What Does Non Gmo Means

Categories: Gmo

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Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are everywhere. While many of us don't realize it, even our food contains them. The FDA has a system in place that allows foods that contain GMOs to be labeled as such—but there are loopholes. While some companies do voluntarily label their products as non-GMO or organic, you have to know what terms mean and how to read them if you want to avoid GMOs altogether.

Some foods in your grocery store are genetically modified. You've probably seen the little label on your grocery products that says "contains GMOs.

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" It's not a warning, as many people think, but rather just a note to let you know that the product contains ingredients that have been genetically modified.

It can be confusing trying to figure out what exactly makes up GMOs and why there's so much controversy around them, so here's what you need to know: Some foods in your grocery store are genetically modified. Like cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which are made from GMO corn.

And soybean oil—which is used in about two-thirds of all packaged foods—is another common GMO ingredient.

But don't freak out yet! The fact that something contains GMOs doesn't automatically make it unsafe for your health or bad for the environment (though some experts do believe this). In fact, most scientists agree that consuming these foods isn't harmful at all; it might actually be beneficial for certain groups since they contain higher levels of vitamins than their non-GMO counterparts.

But if you want to avoid eating any GMOs at all costs—and who doesn't?—you'll need to read labels carefully and look for labels like "non-GMO" or "organic." Trust us: It's worth it!

You don’t actually know how much of what you’re buying is or isn’t non-GMO. You can’t tell from the label, because companies can label their products as “all natural,” “organic,” and “non-GMO Project Verified.” They can also use vague language that makes it sound like they are non-GMO but actually aren't.

For example, on Kellogg's website they say: "At Kellogg Company we care about what goes into our foods—and so do you… That's why we've chosen to remove genetically engineered ingredients from all our products where they are available."

However, when you look at their list of ingredients on their website there are several products that still contain GMOs: Corn Flakes®, Honey Smacks®, Frosted Flakes® and Raisin Bran® cereals; Special K® Protein Plus Bars; Granola Bars™; Low Fat Granola Cereals™; Natural Fruit Flavored Snacks™ (Fruit Squares™); Rice Krispies Treats™ bars; S'Mores Smoothie Mixes™ (Chocolate & Vanilla).

If you want to buy foods that avoid GMOs, there are labels and certifications you can look for.

A GMO-free label means the food does not contain any ingredients from crops that were genetically engineered in a lab. The Non-GMO Project, for example, is an independent organization that tests and certifies foods as GMO-free.

GMO-free certification means the product has been verified through testing by an outside organization (like the Non-GMO Project) or by its manufacturer. These certifications may also be called “non-GMO” or “purely natural” on a label.

Avoid these 8 ingredients if you want to avoid gmos. If you want to avoid GMOs, there are certain ingredients that you should absolutely avoid in your food. These include:

Corn
Soy
Canola and cottonseed oil
Sugar from sugar beets (can be labeled as beet sugar)
Papaya grown in Hawaii (and other countries)

The FDA doesn’t require producers to mention GMO products or ingredients on their labels. You may have been wondering why we haven't discussed the FDA's labeling requirements for GMO foods and ingredients. The reason is that they don't exist - at least not in any meaningful way. The FDA requires manufacturers to label GMO foods only if they are significantly different from conventional foods. Otherwise, the FDA doesn't require producers to mention GMO products or ingredients on their labels (nor does it require them to label non-GMO products).

There are ways to tell which products contain GMOs. You may be wondering, how do I know if something is non-GMO? How can I be sure that it doesn't contain genetically modified ingredients?

There are a few ways to tell if an item contains GMOs. The first way is to look for the Non-GMO Project label or the USDA Organic label. These labels clearly indicate that they have been certified by third parties as being free of GMOs. They also indicate which crops were used in production—for example, corn and soybean oil were two crops that were found to contain numerous genetically modified varieties before the laws on GMO labeling were passed in 2016.

The second way you can tell if an item is non-GMO is by looking for the USDA 100% Organic seal (or its equivalent) with either a butterfly symbol or simply "USDA Organic." These seals indicate that all ingredients included in products with these labels are free from any genetic modification.

While the FDA doesn't require manufacturers to list GMOs on their labels, there are some things you can do to check for them.

A great way to check whether or not a product is non-GMO is to look for the Non-GMO Project Verified seal on the packaging. If you're shopping online, you can look for this seal in the product description as well.

For instance: You might see something like this: “This product has been verified by The Non-GMO Project, an independent third party.” If there isn't any mention of whether or not your food is non-GMO at all, it's best that you avoid it altogether—because chances are it contains GMOs!

Alternatively, if you find yourself in a store with lots of products but aren't sure which ones contain GMOs and which don't, here's another tip: Look for products with either an “USDA Organic” label or one from another agency that has similar standards as those set forth by the USDA (for instance, “Certified Humane"). As long as these labels appear on eligible food items (like meat), they will help guarantee that what's inside them hasn't been genetically modified.

In summary, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure your food is non-GMO. If you're looking for a quick and easy way, just check for these 8 ingredients!