Montreal, September 27th, 2021 – Ranked among the world’s best new startups and already considered a global leader in the fight against food waste, today LOOP Mission proudly announces that its catalog of cold-pressed juices and smoothies are officially Non-GMO Project Verified. The Non-GMO Project is North America’s most rigorous third-party verification for non-GMO foods and products. More than a third of food produced worldwide is wasted, which accounts for 8% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Since its founding in 2016, LOOP Mission has found a way to accelerate and advance diverse and high-impact solutions to fight food waste. By collaborating with major food industry actors to save perfectly good produce discarded before even reaching grocery stores, LOOP mission is proud to source otherwise discarded ingredients and deliver clean and vegan label juices and smoothies to their consumers.

“The goal at LOOP Mission has always been to save as many rejected fruits and vegetables as we can. We want to give value and purpose back to the products the food industry has historically discarded, by transforming them and giving them a whole new life along the way. In the spirit of creating the clean label products that we pride ourselves on, we have always used non-GMO ingredients in our juices behind the scenes. So, earning this non-GMO certification really validates our efforts and aligns perfectly with our vision.” Julie Saulnier-Poitras, CEO & Cofounder at LOOP Mission

The Non-GMO Project verification currently applies to the following LOOP Mission products:

• Juices (17 skus)
• Smoothies (3 skus)

For more information visit our website www.loopmission.com or connect with us on social media @loopmission.

About LOOP Mission

Since its creation in 2016, the company has continued to grow and receive both local and international recognition. Most recently, LOOP Mission represented Canada at the “Get in the Ring” Global Startup Competition, where they won the Public Choice Award and placed second in the Grand Finale round. The entrepreneurs behind the project are also the first duo to have emerged from the Dragon’s Den and returned as guest Dragons themselves. LOOP Mission is a circular economy project that aims to reduce food waste by repurposing the outcasts of the food industry. In a nutshell, we save fruits and veggies that are rejected because they don’t have the proper size, shape, or have a shelf life that is too short to survive the full cycle of distribution. We transform them into awesome cold pressed juices, and so much more! We also craft sour beers with day-old bread, distill gin using potato cuttings from a potato chip company and make handcrafted soap from rejected cooking oil. Since the company was founded in 2016, it has saved more than 6,872 tons of fruits and veggies, 446 million liters of water and avoided the emission of 5,483 tons of GHGs.

Facebook: @LOOPMission
Instagram: @loopmission

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Press contact: Public Relations Lead, Pascale Larouche | 514-245-5688 | pascalel@loopmission.com

[Vancouver, Canada, 07/14/21] — URBL (https://www.urblicious.com), plant-based “functional botanical” beverage shots, today announced Non-GMO Project Verification (https://www.nongmoproject.org/) for their product line “Superfood Decoctions.” The company’s ingredients, supply-chain, and production facilities demonstrated compliance in a third-party audit and verification of traceability of sourced ingredients from suppliers.

Commitment towards sustainability and transparency

“Providing clean, natural, and allergen-free ingredients that have not been genetically modified is one of our top priorities,” said Suhas Verma, founder & CEO of URBL. “We always knew that Non-GMO Project Verification (NGPV) would be the first third-party verification we would attain. Consumers are knowledgeable about the butterfly mark and know that NGPV certification offers the highest transparency with reference to GMOs. Our customers buy our products mainly for the quality ingredients, and we respect their right to know what is in our botanical shots.”

Nine representatives from different companies were involved in the process that took nearly 4 months to complete from start to finish. URBL currently has three products with 24 unique botanical superfoods, comprising of herbs, roots, fruits, and spices. A mix of powders, liquids, and different types of extracts meant the verification process had to be detailed and intense. 

“There are many products in the market that claim to be non-GMO. However, only the Non-GMO Project Verification provides a trustworthy label for non-GMO products that is enforced by third-party, independent testing. This is especially important for health-based products like ours as consumers buy our products mainly for the associated health benefits,” said Suhas Verma.

Launched in North America in 2021, URBL is currently distributed nationwide in Canada retail through UNFI Canada, their distribution partner. All the products are also available on their website and on Amazon in both US and Canada. URBL shots retail for CAD $4.99 or USD $3.99 in Canada and US retail, respectively.

About URBL

URBL is a Vancouver-based brand of premium and plant-based functional botanical beverage shots that offer the most sought-out and trendy ingredients and benefits such as adaptogens, nootropics, hepatoprotection, and natural collagen boost. Inspired by the principles of Ayurveda and Traditional Herbal Medicine (THM), URBL consists of 24 varying ingredients with every shot consisting of 10 unique superfoods. URBL is a nutritional powerhouse and the most convenient dawn-to-dusk solution to boost your physical as well as mental health – a comprehensive immune support. 

