Some grocery store products have odd names or unique features, and they're mistaken for GMOs. But many are proudly non-GMO — and some of them are Non-GMO Project Verified!
To clear up these classic cases of mistaken identity, we're exploring some frequently misunderstood non-GMO foods and the techniques used to create them.
Traditional cross-breeding ≠ GMOs
The biggest takeaway here is that traditional breeding and selection techniques do not result in GMOs. Remember: GMOs are organisms to which biotechnology techniques are applied. Biotechnology includes manipulating the genetic material of an organism through in vitro nucleic acid techniques or combining genetic material from different organisms in ways that overcome natural reproductive barriers. You can find out more about biotechnology and GMOs on our webpage, What Is a GMO?
Traditional breeding and selection techniques combine natural phenomena and human stewardship, including cross-pollination, grafting and more. Breeding techniques don't have to be low-tech in order to be non-GMO. Some modern laboratory techniques such as chemical-induced mutagenesis or embryo rescue don’t always feel completely natural. As long as they don't involve in vitro nucleic acid techniques or the fusion of cells beyond the taxonomic family, they aren't considered biotechnology techniques under the Non-GMO Project Standard, and without biotechnology you don't end up with GMOs.
Here are some commonly misidentified foods that are NOT products of biotechnology.
Seedless grapes
Seedlessness in grapes arose as a natural mutation. Thompson grapes, the most common seedless grape variety, can be traced back as far as the Ottoman Empire, long before the advent of modern biotechnology. Flame seedless grapes, the most common red seedless variety, are the result of traditional crossbreeding methods of several existing cultivars, including the Thompson.
While the appearance of seedlessness was natural, human hands have played an important role in the selection, stewardship and breeding of grape cultivars. We have chosen to sustain a unique fruit that could not reproduce on its own (seeds are crucial to the sexual reproduction process), but we did not use biotechnology to do that, so the results are not GMOs.
Seedless watermelons
Seedless watermelons are created through a process called "chemical-induced mutagenesis." A young watermelon plant is exposed to a chemical compound to induce a genetic mutation in the plant. The mutation causes the plant to develop double the usual number of chromosomes. That plant is then cross-bred with a regular watermelon plant. The offspring will be seedless melons because of the odd number of chromosomes inherited from the parent plants.
It's a bit like cross-breeding a donkey and a horse to create a sterile mule — a reproductive dead end, but unique and useful nonetheless. Some seedless watermelons have small, white "seedlets" that aren't mature enough to grow new plants (and don't inspire the awkward "ptooey!" of full-grown, black-husked seeds).
Non-browning apples
In September 2024, we reported on the biotech industry's growing interest in GMO fruits and vegetables in our New GMO Alert. Thankfully, there are still excellent non-GMO options for convenience traits such as non-browning fruit. Opal apples were created through traditional cross-breeding methods, producing a crispy, sweet and slightly tangy fruit with naturally low levels of the enzyme that causes apples to turn brown. The Opal apple is proudly Non-GMO Project Verified, and is grown in our home state of Washington.
However, don't confuse the non-browning, Non-GMO Project Verified Opal Apple with the GMO Arctic Apple. Arctic Apples are genetically engineered to resist browning, and currently come in Golden Delicious, Granny Smith and Fuji varieties, with more versions in development. Packaged servings of Arctic Apple from a grocery retailer should be labeled with a bioengineered food disclosure, but other food service venues don't require it and the appearance of the disclosure can vary widely.
Modified corn starch
We're asked about corn starch more than anything else. The confusion is understandable. The word "modified" is sitting right there. However, the "modified" in "modified corn starch" doesn't mean genetically modified. It means that the starch was changed in some way to make it more useful in food production. For example, if a crop is harvested, processed and milled into a powder, then treated so it can withstand higher temperatures, it has been modified from its natural state. But those changes do not make it a GMO because the changes were not brought about through biotechnology.
Of course, there is a GMO risk with ingredients derived from corn. Corn is considered a high-risk crop because at least 93% of US-grown corn is genetically modified. The Non-GMO Project Standard requires that any Verified product containing corn as a major ingredient must comply with the requirements, which include ingredient testing, tracing and segregation.
It can be confusing to know whether a food is a GMO or not. If you prefer to enjoy your meal without knowing all the technical details about how a crop was bred, we've got you covered. Just look for the Butterfly! The Non-GMO Project Product Finder lists thousands of Verified foods to choose from.