October is both Non-GMO Month and Fair Trade Month — a reminder for us to pause our busy lives for one moment and to reflect on the current state of our food system. With the school year in full swing and the holiday season quickly approaching, this is a good opportunity to think critically and learn more about the food we eat and where it comes from!

You have a right to know what’s in your food. That’s the fundamental concept behind Non-GMO Month, which Boston Organics is celebrating throughout October.

As a Boston Organics customer, you’re already several steps ahead of most grocery shoppers because everything you get from us is USDA certified organic and therefore made without genetically modified organisms.

But with GMOs present in almost 80% of conventional processed food, shoppers across North America are coordinating their actions this month and calling for better management and regulation of genetically modified organisms.

What ARE GMOs?!

Credit: IAEA Imagebank, via Flickr

There is a lot of misinformation out there about GMOs, so let’s take a moment to make sure we’re all on the same page.

Genetically modified organisms (commonly abbreviated as GMOs) are plants or animals created through the process of genetic engineering. This experimental technology involves copying DNA from one species and inserting genetic material into a new organism, commonly using a bacterium or virus.

Though a fair amount of money and time has gone into researching GMOs with potential environmental or consumer benefits, the only GMOs in widespread commercial production are those that benefit commodity growers and large agribusinesses.

More than 75% of commercially grown GMO crops are engineered for herbicide resistance — specifically the herbicide glyphosate, which is patented by Monsanto and sold under the brand name Roundup. Almost all the rest have been modified to create a toxin known as Bt, which is used as a “natural” insecticide.

A Risky Technology

A combination of lenient regulation and strict patent protection has led to the rapid expansion of GMOs in our food supply without adequate prior testing.

Credit: Boston Organics

Relatively little research has been done on the long term effects of GMO production and consumption. Almost all of the research that has been done was conducted behind closed doors and was paid for by the corporations that stand to profit from the growth of the GMO industry and its associated chemical pesticides.

On a personal level, the long term effect on reproductive health remains unknown and there’s a chance that untested GMOs could lead to unexpected allergic reactions.

Environmentally, the irresponsible use of GMOs has already led to the creation of herbicide resistant “superweeds” and pesticide resistant “superbugs.” Meanwhile, genetically modified seeds encourage farmers to plant large acreage of monoculture, resulting in the systematic destruction of biodiversity, which ultimately makes our food supply even more vulnerable.

Credit: Kevin Wood, via Flickr

But perhaps the biggest risk that we take by remaining ignorant of this technology is its impact on our society.

Farmers are lured into restrictive contracts that fundamentally change the way they manage their land. Even farmers who deliberately refuse to buy genetically modified seeds must take extra precautions to avoid contamination from neighboring fields.

And the average American consumer, unable to see or taste these GMOs, is ignorantly ingesting GMOs by the forkful. At this time, over 60 countries require labels on food that contains GMOs, but the United States is not one of them. We should have the right to know what’s in our food.

What Now?

Learn

You now know the basics about GMOs, but it’s a complicated technology and our food system is endlessly complex. There is always more to learn.

The Non-GMO Project is a fantastic resource to get the facts on GMOs. As the only independent certifier of non-GMO food in North America, they help consumers make informed choices every day. Their GMO Fact Sheet is an excellent place to start learning more.

The Center for Food Safety is a well respected resource for quality information on food-related topics including GMOs. They recently debunked popular myths about GMOs that are commonly portrayed in the media.

The Cornucopia Institute pursues in depth analyses of various aspects of the food industry, but their findings are easily accessible through short articles and infographics.

Credit: MA Right to Know

Act

The FDA refuses to get involved in regulating GMOs and the US Congress is dragging its feet on a national GMO labeling bill.

Fortunately, individual states have begun working on their own legislation to reign in the widespread use of GMOs. This year alone, 35 new GMO labeling bills have been introduced in 20 states. Voters in Colorado and Oregon will have a vote on a GMO labeling measure this November.

See what’s happening with GMO legislation in Massachusetts and get involved.

Credit: Boston Organics

Eat

Supporting companies that have rejected GMOs by choosing non-GMO products is one of the best ways to show your support for a natural, GMO-free world.

Checking for the USDA Organic label is our favorite way to ensure that the food we eat is non-GMO and pesticide free. But when organic is not available, you can also look for the Non-GMO Verified seal.

Both labels are backed by third-party certification systems and they’re both great tools to help you and your family make informed choices. Everything that you can buy from Boston Organics is certified organic, and some of our products also have the Non-GMO Verified seal.

You can learn more about the differences and similarities between the two labels in our previous blog post.

Credit: Boston Organics

Let us know what YOU are doing to celebrate Non-GMO month! Post on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and tag @BostonOrganics.

