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What is safe to eat!

Updated on September 9, 2010

Food Safety Guide: GMO and Pesticide reference guide.

Want to find out what food is safe to eat?

This is the one stop guide to bring you that information,

with lists of foods to buy organic, which foods are not genetically engineered, which foods to avoid, low pesticide produce, info and resources.

I compiled this lens to share what I have found out over the years. it is meant for all people who care not only about their health, but also about this planet.

What is safe to eat?

This is your one stop shopping guide to all things food safety.

What is on a label? Have you heard about genetically engineered crops? Have you heard about the harmful effects of pesticides? What about artificial coloring, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, and chemical addatives and preservatives. Yuck! Who wants to drink that stuff. I sure don't and haven't for the last 7 years anyway. That is when I first found out about the atrocity of meat eating and then after that about the whole food dilemma and how wrong the world has got it. I read the book of Hovanessian, which you can see listed on amazon below. This book is the most convincing argument for a raw foods diet. From there Krishna in Bhagavad Gita as it is is the best place to go so you can get the spiritual wisdom you need.

These foods are genetically engineered.

All processed foods unless they are 100% organic may be genetically contaminated. Therefore do not buy prefabricated foods. Buy healthy raw ingredients of non genetically engineered naturally organically grown produce and grains and prepare the food yourself. In fact according to the Bhagavad gita as it is proper, and Srila Prabhupada foremost Vedic scholar, translator, and teacher, says we should prepare the food with love to offer to the Lord Krishna, that is right.

In the United States, GE foods are now common on the market.

Because labeling is not required in the US, it is difficult to avoid these foods in this country unless one only eats organically grown food.

What GE foods are on the market?

Applications for marketing a rapidly increasing number of GE foods are being submitted to governmental agencies. The numbers already on the market vary from country to country.

NOTE: All these crops and plants and all the products derived from them may, in the worst case contain some unexpected, undetected harmful substance

The most common genetically engineered foods in the world are presently:

* Soy and its derivatives including soy flour and soy oil (sometimes sold as oil for cooking without specification of its source). Soy is very common in processed foods, bakery, meat products and pet food.

Look out for the ingredients: soy protein, soy lecithin, soy oil, soy sauce, soy isolates. Soy is also common in infant food. Unless this food is organic, there is a considerable risk that it comes from GE sources, as a large part of soy is genetically engineered today.

Soy is also used as animal feed. If feed contains a harmful substance, it may appear in considerably higher concentrations in the meat than in the feed.

* Corn is also a common GE food. You can expect to find GE corn in for example Corn Flakes, corn oil, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, corn starch, cornmeal and other cornbased foods. Any of these products derived from corn may, in the worst case, contain some unexpected and undected harmful substance generated by genetic engineering.

Corn is also used widely as animal feed.

* Canola (rapeseed), used most commonly as oil for cooking and in margarines and "lean" butter substitutes. It is also used extensively in baking.

In addition, the following GE vegetables, crops and plants have been approved for commercial use in the US which was the latest update by january 10, 2007. For a full list of products in the US see "List of Completed Consultations on Bioengineered Foods" at FDA):

* Alfalfa

* Tomato

* Potato

* Rice

* Cantaloupe

* Sugar beet - (all kinds of sugar)

* Radicchio

* Flax (linseed)

* Papaya

* Squash

* Oilseed rape, in some cases called Canola oil

* Wheat.

The Health Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods - Which Foods To Eat

This is a lecture by Jeffrey Smith, in which he summarizes the contents of this book. It's not only informative, but amusing, because he casts a joke here and there.

What to eat and how to shop

Shopping list from Mothers for Natural Law

Please note that Mothers for Natural Law has done its best to provide reliable information. However, we cannot guarantee that this information is 100% accurate. In some cases, items have been included on this list based on written confirmation from the companies involved. We are not in a position to verify such statements and have simply assumed that they are true.

Therefore the list below gives you an idea on how to shop.

The best and safest is to BUY ORGANIC foods whenever possible, preferably FRESH an LOCAL FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, or GROW YOUR OWN.

