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True or False: GM food

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(CNN) -- True or False: Organic food is free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

The answer is: FALSE

Because of open-air farming techniques and the proximity of farms growing GMO crops to those growing organic ones, contamination of organic food by GMOs is not just possible -- some say it is extremely likely.

According to a US certifying authority, Farm Verified Organic back in 2001, GMO pollution was already so prevalent that it said it believed "it is not possible for farmers to source seed free from it." That same year, a Wall Street Journal investigation tested 20 products with GMO-free labels and found that 16 had GMOs in them.

Earlier this year, ministers in the European Union voted to permit a limit of 0.9% of GMOs in organic produce, referring to them as "technically unavoidable". However any organic food containing GMOs will keep their organic labels, with no obligation on the part of the food companies to inform people whether or not GMOs are present.

(The Ecologist, The Age) E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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