Hey, Mr. President! That Nectarine is GMO!

     (Disclaimer: This post is NOT politically motivated. It also does not claim any political affiliation; it merely explains a legal issue in current news. Please do not comment with political opinions.)

     Recently, someone posted a link on Facebook about the President taking a box of donuts to some Floridian firefighters. The remark made about the link to this article listed the ingredients of a typical store-bought donut and asked the question: Did he eat one? 

     If you are a regular around here, you know I feel strongly about eating clean, unprocessed foods. But I'm also human. How do I feel about whether or not the Commander in Chief ate a donut?

     Let me first explain the preoccupation with the President's diet: a few years ago, Mr. Obama promised full transparency when it comes to our knowing whether or not a food is genetically modified. That still hasn't happened. In fact, FDA officials - appointed by the current administration - have also been handed cushy and influential positions within the very companies in charge of genetic modification, for one: Monsanto. All of this is taking place while the Obama family supposedly only eats organic food.

     Now, the issue is on the ballot in California. "Label GMO's". The proposition is called Prop 37, and if you haven't heard about it or if you don't know what GMO's are, it's worth a Google. If the citizens of California vote this into effect, it has been speculated that it can change the entire way we shop for our food and could possibly lead to the fall of a great food industry Goliath (Monsanto). 

     Now what do I think about the President possibly eating a Krispy Kreme donut?

     I don't care what he eats. I try to eat as cleanly and organically as possible, and once in a great while, I cheat by eating my guilty pleasure - complete with MSG and red dye #40. Other times, I may eat the tortilla chips at the local Mexican restaurant, fully realizing that the corn they are made with is probably a GMO. 

     Thing is, we can all be hypocrites. It's human nature to fall back on what we know (or what we were previously addicted to). 

     Don't get me wrong. I feel very passionate about having GMOs labeled and knowing the truth about what is in our food. But if most of us were to be judged on this issue, I fear we would all be condemned. 
     
     Unfortunately, for most of us, our choices are limited. I live in a small town and am forced to take (or rather buy) what I can get at the local grocery store. And requesting a certain product is an exercise in futility because there are few people around here who appreciate unprocessed or organic food. So, against my personal convictions, I buy the organic orange that is still probably genetically modified, and I eat the organic potatoes that still probably had pesticides in their soil. 

     We live in a world full of greedy, selfish people. Until that changes, I will pick my battles.

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