Natural Products

Pulses: All Eden pulses, including Organic Black Soy and Organic Seasoned; Beans (garbanzo or chickpea, red kidney, pinto, black turtle, adzuki, mung, great northern or cannellini, lima), Lentils (red, green, brown), Peas (split, split yellow, black-eyed or cow);

Grain: All Eden grains, including Organic Pearled Barley; Amaranth, Barley, Hulled Barley, Buckwheat Groats (Kasha), Cracked Bulgar Wheat, Millet, Kamut Wheat Grain, Quinoa, Rice (short grain brown, wild, white arborico, sweet brown), Spelt Grain, Wheat Berries, Red Wheat Berries, Oats (steel cut, hulled)

Flours: Arrowhead Mills (White Rice, Kamut); All Eden flours, including Organic Golden Amber Durum Wheat; Amaranth, Barley, Buckwheat, Farina, Garbanzo Chickpea, Millet, Oat, Rice, Rye, Spelt, Wheat, Oat Bran, Wheat Bran

Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, Brazils, Cashnews, Hazelnuts, Macdamia, Peanuts, Pecans, Pine Nuts, Pistachio Nuts, Walnuts, Pumpkin Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Sunflower Seeds

Sweeteners: Eden Organic Malted Grain Sweeteners, Kogee Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cane Sugar (available from Wholesome Foods and Florida Crystals), Pure USA Honey, Sucanat North America

Syrups: Eden Organic Malted Grain Sweeteners, Wholesome Foods Organic Blackstrap Molasses, Andersons Pure Maple Syrup, Cary's Maple Syrup (Premium), Hauke Honey Pure Maple Syrup, Spring Tree Pure Maple Syrup

Olive Oils (Extra Virgin): Alessi Olio, Da Vinci (and Extra Light, 100% Pure), Eden Selected, Filippo Berio (and Extra Light), Gourmet Aritrian, Grey Poupon, L'estornell, Odd Monk, Olitalia, Peloponnese, Spectrum Natural, Tassos

Other Oils: Eden (Organic Sesame, Toasted Sesame, Hot Pepper Toasted Sesame, and Safflower Oils), Sigg Grapeseed Oil, Olitalia Grapeseed Oil, Loriva Sesame Oil, Spectrum Natural (Almond Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil, Safflower Oil, Walnut Oil), Organic Oils

Vinegars: Da Vinci Balsamic, Eden Apple Cider, L'estornell River Run Hot Pepper, Spectrum Organic (Raspberry Wine, Red Wine, White Wine),

Salad Dressings and Condiments: Cross And Blackwell Capers, Spectrum Zesty Italian Dressing, Jaffa Gold Lemon Juice, Melinda Extra Hot Sauce, Annie's Farmhouse Maple Mustard, Earth Fire Products Chutney, Eden Organic Mustard (and imported condiments), Sandhill Mustard, Santa Barbara Olive Company California Ripe Large or Jumbo Pitted Olives, Muir Glen Organic Tomato Ketchup, Cascadian Farm Organic Sauerkraut, Eden Organic Sauerkraut, Krinos Imported Grape Leaves

Nut and Fruit Butters: Arrowhead Mills (Certified Organic Peanut Butter, Sesame Tahini), Eastwind Nut Butters (Peanut, Cashew, Tahini, Almond), Eden Organic Apple Butter, Joyva Sesame Tahini, Maranata Roasted (Pistachio Butter, Filbert Butter, Sunflower Butter, Almond Butter), Maranata (Sesame Tahini, Cashew Butter, Almond Butter) Once Again Hazelnut Butter, Sahadi Sesame Butter, Santa Cruz Organic (Apple Apricot Sauce, Applesauce), Westbrae Natural (Raw Sesame Tahini, Toasted Tahini),

If specific products are not mentioned after the brand name, then the brand name is non-GE in that particular category:

Breads: French Meadow Bakery, Garden of Eatin' (blue corn and corn tortillas), Lundberg Rice Cakes, Manna, New Pioneer Co-op (farm bread, olive farm, raisin pecan, sourdough, wheat), Big Kitchen

Canned Beans: American Prairie, Bearitos Refried Fat Free, Eden, Shari's, Westbrae Natural Garbanzo

Salsas: Garden Valley Naturals, Muir Glen, New Bounty Organic, Parrot

Pasta Sauces: Eden (Spaghetti Sauce, Pizza-Pasta Sauce), Garden Valley Organic, Millina's Finest Organic, Muir Glen Organic

Pastas/Noodles: Eden, Millina's Finest, Vita Spelt

Tofu/Tempeh/Soy/Miso: American Pride Tofu, Earth Fire Products, Eden products, White Wave (Organic Wild Rice Tempeh, Five Grain Tempeh, Soy Tempeh, Sea Veggie Tempeh, Organic Tofu)

Frozen Foods: Cascadian Farms (organic broccoli, corn, plain vegetables, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries), Sno-Pac (organic vegetables)

Teas: Alvita, Celestial Seasonings (Except for the vitamin enriched ones), Choice organic, Eden Great Eastern Sun, Long Life organic, Maharishi Ayur-Veda (Vata, Pitta and Kapha Churnas and Teas, and Raja's Cup), Traditional Medicinals, Yogi Organic

