Is genetically modified food harmful? These identification tips you need to know

      Some tips for identifying GM food for reference
Carrots. Non-GM carrots: the surface is bumpy and uneven, generally not very straight, tapering from thick to thin from the head to the tail. And the head bulges outward. GM carrots: the surface is relatively smooth, generally straight, and the tail is sometimes thicker than the middle. And the head is sunken inward. Note: carrots are only available in autumn and winter; those in summer are generally GM.

Potatoes. Non-GM potatoes: they look rather unattractive, generally darker in color, with a pitted surface, and the skin color is irregular; after peeling, the surface quickly darkens, and the flesh inside the skin is white. GM potatoes: the surface is smooth, the pits are very shallow, and the color is relatively light. After peeling, the surface shows no obvious change. Testing method: peel first, then observe the change before deciding whether to eat them.

Corn. GM corn: sweet and crisp, plump, beautifully shaped, with the kernels at the tip and the base roughly the same.

Rice. In China, the region that obtained the legal right to grow GM rice is Hubei; be on guard against slender, very shiny rice. It is easily confused with the “long-grain fragrant” rice from Northeast China. When buying, be sure to check the place of origin clearly.

Tomatoes. GM tomatoes: bright red and very attractive, the fruit is relatively firm, and the fruit does not split easily.

Other identification methods. Labels on imported fruit. Generally, the bottom of the label shows the name of the exporting country, the English letters in the middle indicate the name of the fruit, and the English letters at the top identify the name of the exporting company. In the middle of each label there are generally 4 Arabic numerals: those starting with 3 indicate that pesticides were sprayed. Those starting with 4 indicate GM fruit; those starting with 5 indicate hybrid fruit.

(1) When buying food in supermarkets, you must be attentive and first check whether there is a GM label. According to the Measures for the Administration of Labeling of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, GM food should be labeled. But these labels seem to avoid being seen, being as small as only 1.8 mm high, and hiding in the most inconspicuous places; a careful check will always find them.
(2) Most tomatoes and papayas in supermarkets are GM; resolutely do not buy them. In terms of safety and quality, fruit and food from individual farmers are far better than those in supermarkets. In particular, do not be superstitious about foreign-funded supermarkets; the things there look good but do not taste good, and there are too many bad and fake ones.

(3) Corn was the earliest, most widely and most heavily genetically modified; be extremely cautious when buying any corn food, even the corn steamed buns sold in supermarkets.

(4) GM wheat grains are white, transparent and shiny, fully vitreous, and belong to hard, strong-gluten, high-quality bread wheat varieties. The extra-premium GM 9506 wheat appeared in Anhui in 2008. Flour also has bleaching agents and talc mixed into it, making it even harder to identify.

(5) China has been secretly carrying out rice genetic modification for several years, and a small amount has flowed into the market; be especially on guard against rice that is long, thin and shiny. Northeast China rice currently has no genetic modification and can be trusted for the time being, but you must look at the outer packaging bag, such as rice enterprises in Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning. Northeast China rice is japonica rice, of the short round-grain type, which is fundamentally different from the medium-to-long-grain type of GM rice grown in the Hubei and Hunan areas (such as BT Shanyou 63) and is easy to identify. In addition, Thailand prohibits genetic modification, so its rice has no problems.

(6) Millet, oats, buckwheat and sorghum are all minor grain crops, and there has not yet been time for them to be genetically modified. But in the future, it is hard to say.