What Foods Are GMO?

What Foods Are GMO? Not as many as you think.

People often refer to certain foods as “GMO” foods and others as “non-GMO foods.” Often when people refer to some of these non-GMO foods, I do have to roll my eyes (internally) because the food they are referring to is the non-GMO fact a GMO version does not exist.

However, I realize that not everyone knows this despite having a computer at their fingertips.

Earlier this year, I addressed this topic in front of the package misleading label article.

Now I must address which foods/crops are GMO. Of course, I could also list the foods that are not GMO crops, but the list is extensive.

And I want to use the proper terminology here: GMO or genetically modified organism is the commonly used term by the public. However, bioengineered (BE) food is the more appropriate term.

For example, there is no such thing as a GMO or BE peanut or any nut that is GMO/BE. No such crops

Also, there is no GMO/BE wheat available on the market.

Another thing people don’t realize is that many of the GMO/BE crops are used primarily for animal feed.

And in case you thought that the US is the only country that grows GMO crops? Wrong.

Here are countries that also grow bioengineered crops:

Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Egypt, European Union, Honduras, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, the Philippines, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Uruguay, and Vietnam are also on the list. 

While people want to reduce food waste and food loss, they will still insist on not having GMO/BE foods even though this is one of the main reasons GMO/BE crops are grown: to reduce food loss from pests and reduce food waste from bruising or browning that people often toss.

Which foods are GMO or bioengineered? 

The following crops are currently listed as GMO/BE in spring 2022.

Corn, soybeans, cotton, and canola are GMO/BE crops often used for animal feed. And portions are also used for human food, including corn for beverages, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, and canola oil.

Alfalfa is a crop feed for dairy cattle – and resists a weed that can destroy it.

Summer squash and papayas were among the first foods that were GMO/BE. GMO/BE saved the papaya farmers in Hawaii. Not all summer squash and papaya are GMO/BE, but they are crops that can be. Note: if they are organically grown, they are not GMO/BE.

Some potatoes are bio-engineered to resist browning and bruise through the harvesting process and at home. No need to toss brown/bruised potatoes, but people do it. Important: most potatoes are NOT GMO/BE.

A variety of apples is GMO/BE and resists browning after being cut. But, again, people will toss browned apples for no reason other than they are brown. As with potatoes, these apples are limited to one variety, not all varieties of apples.

And finally, sugar beets are used for half the sugar processed in the United States are a GMO/BE crop.

Additional foods that may soon be available: 

• a faster-growing salmon from a GMO/BE salmon egg

• pink flesh pineapple (very recently available in the US), and,

• not available in the US: eggplant.

Animals that are GMO/BE?

Are animals fed the GMO/BE crops, as noted above, GMO/BE? The animals themselves are not GMO/BE except the salmon mentioned above.

And if you think eating a GMO/BE food makes the animal a GMO/BE animal? That isn’t how that works. If you eat GMO/BE foods, does that make you a GMO/BE animal? Not even close. But you can discriminate if you wish.

Things that are NOT GMO/BE? 

Popcorn is not GMO/BE. That type of corn is not GMO/BE.

If you see labeling for non-GMO/no-BE wine, distilled spirits, or beer listed as non-GMO or BE? Marketing. That commercial that said that one beer company doesn’t use corn syrup in their beer-making got the other beer companies riled up because none of the major beer companies use corn syrup.

There are no GMO/BE grapes, wheat, barley, rye, or other grains other than those listed above. No GMO/BE agave plants.

Most of your fruits and vegetables are not GMO/BE either. Not listed above, then not GMO/BE. For example, a pluot (plum apricot) is cross-breeding, not GMO/BE.

Don’t be afraid – be informed.