expert’s corner
By Melissa Diane Smith
organic and non-gmo simplified
If you aren’t up to speed on these subjects, here’s a primer to get you better educated
Q:
I never really paid attention to whether food was organic or not, and why I should care. I also have no idea what the difference between organic and non-GMO food is. Can you fill me in on the basics? —Nancy B., Cincinnati, Ohio
A:
It’s not always easy to get the facts on these important topics, in large part because for more than two decades, information about dramatic changes in how our food is produced has been suppressed, and people have only been discovering the truth in bits and pieces. “So many truths [about our food] have been whitewashed,” says Carey Gillam, author of Whitewash. “By pouring more and more pesticides on crops, we’re getting less healthy soil, less healthy food, and potentially a range of carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting chemicals in our breakfast, lunch, and dinner. “The chemical industry is doing exactly what the tobacco industry did,” Gillam continues, “an orchestrated effort to keep the public in the dark about real and serious dangers about chemicals found in our food, our water, and our own bodies.” Gillam says we need to pay attention to the many risks of pesticide use, be aware, and be engaged on this issue to protect ourselves, our food, our health, and our environment. Here’s what you need to know:
The Basics GMOs—Although foods may look like they used to, several key foods now are radically different on the inside because they’re genetically engineered to confer new traits. Almost all genetically modified foods on the market have been altered to either produce their own pesticide or to tolerate chemical herbicides such as Roundup weed killer. Pesticides—All of the top six GM crops in the U.S.—sugar beets, soy, alfalfa, corn, canola (as in canola oil), and cotton (as in cottonseed 14
oil)—are genetically modified to be herbicide tolerant, which means that lots of extra herbicide is being sprayed on the plant, and that has led to weed resistance. Farmers, in turn, sometimes use up to four times more herbicide in an effort to combat resistant weeds. Spraying so much herbicide adversely affects the beneficial micro-organisms in the soil, which makes the plant more vulnerable to disease. Research shows that the process of genetic engineering itself causes unintended consequences in the DNA of the plant, which pose health risks. However, the risks associated with the herbicide sprayed on most GM crops are now considered much more serious. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer declared glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, a probable human carcinogen. Research also suggests that glyphosate is an endocrine (or hormone) disruptor.
Organic vs. Non-GMO The best way we can affect positive change in our food system and environment is through what we buy. To make an informed choice, be sure to know the difference between organic and nonGMO foods. Organic—Products that have the USDA Organic seal cannot, by law, contain any GMO ingredients. They also must be produced without irradiation, sewage sludge, antibiotics, growth hormones, synthetic chemical fertilizers, and synthetic chemical pesticides (including glyphosate). Buying organic means supporting an environmentally beneficial
food production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems, and people. Plus, reviews of multiple studies indicate that organic foods are more nutritious than non-organic foods. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that organic certification does not require testing for GMOs. Non-GMO Project Verified—On the other hand, products that carry the Non-GMO Project Verified label are independently verified to be in compliance with North America’s only third party standard for GMO avoidance, including testing of at-risk ingredients. That’s important to know to help us avoid GMOs. But a Non-GMO Project Verified label doesn’t tell you if the food was sprayed with pesticides.
The Best Ways to Avoid GMOs & Pesticides In my book Going Against GMOs, I call GMOs and the pesticides that go with them the most important food and environmental issue of our time. In fact, they’re two of the primary reasons why many people choose to buy organic, which is the best strategy for avoiding synthetic chemical pesticides. For added protection against glyphosate, the most widely used pesticide, look for the new “Glyphosate Residue free” label, which you will be able to see on more products in the future. To avoid both GMOs and pesticides, seek out USDA Certified Organic foods, preferably ones also labeled with the Non-GMO Project Verified label. The two widely used seals together give extra insurance to help you chose nutritious unadulterated non-GMO food.
May 2020
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3/22/20 6:41 AM
