Non GMO Foods

Choosing non GMO foods is an educated decision! Each of us should be educated enough to make a decision about whether avoiding genetically modified foods is something that we should do. I believe it is a healthy diet habit to avoid all genetically modified foods until further research is done on them. I am making new Lifestyle Solutions that will allow me to purchase better products for my family, and would encourage you to do the same.

These are some important tips on choosing non GMO foods:

Buy Organic

• Buy Organic because organic producers can’t use GM food intentionally.


• Avoid processed foods or buy organic ones. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods store brand products contain no genetically modified foods.


• Buy organic produce and understand the PLU codes of produce. PLU stands for price look up. If produce was conventionally grown it will have a PLU code with 4 numbers. If produce was organically grown, it will have a PLU code with 5 numbers and the first number will be a 9. If produce was GM, it will have a PLU code with 5 numbers but the first number will be an 8. Therefore, avoid all produce with a 5 digit PLU code that starts with 8! It will be GM, and also have undergone heavy chemical spraying! PLU codes will not be on packaged produce or produce that is too small to label.

Buy Foods with the “Non GMO Food” Verified Seal.

This stamp on products means a product has been produced according to rigorous best practices, and is a non GMO food, including testing of risk ingredients. It is not a requirement, and therefore not all Non GMO food will be labeled.

Avoid at Risk Ingredients.

• Avoid the worst ones: Soy, corn, canola oil, cottonseed oil and sugar beets. Use extra virgin olive oil.


• Avoid all soy products and oils unless they are labeled organic or specifically labeled non-GMO, which is not required at this point. These would include soy flour, lecithin, soy protein, isolate, and isoflavone, and soy vegetable oil.


• If you are allergic to milk or lactose intolerant, these companies produce non-GMO products: 365, Eden, Follow Your Heart, Growing Naturals, Hemp Bliss, Luna and Larry’s Coconut Bliss, Manitoba Harvest, Nancy’s, Native Forest, Organic Valley, Pacific Natural Foods, Pylmuone Wildwood, Silk, So Delicious, Soy Kaas, Westsoy, and WholeSoy & Co.


• Most corn is GMO so avoid items with corn like: corn cereals, corn chips, tortilla chips, corn based products, corn starch, corn syrup, corn flour, corn meal, corn oil, modified food starch, and high fructose corn syrup unless they are labeled organic. Corn is also in much of the fast food supply.


• Beef, Pork, Foul, are probably fed GMO corn. Buy grass or alfalfa fed or free range livestock meats, organic products or wild fish products.


• Sugar beets are used in processed foods because they are a cheap alternative to sugar. Stop eating processed foods. Avoid anything not listed as 100% cane sugar. Look for organic and non-GMO sweeteners, candy and chocolate made with 100% cane sugar, evaporated cane juice or organic sugar.


• Avoid Aspartame which is derived from GM microorganisms.


• Use Baby Foods and Infant Formula’s that promise non-GMO products. They are: Earth’s Best, HAPPYBABY Pouches, HAPPYTOT, Little Duck Organics, and Organic Baby. See Healthy Infants!


• Very few fresh fruits or veggies are genetically modified except small amounts of zucchini, yellow crookneck squash, and sweet corn or papaya from Hawaii.

Downloading a Non-GMO shopping guide is a healthy diet habit! The guide offers many specific brands to look for in each food category! This information is not known by the majority of Americans, who gladly buy processed foods.

We need to wise up and develop new Lifestyle Solutions and healthy diet habits! We can change the system if we purchase products labeled organic or specifically labeled NonGMO!