The “why” behind 12 foods that are GMOs

In this age of instant information, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the talk about foods that are GMOs. And, you probably have a lot of questions about them. Things like:

Why are certain foods GMOs?
Will foods that are GMOs make me sick?
Are GMO foods bad for my children?

It’s good to ask questions about where your food comes from. We’re here to help you feel more informed to make the best choice for you and your family, no matter what foods you choose.

Let’s start at the beginning with some biotechnology basics (a broad term for a range of tools and technologies that alter living organisms).

For thousands of years, farmers have selectively bred plants through traditional practices like:

Seed selection (saving seeds from plants with desirable traits)
Cross-pollination (transfer of pollen from one plant to another)
Hybridization (crossbreeding plants from two different varieties)¹

Today, farmers have access to a variety of techniques to grow food and fiber crops that are even more precise and offer greater access to nutritional and environmental benefits while still ensuring food safety.

Here’s a breakdown of current crops (and one fish) that have GM (genetically modified) varieties:

GMO traits graphic