NonGMO Project GMO food verification logo orange

At Zing, we’re celebrating our Non-GMO Project verification status! In addition to raising awareness about sustainable agricultural practices, we’re also excited to partner with like-minded brands to help educate consumers about the importance of choosing non-genetically modified foods.

Here at Zing, we pride ourselves on providing real, nutritious solutions for the entire family. We believe that food influences how you feel, and hope you find comfort in knowing that we choose organic, glyphosate-free oats. Our recipes do not contain non-nutritious oils, sugars or preservatives. All of our products are Non-GMO Project Verified because we believe our customers deserve the strongest certification for GMO avoidance.

Now let’s dive into this topic by answering a few FAQs!

What are GMOs?

GMOs = Genetically Modified Organisms. GMOs can refer to any living thing that has had their DNA altered through biotechnology. When it comes to GMOs, most of us tend to think of crops rather than all living things - but GMOs can refer to any plant, animal or organism whose DNA has been altered outside of the cell, or combined with the DNA of another species. 

Why are we avoiding them?

The safety of GMOs is a complex subject. The majority of safety studies on GMOs are conducted by the same companies making the GMOs. Sketchy? We agree. 

There are cases when the GMO modification process is used on microorganisms to create medicines and vaccines, which can be useful for medicinal development. Yet, when we refer to daily nutrition, the positivity shifts to uncertainty. In the absence of independent, long-term safety testing, the ultimate effects of consuming GMOs are unknown. At Zing, we're also concerned about the impacts of the pesticides that go hand-in-hand with many GMO crops.

What common GMO foods should we look out for?

Believe it or not, some well-known GMO foods include items you may be eating daily: corn, soy, squash, apples and potatoes — to name a few. Many farmers grow GMOs to make it easier to apply weedkiller or resist insects. Because GMOs are common in livestock feed, the Non-GMO Project Standard includes guidelines for ensuring livestock that supply eggs, dairy or meat receive non-GMO feed.  

Why is the Butterfly label so important?

As we discussed, a “non-GMO” claim on food suggests that all ingredients were derived from plants, animals, or other organisms whose genetic material has not been altered through biotechnology. Unfortunately, a self-made“non-GMO” claim is not always trustworthy because it is not third-party verified.

Voluntary “non-GMO” labeling is acceptable to FDA, provided it is truthful and not misleading. FDA has guidance for manufacturers who voluntarily label their products as “non-GMO” which includes recommendations for ways to substantiate the claim. This is guidance, however, and is not legally enforced.

To ensure that your purchases are truly “non-GMO,” look for a third-party certification label like Non-GMO Project Verified or USDA Organic. Since 2007, the Butterfly label has helped millions of people find Non-GMO Project Verified products quickly and easily. The Butterfly is the leading third-party certification for GMO avoidance. To be Verified, each product goes through a thorough review process. Its major and minor ingredients are traced back through the supply chain — giving us (and you!) the most accurate information about the food you eat.

Why is non-GMO best for our planet?

Many GMO crops are grown in a chemical-rich environment that damages the soil, increases pollution and makes use of considerably more energy; which, in turn, causes a strain on the earth’s natural resources. 

Support the Butterfly with us!

At Zing, we are committed to building a better food system, and bringing you the best possible products while we’re at it. Join us in celebrating non-GMO foods by seeking out products with the Butterfly label at your local retailers!

By: Christie Lucas

Many of the processed foods that we see on grocery shelves today bear an ingredient label that says “artificially flavored.” Due to the prevalence of artificial additives in the marketplace, one of the questions we are asked most frequently from savvy shoppers is: “Why did I see the word artificial in the ingredients of a Non-GMO Project Verified product?”

Similar to how the word “modified” does not mean genetically modified when referring to modified corn starch or similar products, “artificial” does not inherently mean an ingredient is GMO. “Artificial flavor” is a term used by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to classify flavorings not found in nature or derived from natural elements (plants or animals). Artificial flavors are produced through synthesis in a lab to mimic the taste and chemical makeup of a natural counterpart. They are often used to cut costs for food producers. While this production process can be achieved without any genetic engineering—no GMOs required—some producers do choose to use GMOs.

