### What Are GMOs?
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are living things whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques, often referred to as recombinant DNA technology. This involves combining DNA from different sources to create a new genetic sequence, which is then introduced into an organism to give it new characteristics. For example, scientists can create potatoes that produce a natural pesticide against potato beetles. This technology allows for the selection of specific genes, enabling their transfer between both closely related and completely different species.
### History and Impact of GMO Foods
The first successful genetic modification experiments were conducted in the 1970s, but it wasn’t until 1996 that genetically modified (GM) foods began to be commercially produced in the United States. Despite limited testing on the health and environmental impacts of GM foods, companies have aggressively marketed these products. They promise benefits like higher crop yields, reduced pesticide use, and increased resistance to pests. By 1999, a significant portion of U.S. farmland was already planted with GM crops: 33% for corn, 44% for soy, and 55% for cotton.
### Types of GM Crops
#### First Generation GM Crops
The first generation of GM crops is designed to be resistant to specific herbicides or pests. These crops include soy, cotton, canola, and corn. They make it easier to manage weeds and pests.
#### Second Generation GM Crops
The second generation aims to offer more than just resistance. These crops are being developed to provide higher yields, better quality, improved nutritional value (such as higher levels of essential fatty acids and vitamins), and the removal of allergens.
### How to Avoid GMO Foods: A Greenpeace Shopper’s Guide
If you’re trying to avoid GMOs, you might find Greenpeace’s Shopper’s Guide helpful. Note that Heinz is now claimed to be non-GMO, so ignore its previous inclusion in GMO lists.
#### Categories and Brands to Watch For:
– **Frozen Foods:** Green Giant (General Mills), Lean Cuisine (Nestlé)
– **Salad Dressings and Oils:** Bestfoods (Unilever), Crisco (Proctor & Gamble)
– **Snack Foods:** Ugles (General Mills), Jiffy Pop (ConAgra), Hostess/Frito-Lay (Pepsi)
– **Soups:** Campbell Soup Co., Knorr (Unilever)
– **Canned and Jarred Foods:** Conagra, Hunt’s (ConAgra)
– **Condiments:** Bestfoods (Unilever), Kraft (Philip Morris)
– **Cookies and Desserts:** Betty Crocker (General Mills), Pillsbury (General Mills)
– **Dried Meals and Sauce Mixes:** Campbell Soup Co., Kraft (Philip Morris)
– **Beverages:** Coca Cola, Gatorade (Pepsi)
– **Candy and Chocolate:** Hershey’s, Cadbury Schweppes
– **Cereals and Breakfast Foods:** General Mills, Kellogg’s, Quaker Oats (Pepsi)
– **Baking Supplies:** Betty Crocker, Robin Hood
For more detailed information, you can download the full PDF guide on how to avoid GMO foods from Greenpeace’s website.
### Sources:
– [Wikipedia](http://www.wikipedia.org)
– [Greenpeace](http://www.greenpeace.ca)