Natural Food Store Launches GM-Free Labeling

A natural foods co-op in Durango, Colorado, has reportedly rolled out a new
labeling initiative for products free of genetically modified organisms (GMO)
to recognize “October’s designation as national non-GMO month.” According
to an October 19, 2011, article in The Durango Herald, the local co-op displays
two labels on shelves to indicate products certified by the Non-GMO Project
and those verified by manufacturers as containing no GMOs.

“Normally, consumers would have to do the research or call manufacturers
themselves if they wanted that information,” the store’s marketing manager
told the Herald while noting that the co-op itself is also a member the
National Cooperative Growers Association, Just Label It Campaign and
Non-GMO Project. As another natural grocer apparently elaborated, “Without
GMO labeling, the only way to know if products contain genetically engineered
foods is if they are made with 100 percent USDA-certified organic
ingredients.”

The manager of a third area store, however, cautioned that such labeling
programs are still expensive despite gaining momentum. “It’s a huge job for
us to chase down where corn came from and how it is handled in every bag
of chips and every box of cereal. We are letting the bigger guys in the industry
take it on before we step into it,” she said.