It’s important to recognize that while artificial does not inherently classify ingredients as a GMO, some artificial ingredients do come from GMOs—especially GMO microorganisms. Those are the types of artificial ingredients that are addressed in the Non-GMO Project Standard.

The best way to avoid GMOs when you shop is to look for Non-GMO Project Verified products.

What Makes A Flavor

Flavors are added to food primarily for their taste rather than nutritional value. Think of strawberry jam—while the strawberries in the jam are flavorful, they wouldn’t be considered a flavor in that product. However, in a product like strawberry gum,.strawberry would be considered a flavor because it is present solely for taste.

In the US, flavors are regulated by the FDA, which enforces the Food Additives and Amendment Act of 1958. Under this law, the FDA is responsible for ensuring the safety of new food additives, including flavors, before they can be used in food products.

The FDA categorizes flavorings as either natural (e.g., vanilla bean extract, almond extract), artificial (e.g., synthesized vanillin, benzaldehyde), or spices (e.g., basil, cumin seed, or paprika). While artificial flavors are those not derived from natural elements, natural flavors are the processed and concentrated form of the plant or animal they came from. Spices are simply dried vegetables with no added flavoring. Ingredients traditionally regarded as foods, like onions, garlic, and celery, must be separately disclosed on a product’s ingredient list because they are not considered spices by the FDA.

Where We Come In

With thousands of flavoring substances in use today and varying methods used to produce them, it is impossible for consumers to tell if a product contains GMOs. That’s why the Non-GMO Project includes special provisions for evaluating microorganisms, including those used to produce artificial flavors, in our Standard. In many cases, this process goes all the way back to the growth medium the microorganism was grown on. Just like the milk from a cow that's raised on GMOs can't be Non-GMO Project Verified, a microorganism can’t eat GMOs and then produce Verified flavorings.

The next time you reach for that artificial vanilla flavor, Look for the Butterfly so you can be sure that product is non-GMO, right back to any microorganisms involved. Non-GMO Project Verified products are third-party tested and backed by our rigorous Standard to help take the guesswork out of shopping for you and your family.

Find Non-GMO Project Verified products

This content was originally posted on 5/28/2019.

The following is a guest post courtesy of a group of Indigenous leaders and organizations (for a full list of contributors, see below). The Non-GMO Project is honored to share this content, which invites proponents of western ecological agriculture to go deeper — to not ‘take’ certain land practices from Indigenous cultures without their context, but to encompass deeper Indigenous worldviews.

Regenerative Agriculture & Permaculture offer narrow solutions to the climate crisis

Regenerative agriculture and permaculture claim to be the solutions to our ecological crises. While they both borrow practices from Indigenous cultures, critically, they leave out our worldviews and continue the pattern of erasing our history and contributions to the modern world.

While the practices 'sustainable farming' promote are important, they do not encompass the deep cultural and relational changes needed to realize our collective healing. 

Where is ‘Nature’?

Regen Ag & Permaculture often talk about what's happening 'in nature': "In nature, soil is always covered.” “In nature, there are no monocultures." Nature is viewed as separate, outside, ideal, perfect. Human beings must practice “biomimicry” (the mimicking of life) because we exist outside of the life of Nature. 

Indigenous peoples speak of our role AS Nature. (Actually, Indigenous languages often don't have a word for Nature, only a name for Earth and our Universe.) As cells and organs of Earth, we strive to fulfill our roles as her caregivers and caretakers. We often describe ourselves as "weavers", strengthening the bonds between all beings. 

Death Doesn’t Mean Dead

Regen Ag & Permaculture often maintain the "dead" worldview of Western culture and science: Rocks, mountains, soil, water, wind, and light all start as "dead". (E.g., "Let's bring life back to the soil!" — implying soil, without microbes, is dead.) This worldview believes that life only happens when these elements are brought together in some specific and special way.

