In the Supermarket

Choosing the healthiest foods from among the more than 40,000 products in the average supermarket can seem a monumental task. Right now, a food product's nutritional data and ingredients and whether it's irradiated or certified organic appear on labels, but the one thing you absolutely will not find is whether or not it contains genetically engineered ingredients.

Genetically engineered (GE) foods have hit the market only recently. If we continue to keep the pressure on companies and regulatory agencies, consumer action can change the system soon in favor of labeling and adequate testing. In the meantime, if you are concerned about ethical and moral issues, or long-term health effects and allergies resulting from GE foods, your best bet is to follow Mothers & Others' New Green Diet which emphasizes eating a variety of sustainably produced and locally grown foods. Listed below are five tips taken from the principles of the New Green Diet that can help you limit your consumption of GE foods. For more information and the complete New Green Diet, see In the Kitchen.

• Check food labels for soy-, corn- and cottonseed-based additives, most likely to be genetically engineered.
  
  
• Buy 100% certified organic especially for corn, soy, potato and animal products.
  
  
• Choose a wide variety of fresh, whole foods over processed foods that are likely to contain bioengineered additives.
  
  
• Buy locally grown produce from farmers' markets and CSA's where you can talk to the producer.
  
  
• Prepare meals at home so you know exactly what you are eating.
  

Labeling of genetically engineered foods is not required by law, except where genes from common food allergens, such as peanuts and shellfish, are used, or the nutritional value is enhanced. Even so, labels must only specify the allergen or that nutrients were altered--not the process. This is because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers genetically engineered foods to be no different than foods produced through traditional breeding. (In reality, genetic engineers often transfer genes across very different species, which is not possible in traditional breeding.)

The FDA's policy means that, in most cases, safety testing is not required. While biotechnology companies do conduct safety tests, they are not required to submit study results to the FDA.

The consumer's role is very important in the testing and labeling debate. Testing gives us the reasons to choose or refuse products with unhealthy ingredients--such as high cholesterol or sodium--or those that we simply don't want, for religious or other reasons. Accurate labels let us make informed choices.

In response to consumers, European supermarkets, such as Britain's Sainsbury chain, led the way in voluntarily removing all GE ingredients from their house brands and labeling them--long before European governments began to take action. Some U.S. companies, such as Frito-Lay and Genuardi's Supermarkets in Pennsylvania are also listening to their customers. (See Companies

You can take action now.

• Demand labeling from food producers, processors and retailers who use GE ingredients.

• Demand that government regulatory agencies require uniform labeling and safety testing of GE crops before they are planted. See the Sample Letters

As consumers, we can make food companies and the government accountable to us and respect our right to know what's in our food!

The following foods and food ingredients are just some that may be genetically engineered (GE). Choosing whole (unprocessed), certified organic produce, meats and grains, and rBGH-free dairy foods is the best way to minimize exposure to GE ingredients.

Soybeans

Whole soybeans can be found green (edmame) or are used in instant milk drink, bread, piecrust, soynut butter, crackers, miso, soy milk, soy sauce, tofu and tempeh.

Soy oil is an ingredient in coffee creamer, vegetable and cooking oil, margarine, salad dressing, sandwich spread, mayonnaise, shortening, nondairy whipped topping and hot chocolate mix.

Soy flour, soy protein concentrates and isolates, including including textured soy or vegetable protein and hydrolyzed vegetable protein go into baby food, beer, candy, cereal, diet food, protein drinks and weight-gain formulas, processed meats, meat alternatives, prepared mixes, sausage casings, noodles and yeast.

Soy meal is used for livestock feed.

Soy lecithin is an additive in chocolate, other candies, baked goods and infant formulas.

Other soy-based processing aids include maltodextrin and xantham gum.

Corn

Whole corn or corn kernels can be found fresh, canned and frozen, and as popcorn.

Cornmeal or corn flour, are used to make tortilla chips, other snack foods, muffins, bread and tacos.

Cornstarch thickens baby foods, baked goods, mustard and soups.

Corn syrup sweetens cereals, carbonated beverages, canned fruits, jams, peanut butter, syrups, vinegar, frozen seafood, cheese spreads and wine, and is used to make yeast.

Dextrose is another common sweetener found in baby foods, chocolate products, ice cream, toothpaste and soda.

Maltodextrin is an additive in instant tea, low-cal sweeteners and dried soup mix.

Corn gluten and hulls are made into feed for livestock.

Corn germ is pressed for corn oil, cooking or vegetable oil, margarine and mayonnaise. The oil is also used for potato chips, salad dressing, sauces and soups.

Tomatoes
Whole tomatoes go into pasta sauces, purees, pizza, packaged Italian and Mexican foods, vegetable juices and soups.

Potatoes
Whole potatoes are made into french fries, packaged potato mixes, frozen baked potato skins, chips, vegetable pies and soups.

Potato starch is a substitute for corn starch.

Canola
Canola oil is popular for vegetable oil, chips and other fried snacks, salad dressings, cookies, margarine, soaps, detergents, soy cheese and fried foods.

Cottonseed
Cottonseed oil is often used in salad dressings, baked goods, snack foods, mayonnaise, sauces and marinades, and cake icings.

Cottonseed meal is put into animal feed.

Dairy
Fresh dairy products include milk, butter, cheese, cream, ice cream, yogurt, frozen yogurt, sour cream and cottage cheese.

Powdered milk is used in milk-based beverage mixes, baking goods, packaged foods and pancake mix.

Mothers & Others Shoppers' Campaign is mobilizing consumers to call for labeling and testing. You can help by:

• urging food companies and your supermarket to label products with genetically engineered ingredients, and telling them that you want GE-free choices because of the inadequacy of safety testing to date.
• writing to your U.S. Congressional delegates, the Food and Drug Administration, Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency to demand adequate food labeling and testing. View Sample Letters.

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