Between cross-contamination and a shrinking traditional seed stock, it’s questionable whether our sugar beets can ever be non-GMO again. The sugar beet case raises the question of how much control we really have over GMOs once they’ve taken over the marketplace.
“Monsanto and the biotech industry are incredibly powerful and have successfully inserted themselves into the work of legislators and regulators,” says O’Connell. “We’re losing more and more traditional seed stock in favor of genetically modified seeds, and our actions now will have repercussions for generations.”
To keep GMO sugar out of your cupboard, look for cane sugar—GM sugar cane is still in development, so for now you can be sure that it is GMO-free. Going a step further and choosing organic and Fair Trade cane sugar will protect the health of the workers and the planet.
And join Green America’s campaign, GMO Inside, to take action for meaningful GMO regulation and labeling.
“Ultimately, the USDA is not going to protect us from GMOs, let alone regulate them,” says O’Connell, “It’s up to us to protect our families and preserve the thousands of years of heritage we have in our seeds and in our food.”