Indigenous cultures view the Earth as a communion of beings and not objects: All matter and energy is alive and conscious. Mountains, stones, water, and air are relatives and ancestors. Earth is a living being whose body we are all a part of. Life does not only occur when these elements are brought together; Life always is. No “thing” is ever dead; Life forms and transforms.

From Judgemental to Relational

Regen Ag & Permaculture maintain overly simplistic binaries through subscribing to good and bad. Tilling is bad; not tilling is good. Mulch is good; not mulching is bad. We must do only the ‘good’ things to reach the idealized, 99.9% biomimicked farm/garden, though we will never be as pure or good "as Nature", because we are separate from her.

Indigenous cultures often share the view that there is no good, bad, or ideal—it is not our role to judge. Our role is to tend, care, and weave to maintain relationships of balance. We give ourselves to the land: Our breath and hands uplift her gardens, binding our life force together. No one is tainted by our touch, and we have the ability to heal as much as any other lifeform. 

Our Words Shape Us

Regen Ag & Permaculture use English as their preferred language no matter the geography or culture: You must first learn English to learn from the godFATHERS of this movement. The English language judges and objectifies, including words most Indigenous languages do not: 'natural, criminal, waste, dead, wild, pure…' English also utilizes language like "things" and "its" when referring to “non-living, subhuman entities”.

Among Indigenous cultures, every language emerges from and is therefore intricately tied to place. Inuit people have dozens of words for snow and her movement; Polynesian languages have dozens of words for water's ripples. To know a place, you must speak her language. There is no one-size-fits-all, and no words for non-living or sub-human beings, because all life has equal value. 

People are land. Holistic includes History.

Regen Ag and Permaculture claim to be holistic in approach. When regenerating a landscape, ‘everything’ is considered: soil health, water cycles, local ‘wildlife’, income & profit. ‘Everything’, however, tends to EXCLUDE history: Why were Indigenous homelands steal-able and why were our peoples & lands rape-able? Why were our cultures erased? Why does our knowledge need to be validated by ‘Science’? Why are we still excluded from your ‘healing’ of our land?

Among Indigenous cultures, people belong to land rather than land belonging to people. Healing of land MUST include healing of people and vice versa. Recognizing and processing the emotional traumas held in our bodies as descendants of assaulted, enslaved, and displaced peoples is necessary to the healing of land. Returning our rights to care for, harvest from, and relate to the land that birthed us is part of this recognition. 

Composting

Regen Ag & Permaculture often share the environmentalist message that the world is dying and we must “save” it. Humans are toxic, but if we try, we can create a "new Nature" of harmony, though one that is not as harmonious as the "old Nature" that existed before humanity. Towards this mission, we must put Nature first and sacrifice ourselves for “the cause”. 

Indigenous cultures often see Earth as going through cycles of continuous transition. We currently find ourselves in a cycle of great decomposition. Like in any process of composting there is discomfort and a knowing that death always brings us into rebirth. Within this great cycle, we all have a role to play. Recognizing and healing all of our own traumas IS healing Earth's traumas, because we are ONE. 

Where to go from here?

Making up only 6.2% of our global population, Indigenous peoples steward 80% of Earth's biodiversity while managing over 25% of her land. Indigenous worldviews are the bedrocks that our agricultural practices & lifeways arise from. We invite you to ground your daily practices in these ancestral ways, as we jointly work towards collective healing.

Contributors to this statement

We live in a fast-paced world, one that prioritizes progress, technology and the economy above all else. But as we move further down the path of corporate control, we have to ask ourselves: Will we prioritize "advancement" at the expense of human health and the environment? 

For example, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was recently awarded to the scientists behind CRISPR gene-editing technology. This technology allows scientists to change the genetic code by adding, removing or altering genetic material. While it has been touted as a "precise" technology, studies already point to opposite conclusions. If this doesn't seem like a big issue, think again. This "precise" technology has been found to make genetic errors with unintended consequences. 

