GMO Labeling

WAHOO.  One of the best pieces of news I’ve heard so far this week – Whole Foods announced on Friday that all products in US and Canadian stores containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) would be labeled as such by 2018. 

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What are GMOs?

GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (aka genetic engineering).  Scientists merge DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that can not occur naturally or traditionally. 

Are GMOs safe?

Most developed nations find GMOs to be unsafe.  In nearly 50 countries, including Japan, Australia, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions on the sale of GMOs.  In the US, the government has approved GMOs based on studies conducted by the same large corps that created them and profit from the sale.

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Whole Foods’ Initiatives

In case you didn’t know already… Whole Foods’ private label products have been certified as non-GMO since 2009 and the store currently sells 3,300 non-GMO products from 250 brands. 

Are you interested in knowing what foods are non-GMO at your local Whole Foods?  Check out their list here.

Whole Foods is really leading the way for GMO labeling.  Thus far, they have:

• invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in putting house brand products through third party non-GMO verification
• worked over the years to support organic agriculture to provide the largest variety of organic products grown without GMOs
• supported mandatory product labeling measures over the years – most recently including California’s Proposition 37 and Washington state’s Initiative Measure 522
• celebrated Non-GMO month every October

Talk to Me

• What are your thoughts about GMOs?
• Do you look for non-GMO products before purchasing?
• Random – Trader Joes or Whole Foods?