What Is GMO in Soy Products?
GMO, or genetically modified organism, is a technique applied to agriculture to change the genetic content of crops. This process is used in more than half of the soybean production in the United States.
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What Does GMO Mean?
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GMO means the genetic material has been altered with genetic-engineering processes. These processes use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes.
What Are the Concerns About GMOs
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The proponents of GMOs say their use make agricultural products safer and more affordable; however, there is concern that they create crops that have not been proven safe for human consumption. Modified crops can become resistant to herbicides which have led to an increase in herbicide use.
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Should You Avoid GMO Foods?
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GMO foods raise many potential health concerns, including allergic reactions, decreased nutritional value, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, no long-term safety testing, ecological damage, increased herbicide use and more pesticides in food production.
Soy and GMO
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It's estimated that 62 percent to 89 percent of all soy crops in the United States are from GMO stock. Soy and its related products (soy oil, soy lecithin [used as an emulsifier in chocolate, ice cream, margarine and baked goods] soy flour, etc.) are in a large percentage of the processed foods many Americans regularly consume.
How To Avoid GMO and Soy
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When shopping for soy products and ingredients (i.e., tofu, tempeh, miso, soy sauce, soy milk), check that the word organic proceeds the ingredient. If organic is not specified on the label, it is very likely that the soy ingredient is genetically manipulated and herbicide-treated.
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References
- Photo Credit soybean field drying image by William Burnett from Fotolia.com Soy beans on green leaf image by Monika 3 Steps Ahead from Fotolia.com
