The first time I even heard of the term “non-GMO” was when I read it on the label of the protein shake I indulge in each morning.   I was totally unaware of what that meant and whether or not it had any importance to me.  Of course as more and more press came out about this subject, I became more and more consumed with not wanting it.  Now I am reading about October as being the first month to celebrate “My Right To Choose Non-GMO!”

So for those of you who still do not know what GMOs are, here is an explanation from The Non GMO Project:  “The process of genetic modification, which takes place in a laboratory, typically merges DNA from different species, combining combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding. “

So why the concern? Actually GMOs have not been considered to be proven safe in at least 30 other countries.   There are actually restrictions and bans on their production.  However, In the U.S. GMOs have been approved by the FDA based on  studies from the very companies which created them and, of course, benefit from their sale.   According to The Non GMO Project,  there are studies that increasingly are showing a correlation between consumption of GMOs and an array of health risks.  One of the main problems with genetic engineering is that the process of inserting genes into the DNA of a food plant is random; scientists have no idea where the genes go. This can disrupt the functioning of other genes and create novel proteins that have never been in the food supply and could create toxins and allergens in foods.  This, of course, is shaking consumer trust and confidence.  Nielson recently reported that “GMO-free” is now the fastest growing store brand label claim.

A Non-GMO Month will provide an excellent opportunity to educate consumers about GMOs, says Jimbo Someck, owner of Jimbo’s Naturally, a leading natural food grocer in San Diego, CA.  “The whole concept is to bring awareness about GMOs to consumers who will hopefully let food manufacturers know that there is strong demand for non-GMO products and will encourage manufacturers to become Non-GMO Project verified,” Someck says. The Non-GMO Project, launched in 2008, is a non-profit collaboration of manufacturers, retailers, distributors, farmers, seed companies and consumers dedicated to the shared mission of ensuring the sustained availability of non-GMO food and beverage choices.

Alongside this celebratory month is the creation of the “Non-GMO Project Verified” seal. Only through compliance with rigorous GMO  avoidance standards, including ingredient testing,  can manufacturers carry this seal.  Already over 900 products have been verified with thousands more to come.  Educating consumers  about these Non-GMO Project products as well as the whole GMO issue is quite a worthwhile project.

How about you? Are GMO foods a concern for you? For myself, I plan to visit  one of the markets on October 10th supporting this project (Whole Foods)  to check out all of the information available on this important subject,  eat more organic foods, buy locally grown foods, and check out those Non-GMO Project Verified products.  I might even consider growing  my own veggies!

I thought I would focus on chocolate this Friday for my “recipe” post, not only because we are so near Valentine’s Day, but also to share some great tips about this wonderful treat.

Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald wrote a great article in The Huffington Post called “The Seven Healthy Reasons to Enjoy Chocolate -  Without  The Guilt.“   Of course she does mention that this does not include Snickers or Milky Way, but rather a good dark chocolate.

For myself,  I love the organic varieties, such as the Endangered Species Organic Chocolate sold at Whole Foods.  I did love learning about all of the benefits Dr. Fitzgerald mentioned.  Be sure and read the article and enjoy your Valentine treat without guilt!