How to Say No to GMOs
Tip #1: Buy Organic Certified organic products cannot intentionally include any GMO ingredients. Buy products labeled "100% organic," "organic," or "made with organic ingredients." You can be doubly sure if the product also has a Non-GMO Project Verified Seal (below).
Tip #2: Look for Non-GMO Project Seals. Products that carry the Non-GMO Project Seal are independently verified to be in compliance with North America's only third party standard for GMO avoidance, including testing of at-risk ingredients.
Tip #3: Avoid At-Risk ingredients. Even if it's not labeled organic or verified non-GMO, you can still avoid products made with ingredients that are likely derived from GMOs. The eight most common GM food crops are:
- Corn (as in corn oil, cornmeal, cornstarch, and other corn-based ingredients)
- Soybeans (as in soybean oil, soy protein, soy lecithin, soy milk, tofu, and other soy-based ingredients)
- Canola (as in canola oil)
- Cottonseed (as in cottonseed oil)
- Sugar beets (the "sugar" listed on food labels is almost always derived from sugar cane and GM sugar beets).
- Most Hawaiian papaya
- A small amount of zucchini and yellow squash.
- Also, beware of dairy products, which may come from cows injected with GM bovine growth hormone, and meats from animals (including farmed fish) that have been fed GM foods. Look for dairy products labeled No rBGH or rBST, artificial hormone-free, or organic; wild-caught fish; and meat labeled organic or 100% grass-fed.
Tip #4: Use Non-GMO Shopping Guides Download either the new Non-GMO Shopping Tips brochure or Non-GMO Shopping Guide at nongmoshoppingguide.com to help identify and avoid GM foods and hidden GM ingredients on food labels. If you have an iPhone, download the ShopNoGMO guide for free from the iTunes store.