Meet Your Food

            People say their health is the most important thing to them, but their actions often contradict with their words. People rarely take the time to learn what truly goes into their body, whether it is the fat-free cookie they brought for lunch or the apple they are snacking on. Food is such an important and essential part of our lives, so why do we pay so little attention to what it really is? I believe that to live a healthier life, you should take the time to meet your food. Looks can be deceiving, and you don’t know where your food has been or what it is made of. Doing a little research, you’ll find that your food is full of genetically modified varieties, laden with pesticides and herbicides, and has labels that are misleading and often incorrect. If you have the knowledge, you as a consumer can make better choices to nourish your body.

            Knowing what your food is made of is one of the most important steps you can take to avoiding harmful substances and consumption of these unnatural products. Papayas, corn, soy, and squash – all of these are some of the most common examples of foods containing dangerous GMOs. I’m sure you have heard of a GMO in one place or another, but do you really understand the purpose and consequence behind them? These genetically modified organisms are gene mutations, created by crossing species barriers to show desired traits that don’t occur in nature. For example, a variety of sweet corn has been created to produce a poison to kill insects. It is no doubt wonderful that the corn can ward off insects without the use of outside help, but these advances in technology have only been introduced within recent decades. No long-term studies have been done on the effects of these organisms, so no one truly knows how beneficial these “miracle” crops will be in the long run. Dr. Ron Epstein, a professor of San Francisco State University, noted that “in some cases serious allergic reactions can occur, and that antibiotic resistance and toxicity levels may be increased” after repeated consumption of genetically modified foods. To know the short-term effects should be enough to drive you as the consumer away from these foods. In order to avoid GMOs, you can do a few simple conscious efforts at the grocery store next time you’re there. Buy foods labeled ‘non-GMO’, avoid GMO offspring products such as high fructose corn syrup or soy protein, and avoid commodity GMO food items such as soy, corn, canola, and sugar beets.

            It is not enough to know what your food is made of, but you must also know whom it has been with in order to make educated decisions for your health. By understanding the harmful effects of pesticides and herbicides, you can avoid these chemicals and reduce the amount that you consume each day. Pesticides and herbicides are biological agents used to control pests that come with growing plants. Virtually all of the conventional farmers use pesticides to help produce higher crop yields. Direct consumption of pesticide residue can result in acute health problems, such as stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. According to the Global Health Center, lab studies with animals have shown pesticides alter immune systems and make them more susceptible to disease. One step consumers often take toward reducing pesticide consumption is to buy organic. This is completely valid, as USDA certified organic products must be grown without the use of pesticides, but to the normal family this is an unreasonable and costly venture. It is best to buy certified organic produce that you would eat the skin of, such as blueberries or apples, but you can get away with buying conventional produce as long as you take the time to wash your food. Washing food can reduce the amount of pesticide residue on your food, guarding you from the dangers of the chemical agents.

You may know what your food is made of and whom it has been with, but looks can often be deceiving. Although you may think you know what you are purchasing, food labels are misleading and misinforming. The FDA lacks regulation with food labels, especially with ‘natural’ products. It’s completely in the hands of the company to decide if their product is natural or not, so companies can say nearly anything they want on the food packaging. You may think products labeled as ‘all natural’ are good for you, but they can still contain copious amounts of synthetic and genetically modified ingredients. Because of the FDA’s lack of regulation, labels such as “free range” and “fat free” are seen a lot in foods that people purchase as they think they are doing a positive action for their health and nutrition. However, these labels should be viewed as useless because they are incredibly deceiving and confusing. “Free range” products are advertised as beneficial to animals because they are allowed space instead of being confined to the industrial setting of a chicken or cow farm, but this is not the case. Free range is so ambiguous and undefined that the company could have a pasture in back but not allow the animals to set foot on the ground after they were born and strong enough to be led back into their cages. When removing fat, manufacturers often add extra sugar or starch to keep products palatable, as said by Fox News. You may think you’re doing yourself something good by reducing the fat in your food, but you’re just adding more unnecessary refined sugars and carbs that have no nutrients. To avoid misleading organic labels, purchase foods with the USA certified organic stamp. The USDA heavily regulates their standards and actively monitors their farmers and companies. Don’t buy into any other eco labels when you are purchasing organic or free-range, as they are not supervised to the level of the USDA. To avoid label scams such as the “fat-free” one, simply check your ingredient list on the packaging and pay attention to the nutrition facts.

            Understanding your food goes beyond its color or where it was imported from. In order to truly meet your food, you need to know what it is made of, the chemicals it has been exposed to, and why the labeling is misleading. It may be surprising to you, the consumer, that your food is full of lies, sprayed with harmful chemicals, and changed to be able to resist the cold weather or to produce a poison to ward off insects. Even though we live in world where food can be masked and disguised in the form of false claims, we still have the power to become knowledgeable and avoid these traps. By knowing our food, we can make the best choices that are available to us today.

Works Cited

Epstein, Ron, Dr. "Why You Should Be Concerned About Genetically Engineered Food." Sfsu.edu. San Francisco State University, 23 Nov. 1996. Web. 15 Dec. 2012.

"Organic Certification | USDA." Organic Certification | USDA. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2012.

Simple, Real. "Food Labels, Decoded." Fox News. FOX News Network, 20 June 2012. Web. 15 Dec. 2012.

Weber, Lisa. "The Effects of Pesticides in Food." LIVESTRONG.COM. Livestrong, 2

Sept. 2010. Web. 15 Dec. 2012.