How To I.D. Genetically Modified Food at the Supermarket

[BridgeTheGap]

Not many consumers realize that the FDA does not require genetically modified food to be labeled. That’s because the FDA has decided that you, dear consumer, don’t care if the tomato you’re eating has been cross bred with frog genes to render the tomato more resistant to cold weather. Some consumers may not be concerned with eating Frankenfood, but for those who are, here’s how to determine if the fruits and vegetables you’re buying are (GM) genetically modified.

Hat tip to Marion Owen for her valuable information. Here’s how it works:

conventionally grown fruit, (grown with chemicals inputs), the PLU code on the sticker consists of four numbers. Organically grown fruit has a five-numeral PLU prefaced by the number 9. Genetically engineered (GM) fruit has a five-numeral PLU prefaced by the number 8.

For example:

A conventionally grown banana would be: 4011

An organic banana would be: 94011

A genetically engineered (GE or GMO) banana would be: 84011

These tips are specially important now that over 80% of all processed foods in the US are genetically modified. Many countries in the European Union have been banning GM products and produce (including Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary and Luxembourg). We say “Eat healthy, buy or grow organic”.

http://www.project.nsearch.com/profiles/blogs/how-to-id-genetically-modified

[gkhouston]

1. Generally, anything that climbs into the cart of its own accord is GM. n/t

[hobbit709]

2. does that include the house apes some people bring with them.

[valerief]

3. Cool. Thanks! nt

[MineralMan]

4. Here's an easier way:

In the supermarket:

If it's made of corn, it's GMO.
If it's made of soybeans, its' GMO.
If it's made of wheat, it's GMO.
If it's made of rice, it's GMO.
If it's made of fruit, it's either GMO or genetically altered through selective propagation.
If it ever walked or flew, it's the product of centuries of selective breeding.

Virtually everything we eat is very far from it's original form in nature. Everything in agriculture has either been manipulated genetically through extensive breeding or in the lab.

If you want food that has not been modified genetically by humans, get your fishing pole or your gun or grab a basket, and go fishing or hunting or gathering wild food.
Everything else has been genetically-manipulated.

Thank you for your attention.

[ret5hd]

5. i keep seeing an equivalancy drawn between selective breeding...

and (to paraphrase the op) a "tomato with frog genes".

there is no equivalancy.

[hobbit709]

6. There is a difference between gene splicing and selective breeding

but they are both forms of genetic modification. One is a more or less natural way, the other is not.

[MineralMan]

14. It's all genetic modification. Have you ever eaten a wild

carrot? Every carrot on the market derived from the lowly Queen Anne's Lace plant from nature. It has taken centuries to arrive at the plump, orange carrot you find at your local farmer's market. It's all genetic manipulation. You can do it in the lab or you can do it in the field or garden. The result is pretty much the same. There are hundreds of varieties of carrots grown today. But every last one of them started with the wild carrot, which you would probably not even bother to look at or eat.

The same is true of almost every agriculturally used plant. They all have a wild beginning, but were genetically modified over the centuries to produce a more palatable, better looking, and more productive crop. We can do it faster in the lab, today, and we can do things that aren't possible through traditional genetic manipulation methods, but it's all genetic modification.

I'm not sure what frog genes would do in a plant. But, I like frog's legs as a food, so, it might be OK.

Anyhow, here's that wild carrot. Bon appetit:

[ret5hd]

20. maybe you should educate yourself re: genes they are splicing into our food plants.

you might change your mind on the idea that there is no difference.

[Quantess]

30. That's akin to saying that anything that contains carbon is "organic".

It's like an attempt to throw away the whole conversation.

[hobbit709]

32. That's what organic chemistry is.

[Quantess]

33. Yes. I know. That wasn't my point.

Edit to add: To be certified Organic really takes a lot of hoops to jump through, regulations to follow, etc. I heard someone once scoff at Organic, and try to claim that it was silly and meaningless, since "if it contains carbon, it's organic". Well, yes, but not in the same way that certified Organic means.

Saying that all cultivated produce is "genetically modified" is a similarly weak argument. That was my point.

[hobbit709]

36. Genetic maniplation is accomplished in more than one way.

There are plants and animals that couldn't surive in nature without man. How did they get that way. By selective breeding.
Too many think of only one thing when they hear GM-i.e. gene splicing.

Gregor Mendel was doing GM long before anyone even knew about the existence of genes.

[Quantess]

37. Hi. I edited my post while you responded.

Sorry for the confusion.

[ret5hd]

38. When the term " GM" is used in food production it DOES mean...

gene splicing...and NOT selective breeding.

[hobbit709]

39. Because that's the only definition you are willing to accept.

You are the one defining as GM only consisting of gene splicing.

[ret5hd]

41. Can you point me to any journal or papers that refer to selective breeding as GM?

No? I didn't think so.

[Quantess]

45. Well, clearly, the OP means gene splicing, not the traditional Mendellian-style selective breeding.

Similarly, as when people talk about Certified Organic foods, they are not talking about everything that contains carbon.

Nobody is discussing the selective breeding of bananas over the centuries, for example.