To simplify things: The genetic code is what makes us what — and who — we are. It is the reason a banana is yellow and an orange is sweet. When we change something in the genetic code, we are changing its make-up. The reality is that humans still know very little about the genome or the impacts of tampering with genetic codes. This limited knowledge could lead to issues further down the line that we cannot yet comprehend. But beyond some hypothetical future issues, gene-editing could present a very real danger — and very soon. The Nobel Prize press release stated that this technology is a "genetic scissor: a tool for rewriting the code of life." And rewriting the code of life is just what corporations intend for our food supply. 

Why is this important?

When we talk about food, we often don't make the connection to seeds. But without seeds, we wouldn't have vegetables, fruits, trees, animals or any living organism. They are the one instrument that continues the cycle of life because they support all ecosystems and the beings that live in them.

But this is all changing. In the wake of new technologies, corporations are able to edit the genome of the seeds, patent and claim ownership of those seeds, and sell them to farmers on contract. Neighbouring farms then face an increased risk of contamination. Suppose the pollen from these genetically modified varieties pollinates the non-GMO varieties in a nearby field. In that case, the farmer faces new hardships with their non-GMO crop. The farmer might face legal action for infringing on patent rights or risk financial losses as their crops no longer qualify for non-GMO or organic certification.

Which organisms are being gene-edited?

New gene-editing techniques are being tested on a huge variety of seeds and animals. Gene-edited trees, common fruits and vegetables, cows, pigs, and even human embryos have been under the microscope. In Florida, 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes have been approved for release. 

Experimental, gene-edited foods and animals pose problems beyond just patent infringement for farmers. They are also one of the greatest threats to biodiversity.

How do gene-editing and genetic modification impact the environment? 

Previous generations of GMOs — including crops such as corn, canola, soy, and sugar from sugar beets — are commonly found in most processed foods on grocery store shelves. Purveyors of early GMOs claimed their use could "feed the world." While this promise has widely been disproven, history is about to repeat itself. The new generation of gene-edited foods is being rebranded and greenwashed as the best way to protect biodiversity. The irony is, one of the key reasons for biodiversity loss is the destructive methods used in industrial agriculture. These methods include mono-cropping, GMOs, and chemical-intensive practices. In other words, corporations are offering a false solution to a very real problem of their own making.

The genetic material in pollen, carried by small animals and wind, cannot be controlled. By releasing patented organisms into nature, we are releasing genetic pollution owned by corporations. Once released, it can't be recalled. Genetically modified crops could potentially contaminate related native species through cross-pollination.

What happens when these species are released into the environment and breed with natural or native varieties? What happens to the animals that depend on mosquitos as a food source, only to have them replaced with genetically altered versions engineered to die off? What happens to beneficial insects and birds when they feed on crops engineered to contain insecticide? What are the long-term consequences of changing the genetic code of an entire ecosystem? These are the questions we have to ask, and sooner rather than later.

According to the ETC Group, new techniques of genetic modification such as gene drives go one step further: 

"Gene drives can entirely re-engineer ecosystems, create fast spreading extinctions, and intervene in living systems at a scale far beyond anything ever imagined. When gene drives are engineered into a fast-reproducing species they could alter their populations within short timeframes, from months to a few years, and rapidly cause extinction. This radical new technology, also called a 'mutagenic chain reaction,' it is unlike anything seen before."

Nature is under threat more than ever before — threat of ownership and monopolization at the hands of massive corporations.

When we look at these technologies from the perspective of Big Business the dots begin to come together. By patenting and controlling the seed supply, corporations now have control over global food markets. Monopolization of the food supply — the very source that gives us life —leads to corporate control over food prices, access, and the kinds of food we put in our bodies.

Proponents may call this societal advancement, but the only way this is true is if "advancement" means corporate profits.

Technology offers us many real solutions for a variety of problems. Still, when it comes to our food, the real solution is reconnecting to the earth and natural systems. Employing traditional, organic, and regenerative farming practices can feed the world and sequester excess CO2 to help with the climate crisis.

