Foods With GMO Ingredients

Genetically modified, or GMO, foods come from seeds whose DNA have been altered to introduce traits that manufacturers deem desirable into species where they would not ordinarily appear. It's hard for consumers to avoid GMO foods, which have been introduced into the food supply without extensive research as to their long-term effects on humans. Manufacturers are adamant in their resistance to labeling GMO foods as such because they believe that such labeling would create an unfair bias against their products.

Corn

More than 60 percent of the corn grown in the United States comes from genetically modified seed stocks. In other words, there is a good chance that a product you buy containing non-organic corn will contain GMO's. Organic foods, by definition, do not contain GMO's. In addition to corn on the cob, canned corn, frozen corn and products such as corn meal, corn tortillas and corn chips, GMO corn may also be present in some form in processed foods. Vegetable oil is usually corn oil, high fructose corn syrup is the main sweetener in most soft drinks, and MSG--a seasoning common in processed foods--is made from corn as well.

Soy

Like corn, soy is a widely grown crop that tends to come from genetically modified seeds, unless it is organically grown. According to the USDA, in 2009 approximately 90 percent of the soy acreage in the United States was planted with genetically modified seeds. In addition to tofu, miso, soy sauce and soy-based energy bars, which obviously come from soy beans, soy is a common ingredient in processed foods. Lecithin, a widely used ingredient in baked goods, comes from soybeans, as does hydrolyzed vegetable protein, texturized vegetable protein and vegetable gum.

Canola

Canola, or rapeseed, is largely grown from genetically modified seeds in the United States and Canada. Because it contains monounsaturated fats, health and diet experts, such as Dr. Andrew Weil, have listed canola oil as a healthy oil, along with olive oil. Canola oil is considerably less expensive than olive oil, so processed food companies include it in a wide range of products, from snack foods to frozen dinners. Check ingredients labels for canola oil if you are trying to avoid GMO foods. Unless it is organic, it is probably genetically modified.