With all of the emphasis on healthy eating, there are some new words in the cooking lexicon that, while familiar, may be a bit confusing. For instance, just what does "genetically modified" mean? Or "fair trade". Hopefully, the following information will serve to enlighten us all.

Genetically Modified
In a nut-shell, something that is genetically modified (also called genetic engineering) is a living thing "whose genetic makeup has been changed by the addition of genes from another living thing". Think growth hormones in feed and crops. While this may sound like science fiction, GM is being done by big business farmers everywhere. The reason? Plants grow bigger, taller, and are more productive, and so do animals.

With food prices rising and Mother Nature doing a number on groves and wheat fields, what could possibly be wrong with growing food stuffs (plant or animal) in greater and sturdier abundance? Well, according to some scientists, plenty. The major objection is the fact that since this procedure is relatively new, there are too many unknowns when it comes to consumer's health. There are questions with regard to toxic poisoning, allergic reactions, antibiotic resistance and even the possibility of cancer in humans. Because studies on the effects of GM on humans may take years to unravel, many health nutritionists, doctors and scientists urge consumers to err on the side of caution.

Fair Trade
The idea behind Fair Trade is simple; the money you spend on imported chocolate, coffee, or other goods produced in developing countries, is guaranteed to give the producers a fair wage. In other words, no "slave" labor is used.

According to econmii, (www.ecomii.com) the Fair Trade program exists to ensure that:
•  Producers are paid a fair price that covers their production and living costs so that they have some security, they have long-term contracts and therefore can plan ahead, and their businesses are sustainable.
•  The extra money you pay goes toward other aspects of the producers' welfare, such as education.
•  Producers and workers are allowed to join unions and other organizations that can protect their rights and ensure that they have fair working conditions.
•  No child labor is used.
•  Production methods are environmentally friendly and pesticide-free.

Look for the Free Trade logo on products from coffee to chocolate to herbs and even footballs. By purchasing these items, you are not only enjoying great foods, and other good, but you are also giving someone living in an underserved country a "hand up, not a hand out".

Organic
You say tomato, I say to-maa-to. One person's "organic" is another person's "I don't think so". In other words, "organic" can be a relative term. According to the USDA's labeling criteria, "organic" may have several different definitions. To help you decipher what it all means, here are some terms.

•  100 Percent Organic: All ingredients in the product are organic.
•  Organic: At least 95 percent of the product's ingredients are organic.
•  Made with Organic Ingredients: At least 75 percent of the product's ingredients are organic.
•  Organic ingredients noted on the ingredients statement: Less than 70 percent of the product's ingredients are organic, so the producer can identify only the actual organic ingredients within the ingredients listing on the product label.

Meat and Dairy Labels
You may ask the butcher at your local market if the meat products they sell have been genetically engineered. While there is supposed to be labeling to indicate such, often meats may go unlabeled.

•  Natural: Labels may refer to beef and lamb, in particular, as being produced naturally, but this designation means only that the meat may not have any artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, or other artificial ingredients. Natural production doesn't necessarily mean that the animals led the life of Riley outside, gamboling in the fields.
•  Grass fed: Feeding cows primarily on grass or hay rather than on grain is considered greener (and kinder) because they can digest grass and hay more easily.
•  Free-range: This term means that chickens, for example, weren't confined to cages. There are different degrees of free-range, however - from true free-range where the chickens are allowed to wander in a fairly large space outside to more limited conditions where they may have only short periods outside in an area that's quite small. You may not be able to tell exactly what free-range means when you see it on meat packaging, so if you're looking at a specific product, consider contacting its producer directly for clarification.

Fruits

Who knew that those little stickers that are stuck to each piece of fruit you purchase, actually mean something. Like the most secret of military codes, the four and five digit numbers are indicators to the type of fruit you are purchasing.

Four Digit Code: not organic

Five Digit Code: that starts with the number "9" means that the fruit was organically grown.

Five Digit Code: that starts with an "8" means that the fruit was genetically engineered.