The Non-GMO Project has begun a campaign to test and label foods that have been genetically modified in a bold effort to inform consumers and to protect the organic food industry.  Labeling has long been a controversial and challenging topic, as biotech companies have strongly resisted efforts to label GM foods and the FDA has argued that GM-free labels could be misleading, but hopefully the rigorous testing of the Non-GMO Project will help people make informed choices. 

The use of genetically modified seeds to grow North America’s corn, soybeans, canola and sugar has become widespread, and cross-pollination threatens to contaminate neighboring fields, so it has become increasingly difficult for organic growers and manufacturers to assure consumers their products don’t contain modified ingredients.  Unfortunately, the new labeling does not guarantee the ingredients will be 100% Non-GMO, but will at least show that:

{M]anufacturers have followed procedures, including testing, to ensure that crucial ingredients contain no more than 0.9 percent of biotech material. That is the same threshold used in Europe, where labeling is required if products contain higher levels.

Keep an eye out for the Non-GMO project seal this fall, which depicts a butterfly perched on two blades of grass in the form of a check mark.  Also, be sure to support the Center for Food Safety’s campaign to get Congress to support labeling and testing of GM foods using the action link below.