GMO Dupery

I am appalled. Once again.

When a label says 'sugar' in the ingredients list, the last thing I think is 'sugar beet'. Let alone 'GMO'.
Lord help us and our food supply.

I should have known better considering my earlier self-pronounced authority on the matter of GMO and healthy, blah blah blah. Fail.

I got wind of such matters from an press release by General Mills explaining how 2014, Cheerios is stripping it's GMOs from the Cheerio batter. I am happy and unappalled by the news. But then they explained in detail what that included: cornstarch (yeah. insert: smug, know it all face. fogging nails with my breath and wiping on my long john long sleeve shirt. corn, very GMOish. everyone knows that. arrogant smirk.) and sugar (smirk melts. hands sink into my long john sleeves) So 'sugar' means 'GMO' now? another dupery.

Now I'm spiraling. Getting the mental pictures of all the things I've consumed lately that were deemed safe and innocuous are now blacklisted. Is my granulated store brand sugar a GMO? I emailed Kroger...still waiting on the verdict.

Is the 'sugar' in my Rice Chex a GMO? Categorically so, my friend. Categorically So.
Appalling. Wretched fool I am.

Read an article here:

Beet now accounts for 55 percent of the 10 million tons of refined sugar consumed in the country each year.

This does bring me a sense of hope in the upcoming year to hear that such a large company is now changing their formula in one of their iconic breakfast cereals. This (not-so-little) rutter can move a large ship into a wonderful direction for consumers. Even though I felt kicked in the wind pipe at first acknowledgement - I am recognizing the positive force of motion, the kinetic energy, this can bring about. Happy days after all.

And good news! I found out today that Joe's O's from Trader Joe's are GMO free, do not include wheat in the ingredients list (I'm trying to avoid wheat as much as possible) and are only $1.99 for a 14oz box!
Score. Bravo, Trader Joe's.

Update on the Kroger response:

Dear Valued Customer:

Thank you for contacting Kroger regarding the Kroger brand Granulated Sugar. This sugar is sourced from beets, sugar cane or a blend of both. Since our suppliers change so often it is impossible to know how each individual bag has been processed. I apologize I am unable to assist you.

So the verdict? Yes. Or, at least, when in doubt, don't.