We don't need false solutions that only expedite the colonial view of owning the seed and nature. We don't need corporate inventions that irreversibly change the very web of our delicate ecosystems and lives.

In the age of technological change, we have to ask: At what cost will we rewrite the code of life?

To find out more about gene-editing, watch our the panel discussion.

This content was originally posted on 11/06/2020. 

Please review Understanding Biotechnology: What is a GMO? for GMO basics.

THE EMERGENCE OF NEW GMOS
For the past 25 years, genetically modified organisms have been largely limited to transgenic crops and animals: organisms that have been genetically modified by combining the DNA from two or more different species. This is beginning to change. GMOs are now being created with newer genetic engineering techniques, some of which do not involve transgenic technologies. The Non-GMO Project is committed to preventing these new GMOs from entering the non-GMO supply chain. At present, several factors are making this difficult:

Testing for GMOs depends on the commercial availability of such tests. There currently are no tests commercially available for new GMOs or their derivatives. This means that tracking them relies heavily on affidavits and other documentation rather than tests.

Additionally, GMO regulations have not caught up with new GMOs. GMOs are regulated under the Coordinated Framework for Regulation of Biotechnology in the United States. This law has not been effectively updated since 1986 and does not reflect the current state of biotechnology. The more recent National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, a labeling law, does not address these new techniques.

There is also some degree of confusion about whether products of new genetic engineering techniques are GMOs. Some of these new GMOs have been marketed as non-GMO. To be clear, all products of new genetic engineering techniques are GMOs.

NEW TECHNIQUES
Many techniques are being used to genetically modify living organisms. Some of the more prevalent or noteworthy techniques include:

ODM – Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis involves the insertion of new DNA that mimics a portion of the plant’s genome and is incorporated via the cell’s own repair function.

RNAi – RNA interference is a process whereby RNA molecules inhibit gene expression via translation blocking or degradation. This prevents a specific portion of DNA from being read or degrades it so that it does not function.

ZFN – Zinc finger nucleases create double-strand breaks or cuts in DNA using DNA binding proteins. ZFN is older and more expensive than TALEN and CRISPR.

TALEN – Transcription activator-like effector nucleases create double-strand breaks or cuts in DNA using engineered restriction enzymes.

CRISPR – Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats create double-strand breaks or cuts in DNA using an endonuclease (Cas9) and synthetic guide RNA.

NEW PRODUCTS
New genetic engineering techniques are being used to develop novel products and ingredients. While many of these products are still in the research and development stages, some are commercially available now. As the Non-GMO Project understands it, these commercially available new GMOs include non-browning potatoes, non-browning apples, high-oleic acid soybeans, herbicide-tolerant canola, and many products of genetically engineered microbes.

As products of new genetic engineering techniques continue to enter the marketplace, the Non-GMO Project remains committed to keeping these new GMOs out of the non-GMO food supply.

The Non-GMO Project Product Verification Program allows participants to submit products to be evaluated against the Non-GMO Project Standard. Participants must demonstrate that their products are not made with genetically modified organisms, including products of biotechnology. Products that demonstrate their non-GMO status in accordance with the Standard may become Verified and use the Non-GMO Project Verified mark.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS
A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism in which the genetic material has been changed through biotechnology in a way that does not occur naturally by multiplication and/or natural recombination; cloned animals are included within this definition.

GMOs are changed through biotechnology, not through natural selection or traditional breeding methods.

Biotechnology is the application of:
a. in vitro nucleic acid techniques, including recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and the direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles; or

b. Fusion of cells beyond the taxonomic family, that overcame natural physiological, reproductive, or recombination barriers and that are not techniques used in traditional breeding and selection.

Biotechnology means artificially altering DNA in a context where only the genetic material of an organism is altered or artificially merging DNA from different species which would not reproduce on their own. More specifically, and for the avoidance of doubt, biotechnology includes all of the following specific new breeding techniques:

Biotechnology means artificially altering DNA in a context where only the genetic material of an organism is altered or artificially merging DNA from different species that would not reproduce on their own.

