Watching what we eat during the holiday season usually refers to how much we’re consuming. But if you’re a person who’s concerned with food issues, you might have a trickier time spotting genetically engineered foods. The U.S. is not among the 60 countries that require the labeling of GMOs. So to give you a little help on what part of your Thanksgiving plate might be genetically engineered, the Allegheny Front’s Julie Grant decided to look into the issue. Here’s a breakdown of some traditional holiday foods to pay special attention to.
On the holiday plate
If you’re making squash, some zucchinis, crookneck and straightneck yellow squash are bioengineered to make them resistant to common squash viruses.
For potatoes, none in the supermarket are GMO yet. Earlier this year, the FDA approved potatoes that are genetically engineered to bruise less in transit. They are supposed to hit the market in 2017. Same thing with GMO apples. So if you’re making apple pie for the dessert, in a couple of years, some apples in the supermarket could be genetically altered to brown less after being cut. Sold under the name “Arctic Apples,” they’re being produced in Granny Smith and Golden Delicious varieties.
For more on considering corn and the argument for (and against) GMOs, visit the site of our partner Allegheny Front.