[paulk]

44. absurd

you think gm food is so fucking great, watch this -

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-world-according-to-monsanto/

[JoeyT]

43. Not all GMOs are created equal either.

So far the only conclusively proven damage that was caused by a GMO crop (Corn, iirc) that I can think of right offhand wasn't caused by the gene modification itself...it was caused by constantly drenching the field in Roundup. Even the plants that aren't hurt by it still absorb it, and it isn't good for you. There are also two other chemicals in there besides the active ingredient that are actively harmful and readily absorbed.

Genetic engineering, taken out of the hands of corporations could solve world hunger within our lifetime. Instead it's largely being used to sell more proprietary chemicals.

[CrispyQ]

7. I can't find a bag of organic potato chips anywhere.

King Soopers used to have a private label brand, but no more. Even the health food stores don't have organic potato chips.

[hobbit709]

8. you can always make your own.

[lunasun]

10. I heard alot of potato farrmers dont even eat their own product anymore

[MineralMan]

13. Hmm...They have them in my supermarket, in a variety of types.

Look in the organic food section. However, that has nothing to do with Genetically-modified foods, really.

[alcina]

23. Kettle brand makes organic chips

But good luck finding them. I used to see them pretty regularly, but haven't in quite some time. FWIW, Kettle also claim that all their ingredients are non-GMO. But as someone else said, probably best just to make your own. At the very least, the effort will keep you from eating too many! :-)

[WorseBeforeBetter]

24. I'm staring at a bag of Spicy Thai right now.

I live in NC and Kroger carries them, and I've even seen them at CVS. Eating too many is not possible, and I'm not even that big a fan of potato chips. :-)

[MineralMan]

27. Well, according to the Kettle brand website,

Walgreens, Safeway, and Quality Foods carry Kettle Brand products in the Seattle area. If you have a specific product you're looking for, try this link:

http://www.kettlebrand.com/product_locator/

Enter your zip code, then drill down to the product or product line you're looking for, and the locator will find a store for you.

[CrispyQ]

29. "At the very least, the effort will keep you from eating too many! "

True.

I have a kick ass onion ring recipe. I ought to just make an afternoon of it. Good beer munchies.

[Richard D]

9. Not really true.

It's a voluntary code and for very obvious reasons few if any food manufacturers are using it as it would impact their sales.

[lunasun]

11. I knew I had heard that product code theory wan't exactly true but didnt

have time to check it out again for the post thank you for explaining why it cant be a true all on GMOs
and anybody who thinks.... I shop at Whole Foods or something so I am OK ....you are not

[Richard D]

17. Here's an article on it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-smith/plu-codes-do-not-indicate_b_473088.html

Let's put a rumor to rest. No, the 5-digit PLU codes on produce do not tell you what is genetically modified or natural. This urban legend has circulated long enough, even on the best of websites. It's time to take it down.

The 4-digit PLU codes on the sometimes-pain-in-the-neck labels glued to apples, for example, tell the checkout lady which is a small Fuji (4129) and which is a Honeycrisp (3283). She'll know what to charge you and the inventory elves will know what's what. If there's a 5-digit code starting with 9, then it's organic.

These numbers, organized by the Produce Marketing Association, have nothing to do with you. According to Kathy Means, Association Vice President of Public Relations and Government Affairs, this is an optional convention for retailers and their supplier and is not designed as a communication tool for customers. If you want to know which items are organic, look for the word Organic; and stop squinting at tiny codes.

[BridgeTheGap]

21. Thanks for sharing that...I should have researched before posting. I have heard that organic

is not gmo but that may be changing.

[Shagbark Hickory]

12. And chances are if your produce has coded labels on it...

I'm just sayin. Labels? on produce?

[MineralMan]

15. Well, the box has a code on it, but you don't normally see that.

Most people don't even look at the labels on any of the food products they buy, frankly.

[Shagbark Hickory]

18. Well I know it comes in boxes but I can't read Chinese so don't know what it says. nm

[NYC_SKP]

19. Cabbage=4069. Practially all our produce has a sticker on each banana, apple, plum, or melon.

Apricots and smaller seem not to.

Items without stickers seem to use universal four digit codes.

I'll be looking for these five-digit numbers next trip to Safeway.

Leeks: 4629
Broccoli Crowns: 4549
Brussels Sprouts: 4550

:hi:

[WinkyDink]

34. Every single tomato, banana (yes, 4011!), etc. has a STICKER on it. Check next time.

You can use them to print out your own price-tags.

[NYC_SKP]

16. kick (nt)

[otohara]

22. Number 8, Number 8, Number 8

thanks, I'll be on the outlook for the number "8".

One more thing to add to the list of "important things to know before you buy a food product"
Products containing HFCS are the biggest no, no.

[BlueIris]

25. Thanks. Great tip. nt

[felix_numinous]

26. #9 is fine

#8 wait --works for me :)

[Odin2005]

28. Unrec

[lunatica]

35. why?

[Odin2005]

40. Oops, wrong thread.

That was supposed to go to a different thread. :blush:

[Blue_Tires]

31. thanks for this...

ttt

[Initech]

42. If the name of a product is intentionally misspelled (Digiorno Wyngz are a good example)

[BlueIris]

46. Kick for the great suggestions. nt