GMOs: Labeling & Common GE Crops + 2 Freaky Facts

GMO Labeling

Over 60 countries require GMO labeling. Unfortunately, the United States is not one of them. Powerful food, agriculture, and biotech corporations spend millions of dollars to protect their interests and prevent GMO labeling in the US. [1]

This begs the question: What are biotech corporations so afraid of? Why are they going to such great lengths to prevent labeling? What are they hiding? If GMOs are harmless to human health and environment, why not slap the label on to be transparent?

Despite widespread public opposition, Congress passed Monsanto’s Dream Bill or the DARK (Denying Americans the Right to Know) Act in July 2016. This bill prohibits state governments from requiring GMO labeling. The law is a federal response to Vermont’s state law that required GMO labeling. The DARK Act effectively blocks states like Vermont that want GMOs labeled.

Thankfully, efforts have been made to combat the DARK Act and give Americans the right to know what they are eating. Check out the petition to label GMOs and take action here.

Common GE Crops

According to the comprehensive GE report (2016), the most common GE crops with herbicide and/or insect resistance grown commercially in 2015 included: [2]

• Soybeans (83% of all soybeans)
• Cotton (75% of all cotton)
• Maize (29% of all maize)
• Canola (24% of all canola)

Freaky fact #1: In 2015, GE crops were also grown commercially with traits for viral resistance and to reduce browning in apples and potatoes. [3]

I don’t know about you, but if my apple or potato is over the hill, I want it to turn brown so I know not to eat it!

In 2015, farmers planted 180 million hectares of GE crops: [4]

• 70 million hectares in the US
• 90 million hectares in Brazil, Argentina, India, and Canada
• The remaining hectares were planted in 23 countries, including: Portugal, Spain, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Sudan, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Philippines, Australia, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chile.

The GE crops planted in 2015 included: [5]

• Maize
• Soybeans
• Cotton
• Canola
• Sugar beet
• Alfalfa
• Papaya
• Squash
• Poplar
• Eggplant
• Potato
• Apple

This makes me very uncomfortable. The list of four crops was disquieting enough, but 12 is simply too much! That means that the majority of processed foods are made with GMOs, as processed foods draw heavily upon cheap maize, soybeans, and canola oil. It also means a large portion of cotton clothing is GMO. And, it means everyday produce at the supermarket and veggies served up at restaurants probably contain some GE apples, beets, papayas, squash, eggplant, and potatoes.

Freaky Fact #2: “As the approaches to genetic engineering of crops change, some regulatory regimes may not be equipped to regulate traits introduced with newer approaches. The committee found that to be the case for the existing regulatory regime in the US.” [6]

Even if the US government wanted to protect consumers and allow them the right to choose whether or not they eat GMOs via food labels, the government may not be able to regulate the technology. It sounds like the attempts to control and outsmart nature have gotten a bit out of hand. Surprise surprise.

References:

[1] http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/problems/broken-democracy

[2-6] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2016. Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/23395.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.