![\"chaney_cereal\"](\"http:\/\/www.personaltrainersindallas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/chaney_cereal.jpg\")
<\/a>To understand the answer to that question, let\u2019s look at what probably happened to the vitamins in the non-GMO cereals.<\/p>\nIn today\u2019s world many vitamins are purified from genetically modified microorganisms \u2013 bacteria & yeast that have been modified to overproduce certain vitamins. In evaluating the significance of that statement, here are a few facts to consider:<\/p>\n
1) We have gotten vitamins from these sources for many years.<\/p>\n
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- B vitamins have been obtained from yeast for at least a hundred years.<\/li>\n
- A significant portion of the vitamins we absorb on a daily basis are made by bacteria in our gut.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2) The only difference today is that these microorganisms have been genetically modified to overproduce the vitamins.<\/p>\n
3) These are naturally sourced vitamins.<\/p>\n
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- The microorganisms are the same ones that have provided these vitamins for generations.<\/li>\n
- The enzymes used by the microorganisms to make the vitamins are the same.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
4) There is no downside to the use of GM organisms as a source of natural vitamins.<\/p>\n
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- There is no environmental risk from the use of these GM microorganisms. They don\u2019t contain any dangerous genes that could wreak havoc if they escaped from the food processing plants.<\/li>\n
- Because the purified vitamins are indistinguishable from those obtained from non-GMO sources, there are also no health risks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
5) The advantage of using these GM organisms is clear. It substantially lowers the cost of vitamins and allows them to be used in the mass market \u2013 for example, in popular breakfast cereals.<\/p>\n
6) Most food manufacturers can\u2019t simply use non-GMO sourced vitamins and raise their prices.<\/p>\n
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- A recent poll showed that 53% of Americans prefer non-GMO foods, but only 11% are willing to pay more for those foods<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What Does the Future Hold?<\/h4>\n
Even though they are scientifically flawed, the proposed non-GMO labeling laws will probably become the law in several states in the near future. (Good science has never played much of a role in political decisions.)<\/p>\n
Currently, there simply aren\u2019t enough non-GMO vitamins available to supply the mass market – even if price were no concern. So, in the short term, many non-GMO processed foods are likely to be less nutritious than the foods they will replace \u2013 as we just saw with Grape Nuts and Cheerios.<\/p>\n
However, most people feel that American ingenuity and the law of supply and demand will eventually result in a bigger supply of reasonable priced non-GMO vitamins. When that happens non-GMO processed foods will be just as nutritious as the older GM versions.<\/p>\n
However, at this point nobody knows how long that will take.<\/p>\n
The Bottom Line:<\/h4>\n
1) There is a scientific basis for environmental and potential health concerns regarding genetically modified whole foods and the protein extracted from these foods.<\/p>\n
2) However, proposed non-GMO labeling laws would require that a processed food be labeled as genetically modified if it contains any nutrient purified from a genetically modified organism.<\/p>\n
3) There is no scientific justification for this requirement. Purified vitamins from GM and non-GM microorganisms are chemically and biologically indistinguishable. Furthermore, the GM microorganisms used to produce the vitamins pose no environmental or health risks.<\/p>\n
4) Non-GMO vitamins (vitamins prepared from non-GMO microorganisms) are currently in short supply and are very expensive compared to vitamins prepared from GM microorganisms.<\/p>\n
5) Consequently, the unintended consequence of these proposed non-GMO labeling laws will likely be that many of the new non-GMO processed foods will contain fewer vitamins and, therefore, will be less nutritious than the foods they replace \u2013 at least in the short term. The new non-GMO Grape Nuts and Cheerios may be just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.<\/h6>\n
About The Author<\/span>
![\"drchaney\"](\"http:\/\/www.personaltrainersindallas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/drchaney.jpg\")
<\/a><\/b><\/p>\nDr. Chaney has a BS in Chemistry from Duke University and a PhD in Biochemistry from UCLA. He is Professor Emeritus from the University of North Carolina where he taught biochemistry and nutrition to medical and dental students for 40 years.<\/p>\n
Dr. Chaney won numerous teaching awards at UNC, including the Academy of Educators \u201cExcellence in Teaching Lifetime Achievement Award\u201d. Dr Chaney also ran an active cancer research program at UNC and published over 100 scientific articles and reviews in peer-reviewed scientific journals. In addition, he authored two chapters on nutrition in one of the leading biochemistry text books for medical students.<\/p>\n
For the past 35 years Dr. Chaney and his wife Suzanne have been helping people improve their health holistically through a combination of good diet, exercise, weight control and appropriate supplementation.<\/p>\n
Additional Resources to Help You:<\/b><\/p>\n
For assistance with proper supplementation, nutrition and fitness,
\nvisit www.NewWaveFitness.com<\/span>
\n<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n
- A recent poll showed that 53% of Americans prefer non-GMO foods, but only 11% are willing to pay more for those foods<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n