The use of genetically engineered organisms is prohibited under organic food standards. Organic foods are grown without the use of synthetic chemicals or irradiation. GE livestock feed is also prohibited. The best way to avoid GE foods is to purchase 100 per cent Certified Organic products, whole foods, and fresh produce.

Recent polls across the world have shown that, if they had a choice, 90% of people would actively seek to avoid GMOs in their food.

What is Genetically Modified Food?

Genetically engineered or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are created by taking genes from organisms such as bacteria, viruses or animals and inserting them into other, often unrelated, species. Unlike traditional breeding, genetic engineering creates new organisms that would never occur in nature, creating new and unpredictable health and environmental risks. The term “genetically engineered (GE) food” refers to any product containing or derived from GMOs. In Canada, up to 70 per cent of the processed foods found in grocery stores contain GE ingredients. The most common GE ingredients come from crops like corn, soy, canola and cotton. Biotechnology companies like Monsanto genetically engineer these crops to produce a pesticide or to withstand the application of herbicides.

The Health and Environmental Risks of GMOs

The planting of GE crops on millions of hectares of land and their introduction into our food supply is a giant genetic experiment. As living, reproducing organisms, GMOs form a type of living pollution that can spread across vast areas creating environmental risks that are unprecedented and possibly irreversible. Health risks...

Pesticides and Produce

Nature’s Fare is Committed to Purchasing and Selling only 100% Certified Organic Produce!

The growing consensus among scientists is that even small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can cause lasting damage to human health, especially during fetal development and childhood. Pesticides affect neurological development, reproduction, growth, and the functioning of the immune and endocrine systems. A US National Cancer Institute Survey found that children with leukemia are six times more likely to come from homes where pesticides were used, and the Canadian Cancer Society has stated that the toxins in pesticides can be carcinogenic. Scientists now know enough about the long-term consequences of ingesting these powerful chemicals to advise that we minimize our consumption of them whenever possible.

Research done by the Environmental Working Group found that people who consume the “Dirty Dozen” (the twelve most contaminated fruits and vegetables) consume an average of ten different pesticides each day. There is a common misconception that washing or peeling will eliminate pesticides from fruits and vegetables, but nearly all of the studies conducted by the Environmental Working Group took these factors into consideration. While there is some reduction in pesticides through rinsing and peeling, there is also a significant loss of nutrients and fibre when the peel is eliminated. The best approach is to eat a varied diet, rinse all produce, and buy organic whenever possible.

The “Dirty Dozen” – To reduce the pesticide load in your body, ensure you always choose to buy these organic

• Peach
• Apple
• Bell Pepper
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Grapes (Imported)
• Carrot
• Pear

Source: www.foodnews.org