Although the term “natural” is not legally defined in the food service industry, I am pretty certain that for most consumers “natural” would not include “plants or animals that have had their genetic makeup altered to exhibit traits that are not naturally theirs” (a definition of GMO).
Yet that is what ConAgra claims on the labels of its Wesson brand oils.
This is not a single occurrence, of course. Up to 70-percent of the US processed food supply may contain genetically modified ingredients. Yes. Seventy-percent (an estimate by the Center for Food Safety). How many of those processed food items display a notice indicating that they were made with GMOs? None.
The same applies to unprocessed foods such as corn, soybeans, potatoes and other vegetables and fruits that have become the latest designer toys in the hands of scientists. I am yet to see an ear of sweet corn that clearly states it has been engineered, yet it is estimated that up to 90-percent of the corn in the US has been genetically engineered (and this can include sweet corn sold in stores – but as they aren’t labeled, it’s rather hard to know for sure!).
There are plenty of studies supporting the arguments of both GMO proponents and GMO opponents. Proponents say it is the safest and best way to ensure the sufficiency of the food supply while opponents focus on the health and environmental risks GMOs create (such as allergies, antibiotic resistance, and biological pollution).
Either way, as consumers we should be given the opportunity to decide! Let’s see how the ConAgra suit turns out.
Tags: genetically engineered foods, GMO foods, GMOs, pfocessed foods
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