There is a tremendous amount of non-GMO buzz on Facebook and Twitter right now—thanks to all of you who are help making it happen! If you're not engaged yet, check out facebook.com/nongmoproject and twitter.com/NonGMOProject for all the latest news. Between Non-GMO Month, the Right2Know March, the CA Ballot Initiative and the Just Label It Campaign, your head may be spinning trying to keep up with what's what. We are working on an overview of all the different groups and initiatives, and look forward to sharing that with you soon. In the meantime, let us know if you have any questions, and enjoy knowing that the non-GMO movement is stronger and better coordinated than ever!
As Concerns About Food Safety and Genetic Engineering Intensify,
North America Celebrates Second Annual Non-GMO Month
BELLINGHAM, WA (October 4, 2011)—This October, nearly 1,000 natural food stores across the U.S. and Canada are taking part in Non-GMO Month, celebrating the public's right to choose food and products that do not contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Organized by the non-profit
Non-GMO Project, Non-GMO Month provides a platform for citizens and organizations to stand up for the right to know what's in their food, and to choose non-GMO. Dozens of
Non-GMO Month events are scheduled throughout October, including a historic
Rigth2Know March from NYC to DC, and a mom's panel focusing on protecting children from GMOs.
GMOs, or "genetically modified organisms," are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses and other animals and plants. These experimental combinations of genes cross the natural species barrier and have not been proven safe. Studies increasingly show a connection between GMOs and an array of health risks and environmental concerns. WhileGMOs are labeled or banned in most developed countries, in the U.S. and Canada they are unlabeled and are found in nearly 80% of processed food.
With U.S. consumer confidence shaken by ongoing food safety failures, distrust of GMOs is growing. As a result, consumers are increasingly seeking non-GMO choices, and Nielsen reported last February that "GMO-free" is currently one of the fastest growing store brand label claims. In the natural sector, SPINS reports that "Non-GMO Project Verified" is growing faster than any other product claim they track, with at least $250mm in marketplace sales.
Speaker, author and children's health advocate Robyn O'Brien says, "As a mother of children with food allergies, it concerns me that there are currently no definitive tests that can be relied upon to predict whether the novel proteins in genetically engineered foods might trigger an allergic reaction. We have the right to know what we're feeding our families, and the Non-GMO Project Verified label makes it possible to keep GMO foods out of our kids' lunch boxes."
Throughout October, shoppers will be able to find Non-GMO Project Verified choices featured at nearly 1,000
Non-GMO Month registered retail stores. On the
Non-GMO Month website, people can search the events calendar, find retailers, and enter a
Non-GMO Month Daily Giveaway contest.
Additional information is available in the
Non-GMO Project Press Room and at
www.nongmomonth.org.
