Sage-Tips

Is the Non-GMO Project Legit?

Non-GMO Project Verified is the fastest growing label in the natural products industry, representing over $26 billion in annual sales and more than 50,000 Verified products for over 3,000 brands. Non-GMO products are in demand and the Non-GMO Project Verified seal is the most trusted non-GMO label among consumers.

Is there such a thing as non-GMO?

There is no such thing as “non-GMO certified.” This is a made-up term that doesn’t actually reflect a real certification from any oversight agency or government. In other words, it’s extremely cost-prohibitive for most companies to even consider – and it does not and never has offered official “certification”.

Do consumers care about non-GMO?

According to the Hartman Organic and Natural Report 2018 consumer awareness of GMOs is almost universal at 97\%. Hartman noted that 36\% of shoppers say that they are buying more non-GMO products in comparison to a year ago and that of the consumers seeking to avoid GMOs 42\% seek out Non-GMO Project Verified products.

Why do people buy non-GMO?

Not only do sustainable agribusinesses provide better stewardship of the land by their very nature, but they also stand to benefit from the public’s desire to purchase what they perceive as healthier, safer foods. 40\% of consumers avoid GMOs, according to a study in Advances in Nutrition.

Does the US government provide a GMO certification process?

Three federal agencies within the U.S. government work together to regulate most GMOs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ensure that GMOs are safe for human, plant, and animal health.

Does non-GMO mean not processed?

USDA organic means that food products with the organic seal prohibit the use of GMOs, antibiotics, herbicides, toxic chemicals and more. To be verified Non-GMO a product goes through a third-party verification process.

Can you tell the difference between GMO and non-GMO?

Non-GMO food, or non-genetically modified food, has not been altered or engineered in any way. GMO food has been genetically modified in some form, usually in a laboratory.

Does GMO free food pay more?

Just 23 percent of respondents said they would be willing to spend an extra 50 cents on a $5 grocery item if it was labeled GMO-free. The same was true for food and drinks labeled ‘organic’ – 48 percent of respondents found the label appealing but only 23 percent are willing to pay extra.

How many people know about GMO?

Roughly three-in-ten U.S. adults (29\%) report that they have heard a lot about foods with genetically modified ingredients, while 59\% have heard a little and 12\% say they have heard nothing at all about these foods.

Which is better GMO or non GMO?

SE:From a health perspective, GMO food is no different than non-GMO food. In fact, they can even be healthier. And that means GMO crops are healthier not only for the farmer, but the consumer. Similarly, studies have shown a new disease-resistant GMO potato could reduce fungicide use by up to 90 percent.

How can you avoid GMOs?

How to avoid GMOs

1. Buy food that is labeled 100 percent organic. It has no GMOs.
2. Choose whole foods that you can prepare yourself instead of processed or prepackaged foods.
3. Look for “non-GMO” or “GMO-free” labels.
4. Purchase grass-fed beef.
5. Shop at local farmers markets.

What does the FDA say about non-GMO products?

For products made with vegetables, fruits, grains, or other plant foods, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a guidance document for food manufacturers that says that food or ingredients derived from plants in products bearing a non-GMO claim should not be produced through the use of genetic engineering.

How reliable are generic non-GMO claims?

A generic non-GMO claim isn’t reliable because there are no consistent, clear, enforceable rules for using it, and there is no consistency in how the claim is verified.

Are non-GMO grapefruits genetically modified?

So my problem with calling these grapefruits “non-GMO” is simple. These fruits are absolutely “genetically modified.” To call this product non-GMO is a lie. That is true for most other non-GMO labels. These are also lies that dovetail with another long-term lie that has been widely disseminated in the Internet age – a “lie with pictures.”

Is the non-GMO “labeling lie” really a labeling lie?

What is truly disappointing is that the non-GMO “labeling lie,” and its inevitable connection to the photo-lie, is officially sanctioned by the very federal agency charged with truth in labeling for foods.