential threats of Genetically Modified Organisms and what we as consumers can do to protect ourselves from the hidden presence of these products in the food supply.

October happens to be Non-GMO month and is a perfect time to raise awareness of these important issues or to take part in the Right 2 Know March from New York to Washington, D.C. that is taking place right now. I’ve shared my feelings on hybrid and genetically modified seeds in the past and have always been an advocate of heirloom seeds and open pollinated varieties here at Veggie Gardening Tips.

Concerns over Genetically Engineered Foods

There’s nothing wrong with plant research or breeding to improve seeds, but genetically altered organisms aren’t a magic bullet to control insect pests and plant diseases, or to boost food production enough to feed the entire world’s population. Some of the reasons for advocating Non-GMO’s that Ken Roseboro touched on during our conversation included:

• European studies that show a negative impact when feeding GMO crops to animals.

• A scatter shot approach where genes are inserted with no control over where they will land or what the results will be.

• Claims that the Bt in Bt corn will break down when digested, while Bt has been detected in the bloodstream of women and fetuses.

• Weeds that are developing a resistance to weed killers, and the detection of herbicides in the air, rain, and streams in the Midwest.

• Ability of genetically modified canola to replicate with some weed species and corn (which is wind pollinated) contaminating Non-GMO corn crops.

• Risk of unforeseen consequences of using GMO’s and questions as to whether they actually result in increased crop production yields.

Why Not Just Label Genetically Modified Foods?

The absence of labeling here in the U.S. to identify genetically modified products has been a major concern of Non-GMO groups who are worried about the presence of these products in the food supply. At least 50 other countries require labeling of GMO foods but the FDA’s policy here has been that genetically modified foods are “substantially equivalent” to conventional foods and therefore do not require labeling of any kind.

The GMO industry is strongly opposed to labeling and continues to fight against any attempts to force their products to be labeled as such. I can’t think of another example of a product that is touted as being safe and superior to competing products but which the distributors try to hide rather than advertise their presence in the marketplace!

It’s pretty obvious that the industry is aware that consumers don’t want genetically modified food and that people would avoid them if they were identified and an alternative was available. As it stands if you’re eating products made of corn or soybeans, or that contain corn syrup, more than likely you are consuming GMO’s whether you realize it or not.

Setting Your Family’s Dinner Table with Non-GMO’s

Genetically engineered food is basically being forced upon the public in what has been characterized as a “massive feeding experiment in America.” Ken Roseboro indicated that 70 – 80% of processed food products contain GMO ingredients and they are found in everything from condiments to baked goods. Livestock is also being fed and raised on genetically modified feeds.

On a more positive note; so far engineered crops are made up mainly of field crops such as cotton, sugar beets, corn, and soybeans. There are also smaller quantities of genetically modified papaya, sweet corn, zucchini, and yellow squash currently in production. Most of the vegetable crops in the food supply are not genetically modified varieties.

For those of us who wish to avoid the consumption of genetically altered foods options include; eating certified organic products, reducing the amount of processed foods in the diet, supporting labeling initiatives, and growing your own produce from heirloom and open pollinated seed varieties.

Celebrate Non-GMO Month and Encourage Labeling Requirements

October is Non-GMO month and there is a Right2Know march in progress to promote laws requiring the disclosure and labeling of genetically engineered foods. The march is taking place from October 1st through the 16th, with stops and special events planned in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington D.C.

You can find more information at either Right2KnowMarch.org or NonGMOproject.org. There is also currently a campaign in California to have labeling laws considered on a 2012 ballot initiative. Finally, you can head right over and visit the site at Just Label It to send a quick message requesting the FDA to Label Your Food!