“You have a Right to Know What’s in Your Food”
This October Down to Earth is joining 13,000 participating grocery retailers across North America in the eighth annual Non-GMO Month. Created by the Non-GMO Project, this month-long celebration spotlights shoppers’ rights to choose food and products that do not contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Our team members talk to shoppers every day, and what we are hearing is that people are increasingly worried about the spread of GMOs in our food supply. With GMOs present in as much as 80% percent of conventional packaged foods, we are more committed than ever to helping our customers find safe, healthy non-GMO choices.
Look for the Butterfly!
One of the ways to avoid GMOs is to choose foods that have the Organic seal, which certifies that GMOs were not used in production. Another way is to look for the butterfly on the Non-GMO Project Verified Seal issued by the Non-GMO Project:
Down to Earth, along with the natural products industry, strongly supports this Project. It is a non-profit collaboration of companies, farmers, and consumers—offering North America’s first program that verifies non-GMO products. The Non-GMO Project provides a seal of approval to manufacturers that meet their rigorous non-GMO standards. Backed by independent testing, the “Non-GMO Project Verified” seal means that GMO contamination has been avoided throughout the growth and harvesting of crops, their processing, storage and packaging. This year almost 44,000 products from more than 3,100 brands have been verified to date, with thousands more in the process.
As manufacturers begin to include the “Non-GMO Project Verified” logo on their packaging, you will see more and more of the verified products on our shelves. Consumers have the right to choose what foods to eat and feed their families. This Non-GMO logo enables consumers to exercise this right!
Goal is to Be GMO Free
Down to Earth’s Long-Term Goal is to be All-Organic & GMO-Free. As we move towards our long-term goal to be all-organic and GMO-free, we give priority to organic and Non-GMO Project Verified products in our purchasing decisions, and we:
- Avoid purchasing any new food products with major ingredients that may contain GMOs
- Do not sell single ingredient GMO foods (including papaya, corn, soy, canola or sugar produced from GMO sugar beets)
- Encourage our suppliers to become Non-GMO Project Verified
- Actively support organic and sustainable farming methods
- Support the consumer’s “right-to- know,” including labeling of products that contain GMOs
- Educate and communicate about the economic, social, health, and environmental impacts of GMOs
GMO Labeling Is Key to Our Right to Know!
Few choices in our daily lives are as important as the food choices we make for our families and ourselves. We should be the ones in control, not government. It's wrong for government to deny us our right to know. Our right to know what is in the food we are buying and our right to choose our preferred food should not be usurped for any reason.
Most Hawaii residents want GMO labeling and many are not convinced that GMOs are safe. Some oppose them based on scientific studies; others oppose them on religious, spiritual, philosophical, or ethical beliefs. While we have different reasons for wanting to know what is in our food, the one thing no one should deny is our right to know. Choose foods that have the Organic seal, which certifies that GMOs were not used in production, or look for the butterfly!
For more information about GMOs check out the “Label GMOs” page of the Down to Earth website.
Non-GMO Project Shopping App
You have a right to know what’s in your food! The free Non-GMO Project shopping guide app provides you the ability to scan barcodes and search an up-to-date list of products that have been verified through the Non-GMO Project's Verification Program. To learn key factoids about GMOs, check out the FAQs in the “About” tab of the app.
