Few topics are as controversial or as spirited as the debate over genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Consumer trust of GMO products has steadily fallen over the past decade, leading to a significant increase in demand for non-GMO certified products. Discerning households face a considerable divide between the competing narratives.
Learn the history of GMO foods, the potential health risks, and why you can trust non-GMO products.
What Does GMO Stand For?
GMO stands for genetically modified organisms, a term that covers all plants, animals, or microorganisms with DNA altered by genetic engineering. Food scientists add, remove, or alter genetic materials to remove or accentuate specific characteristics, such as improved disease resistance or increased fruit yield.
The most common GMO crops are:
- Soybeans
- Corn
- Canola
Over 90% of these crops globally have been genetically modified, and they’re used as input ingredients in thousands of products. Corn, for example, is used to create high fructose corn syrup, corn oil, and is added to animal feed.
Other common GMO crops include sugar beets, alfalfa, and some varieties of potatoes and apples. Not all conventional produce or processed foods include GMO products, but they represent an outsized share of raw food components. As the FDA itself points out, “It is very likely you are eating foods and food products that are made with ingredients that come from GMO crops.”
How GMO Products Are Regulated
In the US, all GMO products are evaluated by the USDA, FDA, and EPA. These agencies consider GMO products just as safe as non-GMO alternatives based on years of research. Importantly, the US requires all products that contain GMOs to feature the “bioengineered” label on its packaging as part of the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standards.
You can also review the USDA’s list of bioengineered foods to see GMO usage around the world.
Are GMO Products Safe?
While US regulatory agencies state that GMOs do not pose health risks, consumers have little faith in engineered foods. Between 2015 and 2020, the number of Americans who considered GMOs safe to eat fell from 37% to 27%. In the EU, which tends to have a more rigorous food safety system, trust has steadily increased during the same period, though more than a third of consumers remain skeptical.
16 of 27 EU countries have banned the cultivation of GMO commodities, though they still allow the import of GMOs for animal feed.
GMOs and the Environment
Human health is paramount, but there may be more potential risk of GMOs in terms of environmental impact. Due to a lack of standardized environmental risk, it’s difficult to gauge how GMO cultivation has affected local ecosystems; certain crops produce insecticide toxins that may harm beneficial insects nearby.
Additionally, cross-contamination is a serious problem, with pollen from GMO plants spreading to non-GMO fields.
There are other issues, too. Herbicide-resistant GMOs allow for increased chemical use, which may introduce more harmful chemicals into the environment.
Read More: Field Day, Affordable USDA Organic Products
The Rise of Non-GMO Products
While the government’s official position remains neutral on GMOs, discerning consumers continue to prioritize non-GMO alternatives. That’s made difficult by the FDA and USDA’s decision not to certify products as non-GMO. As a result, the non-GMO certification process is entirely in the hands of third-party verification programs.
What Does Non-GMO Mean?
Defining non-GMO is focused on meeting a few threshold standards. To be considered non-GMO, consumer food products (excluding animal feed) must contain less than 0.5% GMO ingredients (0.9% in the EU).
How Non-GMO Products Are Certified
No government entity evaluates non-GMO certified foods. The non-GMO verification process is entirely voluntary, and there are different non-GMO programs around the world. The most well-established certification in the US is the Non-GMO Project.
To gain certification from the Non-GMO Project, manufacturers must:
- Apply for certification. Once their application is accepted, they’ll meet with a local technical administrator.
- The brand signed a contract and licensing agreement with the TA and the Non-GMO Project. This starts the evaluation and verification process, which includes a detailed assessment of ingredient sourcing, billing information, facility procedures, and ingredient analysis.
- Once verified, the brand may use the Non-GMO Project logo on its packaging and marketing materials for a year. It must renew its certification annually.
The brand must cover all fees, which is often why non-GMO products are often more expensive than conventional products.
Non-GMO vs. Organic: Is There a Difference?
There is a significant difference between a product being organic and GMO. All organic food is non-GMO, but not all non-GMO food is organic. That’s because non-GMO verification only reviews whether a food contains GMOs and doesn’t consider the type of pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers used during cultivation.
As a rule, USDA Organic prohibits GMOs, synthetic fertilizers, prohibitive pesticides, and must be 95-100% organic to use the label USDA Organic label.
Empower Your Health and Wellness with Oryana
No matter where you are in your wellness journey, Oryana Community Co-op is committed to empowering our community of owners with reliable information. We offer an expansive selection of local produce, USDA organic products, and clearly-labeled non-GMO options to serve our community. If you have questions about the provenance and certifications of your favorite products, contact our team today or stop in to see us!