Juices: Organic with no vitamins added (Check labels carefully): After the Fall (Vermont Harvest Moon, Apple Cider, Grape Juice), Crofters (Guava, Strawberry, Papaya, Raspberry, Apricot, Pink Lemonade), Eden (Organic Apple, Organic Tomato, Organic Cherry), Kedem (100% Pure Grape Juice), Knudsen (Cherry, Grape, Mango, Pear, Strawberry), Mountain Sun (Organic Strawberry, Peach, Blueberry, Cranberry), Santa Cruz (Ginger, Apricot, Cherry, Raspberry, Apple)

Chips/snacks/candies: Bearitos Organic Corn Chips, Eden, Little Bear Lite Organic Popcorn, Manischewitz Passover Matzos (tea matzos and whole wheat tea matzos), Reeds Crystallized Ginger, St. Claire Organic (Winter Mints, Licorice Sweets, Cinnamon Snaps, Cherry Sweets, Lemon Tarts, Peppermints, Cocoa Sweets, Ginger Snaps), dried non-GE fruit (either unsweetened or approved non-GE sweetener), Kettle Organic Potato Chips, Westbrae Organic Potato Chips

Miscellaneous: Duchy Originals, Eden Soymilk, Imagine Organic Original Rice Dream, Kogee Organic Non-Dairy Creamer, Mrs. Denson's Cookies, Walker's Shortbread

Dairy Products: The following dairies state that all of their products are made with 100% organic ingredients. Their animals are not treated with rBGH or other hormones and are only fed organically grown feed. There are no bioengineered dairy cultures or enzymes in their products. If, however, a product lists "natural flavors" on the label, that product might contain a genetically engineered ingredient.

* Harmony Hills Dairy

* Horizon Dairy

* Morningland Dairy

* Organic Valley Dairy

* Radiance Dairy

* Straus Family Creamery

The Health Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods - Part 2

Choose wisely what to eat.

Pesticides and Produce - The choice is yours!

Thanks to improvements in farming, shipping and distribution, shoppers today enjoy a wider selection of fresh produce than ever before. However, pesticide residue on some fruits and vegetables can be a cause for concern.

Most countries monitor residual levels of pesticides in produce, and establish legal limits for the safety of consumers. In some cases, however, these residual levels may be toxic for children, pregnant women and even pets.

A study by Consumers Union, the publishers of Consumer Reports magazine, examines and rates the residual levels of pesticides on many common fruits and vegetables. A report by the Environmental Working Group, using data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has found that much of the health risks associated with pesticides are concentrated in a relatively small number of fruits and vegetables. The list below is compiled from these reports.

... .....Produce with Highest Levels of Pesticide Residue.....

Top To Buy Organic

FRUIT

* Strawberries

* Raspberries

* Apples

* Grapes

* Raisins

* Grape Juice

* Peaches

* Nectarines

* Apricots

* Pears

* Cherries

* Lemons

* Limes

* Bananas

* Kiwis

* Cantaloupes

* Tomatoes

VEGETABLES

* Potatoes

* Carrots

* Corn

* Celery

* Cucumbers

* Spinach

* Green & Red Bell Peppers

* Lettuce

* Hot Peppers

* Green Beans

* Hard Winter Squash

OTHER

* Rice

* Oats

* Milk

* Baby Foods!

* GMO - like Corn and Soy

... .....Produce with Lowest Levels of Pesticide Residue.....

Avocados - vitamins A, C, folic acid

Onions - trace vitamins, carotenoids

Cabbage - vitamin C, potassium

Cauliflower - vitamin C, potassium

Brussels Sprouts - folic acid, vitamins A, C

Eggplant - vitamins A, C, folic acid

Mangoes - beta carotene, vitamin C

Grapes (US, Mexico) - vitamin C

Bananas - potassium, vitamin C

Plums - vitamin C

Asparagrus - folic acid, vitamins A, C

Watermelon - potassium, vitamins A, C

Broccoli - potassium, vitamins A, C

Pineapple - vitamin C, potassium, bromelain

Sweet Peas (frozen) - beta carotene, niacin

The difference between normal and genetically modified food - Genes on the menu

A scientist explains the difference between traditionally grown plants and genetically modified plants, using the potato as an example.

Taken from the documentary "Genes on the menu" on FirstScience.tv.

Lord Krishna blesses the Fruit Vendor

Lord Krishna blesses the Fruit Vendor
Lord Krishna blesses the Fruit Vendor

Duel - pro and con on genetically engineered Food - Give your opinion here

GE foods are a hot subject matter - grown in many States and countries, they made their way on our tables years ago. Voice your opinion.

Are GE foods good, bad or are you neutral? Should GE foods be labeled or it does not matter to you? Leave your blurb here.

Please give a feedback about our lens. Do you like it? What can be improved? Did you get an helpful information?

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