Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
TVBS Gu Ting December 2, 2013
Have you had soy milk or tofu products today? Be careful—most of the soy-based foods you consume are likely made from genetically modified (GM) soybeans. Taiwan relies on importing 2.4 million tons of soybeans annually, with 90% being genetically modified. However, a Consumers' Foundation survey found that 90% of food products do not specifically label whether they contain GM soybeans. The foundation criticized the government for lax oversight, as excessive consumption of GM foods may affect fertility and cause allergies, yet consumers unknowingly ingest them.
Many people are accustomed to drinking soy milk daily or eating tofu with meals. Taiwanese love soy-based foods, with statistics showing that each person consumes 11 kg of soybeans per year. But did you know that almost all of it is genetically modified? A citizen said, "I didn’t know. They should label it clearly for us."
Consumers have no idea how much GM soy they’ve already eaten. Only 10% of commercially available soybeans and corn are specifically labeled as non-GM, but the Consumers' Foundation found that up to 90% are GM foods, often without proper labeling. These GM soybeans and corn, considered feed-grade in other countries, end up in the stomachs of Taiwanese people.
Chen Zhiyi, Executive Director of the Consumers' Foundation, said, "For example, the soy milk you drink in the morning or the tofu you buy at the market—if these soybean products are GM, current regulations don’t require labeling."
The foundation believes the government’s oversight is insufficient. Current laws only mandate labeling for packaged foods if the GM soybean content exceeds 5%. In contrast, South Korea requires labeling at 4%, while the EU is stricter, requiring disclosure if the content exceeds 0.9%.
GM foods often contain higher herbicide residues, and excessive consumption may impact fertility and trigger allergies. Taiwan’s labeling standards are relatively lenient, yet many products still go unlabeled. How can consumers eat with peace of mind?
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ 9% E……8% 8B% E8% 82% 9A- 050500539. html
90% Unlabeled: GMO Soy Milk and Tofu Consumed Unknowingly
Have you had soy milk or tofu products today? Be careful—most of the soy-based foods you consume are likely made from genetically modified (GM) soybeans. Taiwan relies on importing 2.4 million tons of soybeans annually, with 90% being genetically modified. However, a Consumers' Foundation survey found that 90% of food products do not specifically label whether they contain GM soybeans. The foundation criticized the government for lax oversight, as excessive consumption of GM foods may affect fertility and cause allergies, yet consumers unknowingly ingest them.
Many people are accustomed to drinking soy milk daily or eating tofu with meals. Taiwanese love soy-based foods, with statistics showing that each person consumes 11 kg of soybeans per year. But did you know that almost all of it is genetically modified? A citizen said, "I didn’t know. They should label it clearly for us."
Consumers have no idea how much GM soy they’ve already eaten. Only 10% of commercially available soybeans and corn are specifically labeled as non-GM, but the Consumers' Foundation found that up to 90% are GM foods, often without proper labeling. These GM soybeans and corn, considered feed-grade in other countries, end up in the stomachs of Taiwanese people.
Chen Zhiyi, Executive Director of the Consumers' Foundation, said, "For example, the soy milk you drink in the morning or the tofu you buy at the market—if these soybean products are GM, current regulations don’t require labeling."
The foundation believes the government’s oversight is insufficient. Current laws only mandate labeling for packaged foods if the GM soybean content exceeds 5%. In contrast, South Korea requires labeling at 4%, while the EU is stricter, requiring disclosure if the content exceeds 0.9%.
GM foods often contain higher herbicide residues, and excessive consumption may impact fertility and trigger allergies. Taiwan’s labeling standards are relatively lenient, yet many products still go unlabeled. How can consumers eat with peace of mind?
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ 9% E……8% 8B% E8% 82% 9A- 050500539. html