Consumers still broadly reject the idea of Genetically Modified (GM) food.
For most people, the thought of eating it doesn't appeal, mainly because we are unaware of the potential long-term, irreversible effects. Some see it as inevitable scientific progress, whilst others view it as dangerous messing with nature.
Whatever your view, the major UK supermarkets do not use GM products in their own-brand foods.
But...
Did you know that a significant proportion of animals are fed GM food?
And what an animal eats gets into the food chain.
That means that eggs, milk, cheese and meat could contain traces of genetically modified products.
The publicity machines for the GM seed manufacturers and the British meat industry are working overtime to assure us that no "functional transgenes" (whaterver they are?) can get into the human food chain.
But let's look at this logically:
- A well-fed animal with a nutritious diet produces more nutritious meat. Therefore the vitamins and minerals the animal consumes get into the final product, which we eat.
- Meat from animals fed artificial growth hormones contains those same hormones when consumed by humans.
- Milk from cows who receive regular doses of preventative antibiotics still contains those same drugs when consumed by us.
- But GM food fed to the animals doesn't get through to the final product?
Here's a quote from the UK Food Standards Agency:
There have been some concerns that functional transgenes from GM-derived feed material might be incorporated into livestock products for human consumption (milk, meat and eggs), but research to date has failed to demonstrate any discernible occurrence of this.
Food from animals fed on GM crops is therefore considered to be as safe as food from animals fed on non-GM crops.
But who funded the "research to date"?
If you're in any doubt about whether you want your family to eat products from GM-fed animals, it's probably best to avoid them. Here's how:
- Only buy eggs, milk and meat from suppliers you know don't use GM feeds
Great, if you know the local farmer or can ask at farmers' markets, but almost impossible if you buy from the supermarket.
or...
- Avoid eggs, milk and meat
Did you want to go vegan?
or...
- Buy organic
Certified organic food is not allowed to contain any GM feed. Easy.
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