GMO CROPS
The Non-GMO Project High-Risk List identifies inputs that may be, contain, or be derived from organisms that are known to be genetically modified and commercially available. These inputs and their derivatives are subject to additional scrutiny under the Non-GMO Project Standard. The majority of these crops are engineered to produce an insecticide or tolerate the application of an herbicide.

High-risk inputs include:

Monitored-risk inputs are those for which a GMO version exists, but is not widely commercially available. Such inputs may exist in the research and development stages, or may be inputs for which known GMO contamination has occurred. Other crops are included because they could be contaminated by cross-pollination from GMO crops.

Monitored-risk inputs include:

Monitored-risk inputs are evaluated like low risk inputs; their monitored status does not impact testing or affidavit requirements. However, the Non-GMO Project keeps a watchful eye on these crops in order to prevent potentially ensuing GMO varieties from entering the supply chain unchecked.

PROCESSED DERIVATIVES OF GMOS

Many common processed ingredients are derived from GMO crops, especially commodity crops such as corn and soy. The following non-exhaustive list includes some of the most common derivatives of high-risk crops.

Animal-Derived Ingredients

Livestock, aquaculture, and apiculture products are considered to be high-risk inputs because animal feed is very likely to contain GMOs such as corn, soy, and alfalfa. Animal-derived inputs must come from animals that ate a non-GMO diet to be used in Verified products. These inputs comply with the sampling and testing requirements of the Standard through the sampling and testing of Inputs to the animals’ rations and/or the seed used to grow the inputs to the animals’ rations.

Learn More

Download this guide as a PDF

Frozen Garden FusionsFusions are a frozen “cube” made with 100 percent fruit and herbs that consumers can add to water

Valparaiso, IN (August 9, 2019) – Frozen Garden, known for its frozen Green Smoothies is expanding beyond its current line to offer consumers a convenient way to infuse their water, without added sugar or processed powders, with its new and innovative Fusions.

Each Frozen Garden Fusion is Non-GMO Project Verified, handcrafted with 100% real fruit and herbs and frozen into a single-serve “cube”. Consumers can add a Fusion – or more for a stronger flavor – to 12 ounces of water to infuse it.

Each flavor comes in a resealable package with 12 Fusions – enough for 12 glasses of water. Flavors include:

Owner and Chief Smoothie Officer, Allyson Straka stated, “Making real food easy and convenient is at the core of our business. We’re excited to launch Fusions, to help consumers elevate their hydration by adding real flavor from real food to their water.”

Frozen Garden Fusions are available exclusively at TheFrozenGarden.com and retail for $4.99. To learn more about Fusions watch Frozen Garden’s Video or visit TheFrozenGarden.com.

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About Frozen Garden

Founded in 2015 with headquarters in Valparaiso, Indiana, Frozen Garden’s mission is to make real food convenient without any supplements, powders or gimmicks. When available, they source ingredients from local farmers who are dedicated to sustainability and being good stewards of the Earth.

A highly exclusive ingredient list, but an all inclusive guest list 

MIAMI – (May 30, 2019)

Since day one, the goal of Nuttee Bean Co.® has been to create clean-label snacks that can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone, regardless of dietary restrictions or food allergies. Excitingly, Nuttee Bean Co.® is rolling out their new packaging, developed with the help of their customer base and Package Designer Sarah Wielusz. Coupled with new non-GMO and Kosher certifications, FAVALICIOUS® (as the name suggests) is the hottest new fava bean-based superfood snack, and (as the name also suggests) is 100% delicious. These fava bean snacks are also gluten free, certified vegan, palm oil free, trans fat and cholesterol free, low sodium, and free from the top eight major food allergens.  FAVALICIOUSTM are currently being sold on Amazon and Nuttee Bean Co’s own marketplace, and will be hitting store shelves very shortly.

