NPR Explores “Non-GMO” Label

While laws mandating disclosure of the presence of genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) on food labels are debated in statehouses, independent
organizations such as the Non-GMO Project are offering certification for
non-GMO products. NPR tracked how a food company earns the “Verified”
label from the Non-GMO Project, beginning with an Iowa-based company
called FoodChain ID that guides companies through the process of
certification.

FoodChain ID first identifies all of the ingredients in the product—including
those not actually listed on the label—such as “all the processing aids, the
carriers and all the inputs that go into a product.” It then determines the
source of each ingredient and input and individually verifies its seclusion from
GMOs. “If there’s honey in cookies, for example,” NPR notes, “the company will
have to show that the bees that make the honey aren’t feeding near genetically
modified corn. When there’s even the smallest risk that an ingredient
could contain a modified gene, DNA testing is in order.” If needed, FoodChain
ID can extract and analyze DNA from ingredient samples in its laboratory to
test for the presence of GMOs. See NPR, January 20, 2015.

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