09/19/2024
Food for Thought for Fellow Grocery Shoppers
As I was shopping yesterday, I noticed the phrase "Bioengineered Food Ingredient" in small print on the back of a sugar bag. I instantly put the bag down and decided to do more research before heading to the checkout line. I found this article by Dr. Berg Nutritionals, Inc. and it was both informational and scary. "Bioengineered Food Ingredients" is essentially a more "PC-friendly" term for GMOs. I guess, deep down, I already knew what it meant from my time in agriculture, but I was faced with the harsh reality of "Do I buy this or not?". Thankfully, I walked away.
Yes, GMOs serve a purpose in agriculture production from the standpoint of increasing resistance to pests and herbicides or improving nutrient content or shelf life. That is not new information for many people aware of how seed varieties are developed or how commodity crops are grown. From where is stand, there is no condemnation for the designed purpose of GMOs, let’s be clear. What Dr. Berg reminded me of was what I was risking by not reading labels. GMO food consumption has been associated with an increased risk of various health issues:
Intestinal inflammation
Autoimmune conditions
Infertility
Birth defects
Antibiotic resistance
Insulin resistance
Diabetes
Kidney disease
Breast, liver, and kidney cancer
Poor cognitive function
Neurodegenerative diseases
Hormone imbalances
These issues are linked to the impacts that Glyphosate (compounds used in chemicals sprayed on GMO crops) has on the human body. If you want more information, the government has published many articles through the NIH and the USDA on this topic.
Dr. Berg makes an important point, "While many GMO foods have to carry a bioengineered food label, certain processed ingredients derived from genetically modified crops, such as corn, canola, cottonseed, or sugar cane, don’t have to be declared as bioengineered on the product label." Some of my daughter's favorite foods that make the BFI list in the article included:
Corn syrup, corn starch, corn oil, and cornmeal
Soybean oil, soy lecithin, soy protein, and tofu
High fructose corn syrup
Margarine
Baked goods and desserts
Salad dressings
Mayonnaise
Soft drinks
Deli meats
Frozen processed meat products
Candies
Oatmeal
Instant formula
So, how do you know what your eating doesn't contain BFI.....you don't. The article goes on to state, "Given that more than 80 percent of processed foods contain GMO ingredients, it’s likely that packaged food products are bioengineered unless they carry the Non-GMO Project verification seal."
My heart dropped. How can I feed my 7-year-old daughter the best food possible? Where am I going to source the food she needs? My thoughts traveled further down the road to, "Does the food I feed her contribute to her asthma?" and "Will she get cancer later in life because I was too lazy to read the labels?". Mom guilt is real, people (at least mine is, anyway).
Now is the time to LEARN HOW TO GROW YOUR OWN FOOD. It is easy to do, and a backyard garden can supply most of what a normal family would need. You can also shop at your local farmer's markets or online through local producers at https://lbkgrown.localfoodmarketplace.com/.
Is growing your own food, milling your own flour, buying organically grown products, or cooking at home easy solutions that fit with our fast-paced lifestyles? No. Is it worth looking at making a few small changes to help set up our children for better health and wellness over their lifetime? Yes.
There is no magic bullet to solving the food crisis Americans are facing, but one thing is true: the solution starts in your own backyard.
Link to the article I mentioned. I hope you will read it, too.
https://www.drberg.com/blog/bioengineered-food-ingredients
Are bioengineered food ingredients bad for you? Genetically modified foods may pose potential health risks. Here’s how to spot and avoid bioengineered foods.
