How To I.D. Genetically Modified Food at the Supermarket
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- Category: You Are What You Eat
- Published on 15 January 2012
- Written by Administrator
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Posted: 14th July 2011by MaxWild in Health & Nutrition
Not many consumers realize that the FDA does not require genetically modifiedfood to be labeled.
That’s because the FDA has decided that you, dear consumer, don’t care if the tomato you’re eating has been cross bred with frog genes to render the tomato more resistant to cold weather.
Some consumers may not be concerned with eating Frankenfood, but for those who are, here’s how to determine if the fruits and vegetables you’re buying are (GM) genetically modified.
Hat tip to Marion Owen for her valuable information.
Here’s how it works:
For conventionally grown fruit, (grown with chemicals inputs), the PLU codeon the sticker consists of four numbers. Organically grown fruit has a five-numeral PLU prefaced by the number 9.
Genetically engineered (GM) fruit has a five-numeral PLU prefaced by the number 8.
For example:
A conventionally grown banana would be: 4011
An organic banana would be: 94011
A genetically engineered (GE or GMO) banana would be: 84011
These tips are specially important now that over 80% of all processed foods in the US are genetically modified.
Many countries in the European Union have beenbanning GM products and produce (including Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary and Luxembourg).
We say “Eat healthy, buy or grow organic”.
