Organic but still GMO?

[LauraLoo]

Please settle a debate -- Can a food item be organic and GMO?

TIA!

[Oliver'sMom]

It is my understanding that all corn, soy beans, and the products made by them are GMO in the United States. Monsanto has cornered the market so much, that even the soil is tainted. I would love to be corrected if I'm wrong!

[serenbat]

http://www.truefoodnow.files.wordpre...ge-booklet.pdf

this may be of help

[Jane]

No GMO in organic.

[tinuviel_k]

GMO foods can not be certified organic in the USA. I don't know enough about the process of certification in other countries.

[spring978]

Organic = NO GMO that is why I also include soy and corn in my must have organic list.

[LauraLoo]

Thanks, everyone.

And thank you serenbat for the booklet! That's great!

[mamadelbosque]

Its safe to assume that all non-organic corn, soy and canola in the us *IS* gmo, but corn/soy/canola/etc that is GMO can *NOT* by very definition be organic.

[Magelet]

certified organic means it cannot be GMO, however, most corn, soy and a few other products are so widespread GMO that it is unlikely that organic is not tainted by them.

[allnaturalmom]

So sorry to have to break this sad news to you mamas, but just because it is certified organic does NOT mean that there are no gmo ingredients in it. It is sad but true.

For instance, if a certified organic product contains soy lecithin it is allowed to be from gmo soy. It must specifically say organic soy lecithin in the ingredients or non-gmo soy lecithin if it is not organic but still non-gmo. Does that make sense, lol. There is a national list of ingredients like this that are 'allowed' by the government to be in usda certified organic foods. Check your labels... They will say organic this, organic that, soy lecithin, organic something else. If there is no 'organic' in front of it... guess what? Sad, sad, sad... and frustrating, too. Supposedly, this list came to be because at the time organic certification laws were written, manufacturers claimed that there wasn't enough supply of the ingredient in question in its organic form.

Of course this is just for processed food items and not produce, etc...

Cornucopia.com usually has some good info about all of this.

hth

[LauraLoo]

Originally Posted by allnaturalmom

For instance, if a certified organic product contains soy lecithin it is allowed to be from gmo soy. It must specifically say organic soy lecithin in the ingredients or non-gmo soy lecithin if it is not organic but still non-gmo. Does that make sense, lol.

Actually, that does make sense. I have *never* seen a label that said "organic soy lecithin" or "non-gmo soy lecithin" on a product that was labeled organic. I guess that it means that "organic" isn't always 100% organic.

That's really a bummer.

I'll have to check out cornucopia.com

[Jane]

When I was working on product formulations for organic foods (5 years ago), with the National Organic Program through Washington State, GMO products were STRICTLY prohibited in 100% organic, 95% Organic ("Organic" Label), or Made with Organic Ingredients foods. Along with non natural ingredients in flavors, like propylene glycol. There should be NO GMO in any organicly labeled products. Even the plastic bags we packed in had to have non-gmo lube to make them slide. Citric Acid is another one that's hard to source non-GMO

Now, do I believe that all organic prducts are organic? - depends on how much you trust the supply chain. Sometimes the chinese producers are agreeing to anything you put in front of them. It is very suspicious when there is no organic Elderberry anywhere in the world, and then, poof! But it has legit paperwork...I don't know from a great certifying organization... There's a reason I got out of that career.

[mamadelbosque]

Thats true lauraloo, but that doesn't change the fact that if your buying say, tofu and its labeled "organic", it is *NOT* gmo - nothing labeld organic is/can be GMO - so while "soy lecithin" may very well be GMO, "organic soy lecithin" can *not* be. If that makes sense?? If your buying organic corn chips, the corn is *NOT* gmo.

[lucifugous]

GMOs are prohibited in certified organic foods.