GMO Watch. Information on GMO and GMO foods.

How to avoid eating genetically modified food.
We would like to stay away from GMOs until we know for sure they are not harmful. But that is not as easy as we would like it to be, since manufacturers using GMOs are not exactly making a big selling point out of the fact. (One might wonder why, since they all claim it's not harmful.) In the EU there's compulsory labeling of foods containing GMOs, but in for instance the USA and Canada there's no requirement to do so. So, here are someideas that may make it easier for you to avoid GM foods should you wish to do so. One good way to start is to become familiar with the most common applications of genetic modification. These are the products (and their derivatives) that are most likely to be genetically modified.

Soybeans.
A gene taken from a bacteria (Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4) has been inserted into soybeans to make them more resistant to herbicides. [source] More on soybeans.

Corn.
A gene from the lepidoptera pathogen microorganism Bacillus thuringiensis has been inserted into corn genome to produce the Bt toxin, which poisons insect pests. [source] This genetically modified corn be present in high fructose corn syrup which is used in a wide variety of foods in America. More on corn.

Rapeseed and Canola.
Gene added/transferred to make crops more resistant to pesticides. More on rapeseed.

Sugar cane.
Gene added/transferred to make crop more resistant to pesticides. More on sugar starch.

Rice.
Genetically modified to resist herbicides. Although GM rice is not currently available for human consumption, trace amounts of one GM long-grained variety (LLRICE601) may have entered the food supply in the USA and Europe. [source] More recently, golden rice, a different strain of rice has been engineered to produce significantly higher levels of beta carotene, which the body uses to procduce vitamin A. Golden rice is still undergoing testing to determine if it is safe for human consumption. [source] More on rice.

Cotton.
Used for making cottonseed oil. More on cotton.

Dairy.
Cows injected with GE hormone rBGH/rBST; possibly fed GM grains and hay. More on dairy.

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GMO Watch. Information on GMO and GMO foods.

Buy organic.
Buy food labeled 100% organic. The US and Canadian governments do not allow manufacturers to label something 100% organic if that food has been genetically modified or genetically modified feed has been used in its production. However, you may find that organic food is more expensive and different in appearance from conventional products. Also, just because something says "organic" on it does not mean that it does not contain GMs. In fact, it can still contain up to 30% GMs, so be sure the labels say 100% organic. This applies to eggs, as well. Eggs labeled "free-range", "natural", or "cage-free" are not necessarily GE-free; look for eggs to be 100% organic. [Source]

Check fruit and vegetable label numbers.
The code on that little sticker is quite meaningful. If it is a 4-digit number, then the food it 'normal', while a 5-digit number beginning with an 8 is GM, while a 5-digit number beginning with a 9 is organic. [Source] Sometimes a market will mislabel a bin of food as organic, or not, but the sticker code doesn't lie.

Get 100% grass-fed beef.
Most cattle in the US are grass-fed, but spend the last portion of their lives in feedlots where they may be given GM grain, the purpose of which is to increase intramuscular fat and marbling. If you're looking to stay away from GMOs, make sure the cattle were 100% grass-fed or pasture-fed (sometimes referred to as grass-finished or pasture-finished). The same applies to meat from other herbivores such as sheep. There is also the slight possibility that the animals were fed GM alfalfa, although this is less likely if you buy meat locally. With non-ruminants like pigs and poultry that cannot be 100% grass-fed, it's better to look for meat that is 100% organic. More on meat.

Check for GMO-free foods.
Look for products that are specifically labeled as non-GM or GMO free. However, it is rare to find products labeled as such. You can also research websites that list companies and foods that do not use genetically modified foods, [source], but be aware that information is often incomplete and conflicting interests may not be declared.

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Shop locally.
Although more than half of all GM foods are produced in the US, [source] most of it comes from large, industrial farms. By becoming a locovore and shopping at farmers' markets, signing up for a subscription from a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, or shopping at a local co-op, you may be able to avoid GM products and possibly save money at the same time. More and more small farms are also offering grains and meat directly to customers, in addition to the usual fare (vegetables, fruit, herbs). Shopping locally may also give you the opportunity to speak to the farmer and find out how he or she feels about GMOs and whether or not they use them in their own operation.

Buy whole foods.
Favor foods that you can cook and prepare yourself, rather than foods that are processed or pre-prepared (e.g. anything that comes in a box or a bag, including fast food). What you lose in convenience, you may recover in money saved and satisfaction gained, as well as increased peace of mind. Try cooking a meal from scratch once or twice a week - you may enjoy it and decide to do it more often.

Grow your own food.
If you have the land, time, and resources, grow your own food. As long as you make sure you're not buying GM seeds, and aren't near any GM plants which could cross-pollinate, you'll know for sure that the food which comes from your garden is not genetically modified. At chain and non-chain restaurants, you can ask which, if any, of their foods contain GMs, but the waiters and kitchen staff are not likely to know. Producers who label their food GM-free aren't making any health claims regarding the product

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GMO Watch. Information on GMO and GMO foods.