Recommendations From
The Sustainable Living Committee
It was about one year ago that we published a green tip on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs, also referred to as Genetic Engineering or GE), briefly explaining what they are and why we should be worried. Folks, in our opinion, this technology is threatening our planet in many ways. This is not the same as hybridization. It is the forcing of DNA from one organism into another using viruses or bacteria to “infect” animal or plant cells with the new DNA. The Food and Drug Administration says these GM foods are safe, but they can’t back up their claim — no feeding studies on humans were done. So what are the problems? They are many. Various feeding studies in animals have resulted in pre-cancerous cell growth, damaged immune systems, smaller brains, livers and testicles, partial atrophy, higher death rates. There is also a huge environmental impact, for one, the excessive use of Roundup on crops. This is only the “tip of the iceberg.” To learn more, go to http:// www.responsibletechnology.org/
What can you do? Here are four simple tips to help you avoid GMOs: 
1. Buy organic
2. Look for “Non-GMO” labels. (Labeling is not required, so we love those companies who have joined the Non-GMO Project, a non-profit organization committed to GMO avoidance.)
3. Avoid “at-risk” ingredients. The eight GM food crops are corn, soybeans, canola, cottonseed, sugar beets, most Hawaiian papaya, and a small amount of zucchini and yellow squash. About 85% of processed foods containing these ingredients are genetically modified. Dairy is also to be avoided if it does not contain the “No rBGH” or “No artificial hormones.”
Download the Institute for Responsible Technology’s Non-GMO Shopping Guide. There is currently a campaign to create a bill requiring labeling in CT. The more people who write their elected officials the better, because Monsanto will spend huge amounts of money trying to stop it. Hand-written letters via the USPS are much more effective than email. Your letter can be short. Make it personal; ask them to support a GMO labeling bill. We have a right to know what is in our food! Website to find your local officials: http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/cgafindleg.asp
