October is Non‐GMO Month, a month long celebration of the public’s right to choose food and products that do not contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Thousands of natural food stores and brands participate in this annual event organized by the Non-GMO Project, North America’s only third-party verification and labeling organization for non-GMO food and products.

In recent years, GMOs have become a hot button topic among scientists and consumer advocates.  We at Jeff’s Naturals believe consumers have a right to understand what’s in their food so they can make informed decisions on what to feed to themselves and their families. That is why it is important to us that most of our products are Non-GMO Project Verified.  Look for this label next time you shop:

Here are some commonly asked questions about GMOs:

Source Non-GMO Project

What are GMOs?
GMOs are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses, and other animals and plants for consumption. The Non-GMO Project defines them as

“organisms that have been created through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This relatively new science allows DNA from one species to be injected into another species in a laboratory, creating combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods”.

Are they safe?
Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe. In more than 60 countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs. In the U.S., the government has approved GMOs based on studies conducted by the same corporations that created them and profit from their sale.

What is the Non-GMO Project?
The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit organization committed to preserving and building sources of non-GMO products, educating consumers, and providing verified non-GMO choices. Buying products that are verified through this program is the best way to support the sustained availability of non-GMO choices in North America.

How common are GMOs?
In the U.S., GMOs are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food. Click here for a current list of GMO risk crops.

How difficult is it to be Non-GMO Project Verified?
We undergo a series of rigorous tests and audits to ensure that we adhere to the Non-GMO Project’s strict Standard for GMO avoidance.

What are the impacts of GMOs on the environment?
Over 80% of all GMOs grown worldwide are engineered for herbicide tolerance. As a result, use of toxic herbicides like Roundup has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced. GMO crops are also responsible for the emergence of “super weeds” and “super bugs:’ which can only be killed with ever more toxic poisons like 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange).

How do GMOs affect farmers?
Because GMOs are novel life forms, biotechnology companies have been able to obtain patents with which to restrict their use. As a result, the companies that make GMOs now have the power to sue farmers whose fields are contaminated with GMOs, even when it is the result of inevitable drift from neighboring fields. GMOs therefore pose a serious threat to farmer sovereignty and to the national food security of any country where they are grown, including the United States.

How can I avoid GMOs?
Choose food and products that are Non-GMO Project Verified! Click here to see a complete list.

We are mindful of the risk involved with consuming GMOs and the need for more choices, so with exception of our cheese stuffed olives, all Jeff’s Naturals products are Non-GMO certified by the Non-GMO project. Throughout October, shoppers will be able to find Non-GMO Project Verified choices featured at more than 2,000 Non-GMO Month registered retail stores.

Visit the Non-GMO Month website to search the events calendar.