GMOs: It’s Personal.
The first in the blog series GMOs: What’s the Big Deal? by Oh Baby Foods Mother & Founder, Fran B. Free
Okay, so this tiny little acronym: “GMO.” You hear it mucho these days. It’s kinda big, right? You’re seeing The NonGMO Project symbol pop up on your fave snack brands lately. It’s a cute logo, with a butterfly and all. BUT, what the heck does it mean and how is it able to tug on the heartstrings of so many people? Some believe GMOs are harmless and necessary, others believe they are unsafe, unproven, and find the act of messing with DNA terrifying.
Being raised on a conventional farm, having two degrees in agriculture, and starting an organic baby food company, I can tell you that I am built on two (strongly) opposing views.
Starting a business of any kind is not without IMMENSE challenges and opportunities. One opportunity I have grasped with enthusiasm is being able to establish the core values of Oh Baby Foods to reflect the foundation of what I personally believe. This company is, by proxy, an extension of myself.
On that note, Oh Baby Foods became the very first baby food company in the world to Verify all of our products via The NonGMO Project. Right out of the gate, I personally drew a line in the sand. Yep, it’s personal.
Our products do not contain GMOs, and here’s why:
- GMOs are too new to mess around with, not only for consuming but also to present to our natural environment,
- I’m not yet convinced that GMOs will meet the stated goals of
- alleviating global hunger/malnutrition issues
- increasing efficiency in agriculture, by immediate timing and decreased pesticide applications,
- Babies and their immune systems are especially susceptible to unhealthy and foreign factors AND they are the ones that will inherit the world that we take care of today.
Writing is not in my job description as Mother & Founder at Oh Baby Foods. But every once in a while, I get a little chance to explore and express myself in word. In honor of NonGMO Month, I’ll be posting a new blog post each Friday in October.
This has been a goal of mine for a few years, so don’t hold back a “congrats” if you’re so inspired. I appreciate your thoughts and encourage discussion.
Topics for GMOs: What’s the Big Deal? blog series, every Friday this October:
Friday, 10/3/2018 GMOs: It’s Personal
Friday, 10/10/2018 GMOs: The What, the How, the Why
Friday, 10/17/2018 GMOs: Environmental & Health Concerns
Friday, 10/24/2018 GMOs: Political Landscape
Friday, 10/31/2018 GMO Field Trip: Let’s follow the life of a GMO
Sources:
WHAT IS GMO? Agricultural Crops That Have a Risk of Being GMO. (n.d.). Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/what-is-gmo/
JALONICK, M. (2014, May 9). What Is A GMO? Genetically Modified Foods Continue To Confuse Consumers. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/09/what-is-a-gmo_n_5295997.html
Heit, J. (2012, July 12). Genetically Engineered Foods. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://umm.edu/health/medical/ency/articles/genetically-engineered-foods
What are GMOs all about? – Golden Rice. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2014, from http://goldenrice2.weebly.com/what-are-gmos-all-about.html
