How to See If a GMO Is Used

You don't want to serve genetically modified food to your family, but figuring out which items in your shopping cart contain GMOs is often difficult. GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are found in a majority of the products sold in most grocery stores. Even if a product contains some organic ingredients, this does not ensure that it does not contain GMOs. Some products in the store have labels that notify you of the absence of GMOs. For other products, you need to employ a bit of detective work to find out if a food is natural or modified.

Instructions

• 1

  Look at the product's packaging for a label that says "GMO-free," "Non-GMO" or "No GMOs." These products do not contain any genetically modified organisms.

• 2

  Examine the stickers on produce. Each sticker bears a number code that identifies properties of the produce. For instance, a number code that starts with 8 indicates that the item was genetically modified. If the code starts with 4, it is conventional produce that has been treated with pesticides. To avoid GMOs, buy organic produce. Organic produce codes start with 5 or 9.

• 3

  Check the package for a label that says "Certified 100% Organic." These products cannot contain GMOs. Products with just a few organic ingredients may contain GMOs but are probably less likely to have them than conventional products.

• 4

  Read the nutrition label and look for high-fructose corn syrup listed as an ingredient. This indicates the presence of GMOs, since most of the corn in the U.S. is genetically modified. Another ingredient to watch for is soy, since soy is also a heavily modified crop.

• 5

  Call the company that made the product if you still are unsure if it contains GMOs. If you ask, employees at the company may be able to tell you if they are included or not.