What Does "No GMO" Really Mean?
What Does "No GMO" Really Mean?
I've seen "No GMO" written on many food products lately, so what does that word combination really mean?
Well, first off, GMO stands for "genetically modified organism." It can be a plant, animal, or microorganism that is genetically changed. Different species are crossed to produce animals and plants not found in nature, so they take on new traits. Insect-protected cotton and herbicide-tolerant soybeans are 2 examples.
GMO foods are different from plants that are selectively bred. Cross-breeding has been going on for centuries by farmers and by nature, to produce a stronger plant. Plants that are cross-bred are within the same species, or between closely related species.
In GMO foods, bioengineers splice specific genes into the DNA of a dissimilar species, disrupting its natural sequence, and creating a new species that has never existed before.
Many people believe that GMOs will make food healthier, taste better, and stay fresh longer. On the other hand, many people believe that neither the USDA, FDA, or EPA have done long-term testing on the effects of GMO food on humans or the environment. That's why you'll see products specifically say "No GMO," so consumers know for sure.
I think it's really cool that scientists can create insect resistant crops and plants that can tolerate extreme growing conditions, but it makes me nervous that we could be eating GMO foods, and then years down the road, be told that they cause irreversible damage or disease.
What do you guys think?
