GMO (genetically modified organisms) has been a hot topic lately. As people become more and more aware of what they put into their bodies, the topic heats up more and more. October is Non-GMO month. In honor of Non-GMO month, Feeling Fit Bit by Bit will shine a spotlight on several Non-GMO grocery and beauty products. This month, Feeling Fit is hosting giveaways for two Non-GMO food products (an artisan oil and an organic cheese line) and for Non-GMO skin care products.
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| Four Non-GMO Food Products that I will review this October |
I must admit, my mind isn’t 100% made up on all GMO practices and issues. I am cautious and skeptical as we just don’t seem to know the long-term consequences of many GMO practices. But I am also cautious of trendy buzzwords and emotionally charged absolutes. I think it is important for any policy decisions to be educated choices based on the pros and cons of various GMO practices.
I am not sure whether you saw the recent viral video clip from Jimmy Kimmel Live:
I think this type of “interview segment” may sometimes be a bit of a red herring. (Or is it a “straw man”?) Whether the Kimmel-selected Saturday marker shopper knows what the acronym “GMO” stands for or not has little to do with actual effects on the body or the environment. But what are these actual effects?
Proponents of various GMO practices argue that as the world’s population grows, increased food production is crucial. Some even claim that GMO practices can be more environmentally friendly, foods can be engineered to be pest-resistant therefore decreasing the amounts of toxic chemical pesticides that need to be applied to plants and crops. I’ve even heard the argument that much of the food we eat now is a result of selective breeding and propagating and could be considered a form of “genetic modification”.
I am not anti-science and am concerned about the anti-science trend in our culture. However, I believe all world citizens should participate in the decision about what direction science and industry takes our food supply. I appreciate disclosure on nutrition labels as we all need to make educated decisions on what we put into our body.
There are many high quality grocery products that are non-GMO. Many companies that take the effort to ensure and certify that their foods are Non-GMO also pay attention to other details that effect food quality and nutrition. So wherever you stand on the GMO issue (or if your mind is not made up yet), Non-GMO products are certainly worth trying. While I am undecided, I do admit that at this point I do favor Non-GMO grocery products.
For More Information:
- Non GMO Project — Since it is Non-GMO month I list this first.
- Food: How Altered? – An interesting FAQ article on the subject, discusses some pros and cons and unanswered questions
- Frequently asked questions on genetically modified foods from the World Health Organization
- Consumer Reports throws its support behind GMO labeling from The Washington Post
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