Do YOU know what’s in your food? New GMO bill presented in Congress

GMO, if you aren’t familiar with the term it means genetically modified organism. Foods that are made from GMOs have been genetically altered by using bacteria and other means to alter the DNA of a plant or organism.

Advocates against the GMO wave of foods, are fearful of what effect these altered foods may have on our populations health. It is also of concern because once a crop or plant has been “contaminated” with the altered DNA it changes our ecosystem. You can’t undo this genetic spreading, which in itself is a really scary thought.

My family and I have been trying to eat a little more healthily lately, so we have been reading more labels. Specifically we have been trying to avoid foods that contain GMOs. I figured it had to be labelled as such, right? Wrong!! There currently is no governmental law requiring companies to disclose if they are using genetically modified foods.

Personally, I thought that food labels were supposed to empower consumers and give them the ability to know what they are eating. Labels, such as organics, are strictly monitored so why aren’t GMOs?

Naysayers against labels are touting that it would cause packaging costs to go up. Even if that were true, isn’t it the consumer that the cost is passed down to anyway. If we, the consumer, want the labels why is cost then an issue.

There are so many things put in foods nowadays that aren’t the best thing for you; dyes, artificial sweetner, and now genetically modified foods. Even if you are eating whole foods there is no way to tell if what you are eating has been modified. Most corn and soybeans produced in the United States now contain some form of genetically altered DNA.

I find that a little bit scary, ok not a little but, a whole lot of scary. My children already have medical conditions so I have to be picky about what they eat. How can I do that when the labels don’t really TELL me what’s it is made of.

For me, it’s all about transparency. If bills hadn’t been passed for allergens in foods, it would be virtually impossible to feed my daughter. Why can’t the food industry have the same transparency with genetically altered food. It’s not even a question if they are “good” or “bad” for you. It’s an argument of consumers having enough knowledge about what’s in their food to make an educated decision.

I really hope that this bill passes, so that families can know what they are eating. In our family, it would definitely put our minds a little bit more at ease!

What about your family? How do you feel about GMOs? Are you fr or against this bill?