Nancy Dell: GMO food safety

I see food labels that say "non-GMO." What does that mean and which foods have GMO?
Deborah, Internet

In a recent survey only 28 percent of Americans were aware of GMOs. GMO stands for genetically modified organisms. These are in foods that have lab-replicated genes added from other plants, animals or viruses in order to give the food a new property such as improved resistance to insects, heat, or drought.

FDA is now considering approval of a salmon bred with DNA to grow to full size twice as fast as wild salmon. Foods with GMO's are so common that unless the food says "non-GMO" chances are it does contain GMO's. For example, ninety-one percent of soy and 85 percent of corn grown in the U.S is genetically modified and then used in packaged foods like soups, crackers, and even baby formula.

The FDA says genetically modified food has the same nutrition, taste and look the same as the conventional food. Critics say "so what" if they appear the same and that more research needs to be done to see if GMO's effect human health. In the meantime, GMO's should be labeled. Japan, Australia and Europe have severely restricted genetically modified crops but the US is not on board yet.

What studies have been done on the safety of GMO's?

Researchers found animals fed GMO foods had more Gastrointestinal problems, organ damage as well as problems with reproduction, immunity, and possibly the GMO foods made animals age faster. One human study showed traces of insecticide in the blood of 93 percent of pregnant women.

How can we avoid GMO foods?

For now all you can do is avoid the 8 top foods with GMOs. They are foods with soy, corn, canola oil, cottonseed, sugar beets, Hawaiian papaya, some zucchini and summer squash.

You can buy organic foods since they can not intentionally have GMO's.

Two food brands have banned GMO's, they are Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.

To download an app that lists non GMO foods visit www.nongmoshoppingguide.com.