Know Your Genetically Modified Foods
Happy Friday & hopefully a long weekend for many of you that work. Memorial Day - are you doing anything special? Are you honoring the troops?
I saw this very interesting article about how to know what you are buying in the produce department at the grocery store based on the Price Look Up, or PLU, code of the item. You can tell if it is genetically modified, organic or what! Read below:
Know Which Food is Genetically Modified
One of my friends sent me a great article today on how to know which food is genetically modified, as well as which food is organic, or just conventionally grown.
Did you know that an amazing 80 percent of processed foods are genetically modified? I wasn’t a big fan of processed foods before I read that, but will be even less enthusiastic (if that’s possible) now.
In an article published on FriendsEat.com, Spencer Cooper tells us the codes to look for in determining what type of food we’re getting. You’re looking for the number in front of the four-digit Price Look Up, or PLU, code on the product you’re about to buy and subsequently put in your mouth. A 9 means organic, an 8 means genetically engineered (GE) or genetically modified (GMO); and just the four-digit code means conventionally grown (i.e. pesticides, chemical fertilizer, stuff like that). The example Cooper gives us is clarifies all this:
A conventionally-grown banana will have a code of 4011
An organic banana will be 94011
A GE or GMO banana will be 84011
So cool! I had no idea. I buy organic whenever possible, but now will be on the lookout for the telltale eight or missing fifth number.
From Jody: Great info to have & I will be checking this out on the produce department! If anyone knows anything else, please pass on! Do you try to NOT eat genetically engineered food? Are you concerned about it?
Have a wonderful holiday weekend!!!
Categories: Food, Health Issues, Health, Healthy Eating
Tags: genetically modified food food health Health Issues healthy eating
I'm starting to really get into gardening and am learning a little about seeds. The gmo/ge seeds are more resistant to pests and diseases and usually yield a better crop (although their seeds aren't as viable as a heirloom variety).
Now I'm curious about the concern of gmo's and ge's. I'll click on your links.
Organic- great, but I don't go out of my way for it. I am looking forward to my veggie crop, though!
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Gina - I am have the worst green thumb on the planet! Kudos for you for growing your own! Course we have no land where I live!
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You know I have never cared if its genetically changed or not. Granted I would prefer pure food, but I won't stress out about it. I consume so many processed foods from Zone bars to Nutrisystem food, but I am okay with this because I am a healthy person now. I am a Diabetic under control and I work out as much as I can. So, no I am okay with it.
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Sheri, I think you have a great attitude. We all make choices that are best for us...
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Thank you for this info. I had no idea about the codes either.
I am so glad I am not buying anything that's been processed anymore.
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Im like sheri
I do the farmers market etc---but I also do lara bars
I just do the best I can each day and get back up and do it all again
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Miz, I am like you & Sheri - just trying to do the best I can with the means I have...
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I had no idea either!
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Great info..the more we know the better choices we can make!
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Really, these codes mean something? My brain can only handle so much, who ever would have thought I need to dedicate more brain cells to ensureing a banana is safe to eat?
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Patrick - you are funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Great tip!!!! I've always had trouble figuring out if something is GMO or not. Thanks!
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Nerd here -As a geneticist I'm going to go on the record to say not to be too concerned about eating GMOs, but it's because I know all the sciency stuff behind them. My concern with them (and why I try and avoid them) is with how they're grown and the impact on the environment around them. Healthwise, they would not be an issue I feel...usually they're GMO'd to be larger be more pest resistant and grow faster. I tend to avoid GMOs as they tend to not taste as good. When you force food to grow faster, sometimes it tastes "flat" (like GMO straberries...bleh).
Honestly - I go for organic. Truth be told there is WAY more to be concerned about healthwise from the pesticides and chemicals than you ever need to worry about from GMOs.
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Geosomin, thx for your expert opinion!!!!!!
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love this Jody! so easy to remember too! thanks for the heads up!
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