What are genetically modified foods? Learn how to identify genetically modified foods

Genetically modified foods are now everywhere in society. They pose great risks to our health. Common genetically modified foods include soybean oil, corn, potatoes, and tomatoes. We should understand how to identify genetically modified foods.

1. What are genetically modified foods?

The genetically modified crops that have been approved for cultivation by the Ministry of Agriculture of China include: sweet peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes; the staple food crops include corn and rice. It is said that crops that may be approved in the future include wheat, sweet potatoes, peanuts, etc. Imported genetically modified foods include soybean oil, rapeseed oil, soybeans, etc. Currently, only peanut oil is not genetically modified. Almost all the food at McDonald's and KFC is genetically modified. Pigs, cattle and chickens are fed genetically modified corn and genetically modified soybeans.

2. Knowledge on identification of genetically modified foods:

1. Soybeans

Non-GMO soybeans: Oval in shape and a bit flat. The navel is light brown. The beans vary in size. The soy milk is milky white.

Genetically modified soybeans: round and plump. The navel is yellow or yellowish brown. About the same size as beans. The soy milk is a little yellow, and the tofu made from these beans is also a little yellow.

Simple testing method: Genetically modified soybeans do not germinate! You can use water to test it! Local soybeans will germinate if soaked in water for three days! Genetically modified soybeans will not germinate, they will just swell.

From this germination test process, people can find that these genetically modified soybeans are one-time fruits, their embryos do not have the essential life activity, and therefore, they have no ability to continue offspring. It is equivalent to a person being able to have a normal pregnancy, but each time the baby is stillborn, which means that the continuation of life ends here. Well, if humans consume various genetically modified foods on a large scale for a long period of time, the genetically modified fragments that are harmful to humans will inevitably have a subtle influence and even change the normal genes of humans themselves, resulting in a decrease in resistance, a variety of strange diseases, or loss of fertility. It is reasonable.

2. Carrots

Non-GMO carrots: The surface is uneven, generally not very straight, and is thick to thin from head to tail. And the head protrudes outward.

Genetically modified carrots: The surface is relatively smooth, generally straight, and the tail is sometimes thicker than the middle. And the head is concave inward.

Note: Carrots are only available in autumn and winter, and those in summer are generally genetically modified.

3. Potatoes

Non-GMO potatoes: They look ugly, usually darker in color, with a bumpy surface and irregular skin color. After peeling, the surface will quickly darken in color, and the inside of the skin will be white.

Genetically modified potatoes: The surface is smooth, the bumps are very shallow, and the color is lighter. After peeling, there is no obvious change on the surface.

Inspection method: Peel the skin first and then observe the changes before deciding whether to eat it.

4. Corn

Genetically modified corn: sweet, crisp, plump, beautifully shaped, with the head and tail of the kernels almost the same.

5. Rice

The only region in China that has obtained the legal right to grow genetically modified rice is Hubei. Be wary of the long, shiny rice. It is easy to be confused with the Northeastern "long-grain fragrant" tea. Be sure to check the origin when buying.

6. Tomatoes

Genetically modified tomatoes: They are bright red in color, the fruits are hard and not prone to cracking.

7. Other identification methods

Labels for imported fruit. Generally speaking, the name of the exporting country is printed at the bottom of the label, the English letters in the middle indicate the name of the fruit, and the English letters at the top indicate the name of the exporting company. There are usually four Arabic numerals in the middle of each label: the one starting with 3 indicates that the plant has been sprayed with pesticides. Names starting with 4 indicate genetically modified fruits; names starting with 5 indicate hybrid fruits.

(1) When buying food in supermarkets, be sure to check whether it is labeled as genetically modified. According to the "Administrative Measures for the Identification of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms", genetically modified foods should be labeled. But these markings are so small that they are only 1.8 mm high and hidden in the most inconspicuous places, but they can always be found if you look carefully.

(2) Most tomatoes and papayas sold in supermarkets are genetically modified. Do not buy them. In terms of safety and quality, fruit products sold by individual farmers are much better than those sold in supermarkets. In particular, don't be superstitious about foreign-funded supermarkets. The things there look good but don't taste good, and there are too many bad and fake ones.

(3) Corn was the first to be genetically modified, and it is used most widely. Therefore, you should be extremely cautious when purchasing any corn product, even the corn steamed buns sold in supermarkets.

(4) The genetically modified wheat grains are white, transparent and shiny, and are fully keratinized. They are a hard, strong-gluten, high-quality bread wheat variety. The superior genetically modified 9506 wheat was launched in Anhui in 2008. Bleach and talcum powder are mixed in the flour, making it even more difficult to identify.

(5) China has been secretly developing genetically modified rice for several years, and only a small amount has entered the market. Be especially wary of rice that is long, thin, and shiny. Northeast rice is currently not genetically modified, so you can rest assured for now. Be sure to check the outer packaging bag. For example, in the rice industry in Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, Northeast rice is japonica rice with short round grains. This is fundamentally different from the medium-long grain genetically modified rice grown in Hubei and Hunan (such as BT Shanyou 63) and is easy to identify. In addition, Thailand prohibits genetically modified organisms, so its rice is fine.

(6) Millet, oats, buckwheat and sorghum are all minor grain crops and there is not enough time to genetically modify them. Peanuts are a unique product in my country and are not genetically modified. Sweet potatoes are not genetically modified either.