THREE MOUTH WATERING FLAVORS

While developing new packaging and improving the oil used for roasting, three delicious and exceptionally balanced new flavour profiles were perfected:

Favalicious® fava beans are manufactured in an exclusive, allergen friendly “fava bean only” facility in order to eliminate the risk of cross contamination with food allergens such as peanuts or gluten, making them a healthy and safe snack choice for the 32 million Americans living with food allergies. Favalicious® is the only whole roasted fava bean in the market with a signature belt (other accessories sold separately), and the beans are small batch roasted in expeller pressed high oleic sunflower oil, keeping them palm oil free.

It’s not just about what ISN’T in Favalicious® fava beans. Fava beans are a small but mighty nutrient powerhouse that appear to have mostly slipped under the superfood radar until now. Each bag of Favalicious® contains 14 grams of protein (making it a great alternative to nuts) and 16 grams of fiber (making it a great alternative to prune juice). That’s right, these tasty treats contain more fiber than a whole avocado. What’s more, they are delicious and highly addictive. You’ve been warned.

“Our promise is to deliver everything you need in a snack. No Junk! Everything you need, nothing you don’t! We’re thrilled to be launching the great tasting and great-for-you Favalicious®, so it may be enjoyed by all types of snackers.” says Nuttee Bean® Co. founder and fava bean enthusiast Frank Guido.

About Nuttee Bean Co®.

Nuttee in name and nuttee in nature, Nuttee Bean Co® is committed to offering quality, healthy, non-allergenic, flavourful, fun and affordable products with mass appeal. Nuttee Bean Co® began producing allergy friendly snacks in 2017 to introduce the US market to the great tasting and healthy snack potential of the humble fava bean. Focused on developing delicious, healthy snacks in an era where food allergies are increasingly prevalent and consumers are increasingly mindful, Nuttee Bean Co® has arrived just in time.

For product samples and more information about Nuttee Bean Co®, visit nutteebean.com or follow the brand on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram: @nutteebean

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Wara Torrez
Communications Director info@nutteebean.com

 

The updated Non-GMO Project Standard offers North America’s most meaningful system for GMO avoidance

Contact: Hans Eisenbeis
Phone: 360-255-7704 x107
Email: Press@nongmoproject.org

Bellingham, WA—July 26, 2019—The Non-GMO Project published the fifteenth version of the Non-GMO Project Standard today. The most rigorous standard of its kind, the Non-GMO Project Standard is a consensus-based document crafted with insight from dozens of industry experts, reflecting a dynamic range of perspectives. As new GMOs continue to enter the supply chain at an increased rate, the Non-GMO Project Standard remains current through a robust biennial revision process.

The Non-GMO Project Standard v15 was created with broad stakeholder input gathered across three public comment periods. Commenters submitted feedback on critical topics, notably including proposed changes to the compliance requirements for livestock and poultry feed rations as well as proposed changes to the testing and affidavit sections. Accordingly, Standard v15 includes updated requirements for feed rations, sampling and testing, affidavits, inputs derived from microorganisms, and overall product evaluations. Version 15 also features improved organization and numbering, making it the most accessible Standard yet. 

“Maintaining a balance between meaningfulness and achievability is a complex process that requires input from a wide range of industry partners,” said Non-GMO Project Executive Director Megan Westgate. “The newest Standard includes improved specifications for affidavit pathways, which complement the comprehensive testing requirements.”

The board-appointed Standards Committee addressed all comments from stakeholders and proposed changes to the Standard. The Non-GMO Project then held two further open comment periods to allow for comments on proposed revisions. “The Non-GMO Project is fully committed to equity and transparency throughout the revision process,” Westgate said. “We want to ensure the Standard is as collaborative as possible.”

As products of new genetic engineering techniques begin to enter the supply chain, the Non-GMO Project will continue to update the Standard to efficiently preserve and build sources of non-GMO products. The updated Standard, Information about the Standard revision process, and an outline of changes from v14.3 to v15 can be found on the Non-GMO Project website.

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ABOUT THE NON-GMO PROJECT

The Non-GMO Project is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving and building sources of non-GMO products, educating consumers, and providing verified non-GMO choices. 

 

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