If you live in California, you may have started to hear about a campaign underway that would give Californians the right to know if they’re eating genetically modified foods. The Label GMO campaign, started by the Committee for the Right to Know, is the result of a grassroots coalition made up of consumer, health and environmental organizations along with food companies concerned about food safety. If enough signatures are gathered, the initiative will be on the 2012 ballot, and if passed with enough votes, would require mandatory labeling of all foods sold in the state containing GMOs.

The significance hinging on the campaign’s success will be a resulting profound and potentially lasting impact on the health of Californians, and could also alter the course of genetically modified foods for the rest of the country as well.

With an overwhelming amount of genetically modified corn, soy and canola dominating our nation’s food supply, it may be quite surprising to realize that most people don’t even know what a GMO is. For example, as much as 86 percent of the corn grown in the U.S. is genetically modified and designed to produce its own pesticide. Corn, soy and canola are found in most processed fast and junk food items, and according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, nearly 80 percent of all processed foods now contain GMOs.

Companies manufacturing genetically modified foods have received support from the U.S. government, as a number of Wikileaks documents revealed high-level American government pressure being felt throughout Europe on behalf of companies like Monsanto—the St. Louis, MO-based seed and pesticide company and largest seed manufacturer in the world. Most of the European Union has strict bans or restrictions on GMOs because of lacking science supporting its safety for humans or the environment. Microsoft founder Bill Gates is also a proponent of GMOs. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has put resources and funding behind developing GMO crops as a means to end world hunger and poverty issues despite a growing number of issues including low crop yields, pesticide resistant plants and insects, rising food allergies and other serious health issues.

According to the Label GMOs campaign, while the science is indeed lacking on the safety of genetically engineered foods, moreover, the right to know what we’re eating has been usurped by the absence of any government regulations or voluntary transparency from any of the multinational seed companies dominating the landscape of American agriculture.

Fifty countries—including most developed nations—currently require labeling of genetically modified foods, and it’s time for the U.S. to make the same requirements, according to the Label GMOs campaign. If California becomes the first state to force genetically modified foods to be labeled, other states may soon follow, giving more Americans the right to make informed decisions about their health.

Even if you’re not a California resident yourself, you can support the campaign through alerting your friends and family.  You can also sign the petition directed at the FDA, calling on the agency to enact a nationally regulated standard similar to the USDA Organic Seal, which would require labeling on all GMO foods sold throughout the country.

Image: Millions Against Monsanto

Whether wanting to let that Special Someone know just how sweet they are on Valentine’s Day, or you’re filling someone’s Easter basket, or you simply need to get your own chocolate fix on, there are plenty of reasons to make sure you get the healthiest chocolate available (yes, Healthy Chocolate!). Research has shown chocolate to possess a number of good-for-you benefits, including supporting heart health, aiding in weight loss (seriously!) and improving mood. But it does matter which chocolate you choose—don’t reach for the mini-market candy bar selection. Know what to look for in a healthy chocolate? Check out these tips:

1. Go Dark: Research shows that the benefits of chocolate are most effective when the cacao content is at least 70 percent. The antioxidants become drastically reduced as the cacao content goes down, diminishing the healthy properties. If the packaging doesn’t indicate the cacao content—even if it claims to be dark chocolate—chances are it’s only in the 50 percent range. Look for pure dark chocolate products like Fearless’s 70 percent Matcha Green Tea Peppermint Cacao Bar. Not only do they use fresh cacao beans, but they don’t heat them either, leaving the most vital nutrients and antioxidants intact.
2. Organic: Nothing ruins a good chocolate high like realizing you’re also guzzling chemicals and genetically modified organisms. Choosing organic is not only a smart move for your health, but you support the health of farmers who can avoid the health risks of the gnarly pesticides and fertilizers, and you support the health of the environment by keeping soil, water and air unpolluted.
3. No Corn Syrup: When explorers visiting Mexico first discovered cacao, it wasn’t in a handful of candy-coated M&M’s. It was most often consumed as an unsweetened hot drink (and the beans were also being used as money!). Once the Dark Master made its way back to Europe, the fixation with sugar found its way into cacao bean products leading to our current “candy” industry. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a little sweetness now and then, but make sure you’re getting natural and organic sugars. Corn syrup is made from genetically modified corn and has been linked to obesity and type II diabetes.
4. Keep it Simple: Gooey centers are hard to resist, especially since they’re so prevalent in the chocolate industry, but if your goal is a Healthy Chocolate Experience, then it’s best to stick with a pure dark chocolate or one with minimal flavors (such as mint). The addition of nougats, crèmes and other fillings means two things: 1) less chocolate—which is where the health benefits are and 2) more exposure to sugars and other ingredients that can offset the benefits of the cacao, even if you’re getting a really dark “coating.” Opt for a bar like Theo’s Organic and Fair Trade Dark 70 percent cacao.
5. Make it Fair: While what a farmer or worker gets paid doesn’t necessarily affect your physical health, it can do wonders for your spirit. Cacao is mostly grown in developing nations and conflict regions. Much of the conventionally raised cacao is connected with unfair wages and even slave labor. So look for Fair Trade certified cacao products to ensure your purchases help to build a sustainable industry that supports fair, livable wages and proper treatment of everyone involved.

Image: By jwannie