GE Sleuth Handbook Review
by Elizabeth Ferry

Many consumers want to avoid genetically engineered (GE) food. They find this increasingly hard for two reasons: the Food and Drug Administration has not mandated that GE foods be labeled, and the number of genetically engineered foods is increasing.

The GE Sleuth Handbook: What You Should Know about Genetically Engineered Foods and How to Keep Your Kitchen GE-free assists consumers in making informed choices. Written by Rural Vermont, a family farm and rural citizen advocacy group, in collaboration with the Hunger Mountain Co-op of Montpelier, Vermont, this 16-page booklet presents practical strategies for avoiding GE foods. It reflects two important co-operative principles: education and empowerment. In giving readers information that applies to a range of shopping lists, eating patterns, and lifestyles, The Handbook empowers consumers to make informed choices about the GE foods they do – or do not – eat.

The Handbook provides background information about genetic engineering, a description of the government agencies that regulate food in the United States, tips for avoiding GE foods, and avenues for personal and political action. The list of whole foods and processed food ingredients that may be genetically engineered is especially helpful.

Many ingredients in processed foods are derived from genetically engineered sources. But due to unfamiliar words, consumers may not understand which ingredients are apt to be genetically engineered. The Handbook helps consumers to detect the connection. For example, The Handbook lists soy as a whole food that may be genetically engineered as well as 19 processed food ingredients that come from soy. Fortified with the knowledge that soy lecithin, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, textured vegetable protein (TVP), and partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening may contain GE soy, consumers can read labels and detect which foods and brands are likely to be GE-free.

In my opinion, The Handbook is more useful than a list of products that are or are not genetically engineered. Such lists run the risk of being inaccurate. GE ingredients may be used in one batch of a product but not another; and companies may change their policy towards GE foods. Lists also are limited in scope. If my favorite brand isn’t on the list, I don’t know if it’s because it is GE-free, or

because it wasn’t included in the research.
A reference copy of The Handbook is available for viewing at the Service Desk in the Co-op Food Stores. Consumers who want to order their own copy can contact Rural Vermont at (802) 223-0269 or e-mail: ruralvt@sover.net.