Sometimes when you ask, you shall receive. The Agriculture Department has developed a new government certification and labeling for foods that are free of genetically modified ingredients. The USDA’s decision to do this stems from more and more consumer groups that are pushing for mandatory labeling of the genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.
The certification is the first of its kind and would be voluntary. Companies will have to pay for it. If approved, the foods will be able to carry a “USDA Process Verified” label along with a claim that they are free of GMOs.
Even though companies can currently put their own labels on their products indicating they are GMO-free, there has never been a USDA certification for it until now. Many companies have used a private label company, Non-GMO Project, to obtain their non-GMO status and labels until now. The USDA label will certify the foods are free of genetically modified ingredients, but it is important to remember that many non-GMO foods are not organic.
Of course, just because this new certification is available, that does not mean companies will seek it out for their products. Some consumer advocates are still not appeased, saying this type of labeling should be mandatory for all food … not just a voluntary certification and labeling process.
Even though this new certification is not mandatory, it is still a step in the right direction for those of us who like to know what we are actually consuming and putting in our bodies.
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