These days more and more consumers are looking for ways to avoid genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their food. There are currently two food labels that indicate the absence of GMOs for consumers: the USDA Organic label and the Non-GMO Project Verified seal.

As a local supporter of transparency in our food system, we think it’s great that consumers are able to make informed decisions about GMOs through both the Non-GMO Project and USDA Organic certification.

When you’re comparing products at the grocery store, you might be wondering – what’s the difference between these two labels, and what do they mean in terms of GMO avoidance? Here’s a general overview of the two labels and their verification processes.

 USDA Certified Organic Seal:

The National Organic Program is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Their organic certification is a process-based certification that requires farmers and producers to follow approved methods in order to achieve organic certification.

GMOs are prohibited from certified organic products, which means farmers are not allowed to grow produce from GMO seeds, their animals can’t eat GMO feed, and organic food producers can’t use GMO ingredients.

Certified organic farms and facilities follow a site-specific organic system plan and are inspected annually by third party organic inspectors to ensure compliance. In order to fulfill the USDA organic regulations, farmers and processors must prove that they aren’t using GMOs in any part of their production and are utilizing approved practices to protect their products or crops.

All USDA certified organic produce, grains, meats, and processed foods do not allow the use of GMOs.

What does the organic certification mean?

  • Processed foods with 95%-100% certified organic ingredients can be certified to use the USDA Organic Seal. The other 5% like salt and water cannot contain GMOs.
  • Prohibits use of chemical fertilizers, synthetic substances, irradiation, sewage sludge, or GMOs in organic production.
  • Prohibits antibiotic and synthetic hormone use in organic meat and poultry.
  • Requires 100% organic feed for organic livestock.
  • Verification is maintained through 3rd party inspectors’ annual site inspections, organic system plan review, and residue testing.*

*Residue testing is only done when inspectors are concerned that farms or businesses have used prohibited substances or methods. Tests can be random or risk-based, but are not mandatory.

The Non-GMO Project’s Non-GMO Seal:

The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit organization that independently offers GMO test verification and labeling for non-GMO products. Their verification is process-based, using traceability, segregation, and testing to ensure compliance with their standards.

Companies looking to receive the Non-GMO Project stamp must follow the project’s standards of best practices and have product testing conducted at various stages of production, anywhere from the field to the packaging facility.

Despite their inspection process, the project can’t legally claim products to be “GMO free” because the contamination risks to seeds, crops, and ingredients are too high. However, they’re the only organization offering independent verification of testing for GMO products in the US and Canada.

What does the Non-GMO Project’s Verification Process require?

  • Requires ongoing testing of all at-risk ingredients – any ingredient that is grown commercially in GMO form must be tested prior to use in a verified product.
  • They use an Action Threshold of 0.9%. This is in alignment with laws in the European Union, where any product containing more than 0.9% GMO must be labeled.
  • Absence of all GMOs is the target for all Non-GMO Project Standard compliant products. Continuous improvement towards achieving this goal must be part of the Participant’s quality management systems.
  • After the test, they require rigorous traceability and segregation practices to be followed in order to ensure ingredient integrity through to the finished product.
  • For low-risk ingredients, they conduct a review of ingredient specification sheets to determine absence of GMO risk.
  • Verification is maintained through an annual audit, along with onsite inspections for high-risk products.

 Key Differences Between the Labels:

What’s the Best Way to Avoid GMOs?

Both USDA organic certification and the Non-GMO Project seal are great methods for avoiding GMOs. Furthermore, both labels are helping to provide greater transparency for consumers about what’s in their food and how it’s being produced.

Beyond banning GMOs in fresh and processed organic foods, the USDA organic certification takes a holistic approach to the health of our food system and food producers. Organic products are produced without the use of synthetic chemicals, which are dangerous for farmers, consumers, our land, and our water systems. These extra steps help to promote a sustainable and safe food system.

The Non-GMO Project’s strict set of standards and guidelines, including multi-level testing, ensures that companies and producers are avoiding GMOs in all aspects of production. The Non-GMO Project also provides education to the public about the risks associated with GMOs, the importance of labeling, and tips about how to best avoid them.

 Go Organic for Unprocessed Foods

Unfortunately, the Non-GMO Project only verifies meats and processed foods commonly found in the center aisles of the grocery store. Due to the lack of verification for fresh produce, buying certified organic produce is the only way to avoid GMOs in your fresh foods.

Since the US government does not enforce the labeling of GMOs for all food producers, the Non-GMO Project is filling a much-needed void. Choosing any product that has been verified by The Non-GMO Project is a safe bet for avoiding GMOs, and it’s the only safeguard against GMOs when not buying organic.

Check out these resources for more information:

Learn more about why we only carry 100% certified organic produce!