Avoiding Genetically Modified Organisms in Restaurants
When eating at restaurants, it's handy to have a knowledgeable waiter, waitress, or chef, guide you through the menu to help you avoid those GM foods on your "Don't Eat" list. It is not too hard to identify the non-GMO options.
The first question usually is, "What oil do you cook with?" If they use soy, cottonseed, canola, or corn oils, ask if they have anything that is cooked without oil, or if olive oil or some other oil can be used. If they say they cook in "vegetable oil" or margarine, it will almost always be soy, cottonseed, canola, or corn oils. If they have olive oil, be sure it's not a blend. Many restaurants blend canola and olive.
To avoid dairy products from cows treated with genetically modified rbGH, in U.S. restaurants you will likely have to avoid menu items with dairy. Very few restaurants buy milk from non-treated cows, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Industrialized nations outside the U.S. have not approved the rbGH.
Since most processed foods contain GM derivatives (corn and soy, for example), ask what foods are freshly prepared. But check if packaged sauces are used.
Other potential sources of GM foods at restaurants include salad dressings, bread, and mayonnaise.
The first question usually is, "What oil do you cook with?" If they use soy, cottonseed, canola, or corn oils, ask if they have anything that is cooked without oil, or if olive oil or some other oil can be used. If they say they cook in "vegetable oil" or margarine, it will almost always be soy, cottonseed, canola, or corn oils. If they have olive oil, be sure it's not a blend. Many restaurants blend canola and olive.
To avoid dairy products from cows treated with genetically modified rbGH, in U.S. restaurants you will likely have to avoid menu items with dairy. Very few restaurants buy milk from non-treated cows, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Industrialized nations outside the U.S. have not approved the rbGH.
Since most processed foods contain GM derivatives (corn and soy, for example), ask what foods are freshly prepared. But check if packaged sauces are used.
Other potential sources of GM foods at restaurants include salad dressings, bread, and mayonnaise.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kathleen W. on -
Thanks for posting this. I've thought about this when we go out to eat, since a lot of chain restaurants just buy the lowest common denominator for food (read:cheap). I do think that if you do ask about where the food comes from or what they use, the servers and cooks will just be laughing at you in the kitchen, and maybe even just tell you what you want to hear. If possible, frequenting local restaurants with local food would be best. We have a few in our area that highlight their locavore aspect.
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Permalink Reply by http://www.ownadaycare.com/ on -
I think that there is no real guarantee that a restaurant will be a safe place to bring your young children to. In my opinion you should at least wait until your children have successfully established a great immune system and can tolerate solids that might not have the same pristine handling as you would in your home. I personally did not feed my children restaurant food until she was six years old and I was sure that in any case her system could tolerate any impurities that the restaurant food might give her.
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