Kitchen

[Jupiter]

It is estimated that about 75% of processed foods sold in the US contain at least some genetically modified food ingredients. Unlike many other countries, there is no law in the US requiring the labeling of foods that contain GM ingredients.

Read the PLU labels. If the 5 digit PLU number starts with "8", the food is either genetically modified or genetically engineered. If the 5 digit PLU number starts with "9", it's organic.

Also, by watching for the absence of either the 8 or 9, which means the produce is neither organically grown or genetically modified, you can recognize traditionally grown produce.

100% certified organic food is by law never genetically modified.

A 4-digit number indicates the food was conventionally grown and may or may not be genetically modified. A 5-digit number beginning with an 8 is genetically modified food. However, not all GM foods can be identified because PLU labeling is optional!

A 5-digit number beginning with a 9 indicates it is organic, and thus a non-GM food. Be aware that if the food is simply labeled "organic" it can STILL contain genetically modified ingredients up to 30%! It MUST say 100% certified organic! Laws in both the US and Canada do not allow food labels that say "100% certified organic" to contain any genetically engineered food.

Avoid aspartame as a sweetener. It is derived from genetically modified microorganisms.

Buy wild caught fish. Farm raised fish are fed fish meal containing GM grains.