For more information visit https://www.urblicious.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @urblicious. 

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Media Contact

Suhas Verma

hello@urblicious.com

As more people than ever turn their attention to what they put into their bodies, an increasing number of shoppers are thinking twice about what they put onto their bodies. Clean beauty labels have gained traction in some of the country's largest personal care retailers, with brands producing natural soaps, moisturizers, shampoos and more to meet the demand. But as quickly as clean beauty products are developed and introduced, so are GMO-based equivalents. 

The Butterfly lands lightly on your skin

Did you know your skin is the largest organ in your body? It plays a vital role in keeping you healthy, acting as a barrier against physical injury and toxins. Many people choose skincare products carefully because the ingredients are absorbed through their skin. Some products on the market make unverified non-GMO claims or contain ingredients created using new GMO techniques. That's how GMOs can sneak into consumers' shopping carts — and their epidermis. 

For example, spider silk is a sought-after — if surprising — ingredient in personal care and medicine. Historically, it's been gathered naturally and used to bandage and treat wounds. In skincare products, spider silk proteins act as a barrier to lock in moisture. But spider silk is difficult to harvest. It can be made synthetically using genetically modified yeast. In the short time this technology has been available, dozens of brands have begun using GMO spider silk proteins as a luxurious signature ingredient in face creams and moisturizers. 

Several other products on the market — or poised to enter the market — are derived from GMOs. The first genetically modified human collagen was created specifically for use in cosmetics. GMOs are also found in fragrances added to products. Genetically modified rose oil, for example, is created by inserting the rose’s genome into yeast. This kind of technology is not limited to skin care products — it has entered the supply chain of the beauty industry as a whole. This prevalence is driving consumers to seek out clean makeup brands.

GMOs hiding in beauty products and skincare

Not only is there a risk of GMOs made from new genetic engineering techniques, but many skincare and makeup ingredients are made with traditional GMOs. Crops that are high risk for GMOs — such as canola, corn and soy — are processed into oils to be used in products including moisturizers and soaps.

When high risk ingredients are listed simply and clearly — such as “soybean oil” or “corn starch” — consumers who keep up to date on our high risk list would recognize them. But complicated labeling can make it hard to know where GMOs are hiding.

Here's a product comparison of 2 moisturizers. The potential hiding places for GMOs are in bold:  

The unverified product presents GMO risks from soybean oil, corn-based alcohol, fragrance, xanthan gum and citric acid made from genetically modified microorganisms.

Finding non-GMO shampoos, soaps, moisturizers & more

To avoid ingredients made from traditional GMOs and new genetic engineering techniques in conventional products, look for the Butterfly and check out the 65 brands that produce over 700 Non-GMO Project Verified products, from moisturizers and oils, to shampoos and soaps, to lip gloss and more!

Public’s opportunity to demand more testing and stricter regulation ends on May 7

BELLINGHAM, Wash—May 4, 2021. Genetically engineered animals are being developed at an accelerating pace, and could, with few regulations and limited testing, be arriving on dining room tables in the US in 2021. That’s due in part by efforts made by the previous administration to deregulate biotechnologies. On the final day of Sonny Perdue’s tenure as head of the US Department of Agriculture, a proposal was made to move oversight and regulation of GE animals from the FDA to the USDA -- a move that would significantly reduce the safeguards that protect the US public dating back to the Obama administration.

The next day, however, President Biden was inaugurated. And soon afterward, the period of public comment on Perdue’s proposal was extended by the new Secretary of the USDA, Tom Vilsack (who was previously Secretary under President Obama). This extension offers a rare opportunity for the public to influence the new administration to withdraw the dangerous proposal. The window of opportunity closes this Friday, May 7. 

The Non-GMO Project joins numerous other non-profit organizations and consumer advocacy groups urging US families to make their opinions known. In a recent article titled “ What businesses and consumers need to know about genetically modified animals entering the marketplace”(New Hope Network, 27 April 2021), the Project says, “It’s quite a big deal to move oversight from the FDA to USDA. Between the two federal agencies, the FDA is more rigorous and stringent in how it regulates drugs, [and] any products intended for human ingestion. It requires more testing around safety issues. So moving this on to the USDA is a clear form of deregulation.” Furthermore, the Project says, “We all have a fundamental right to at least know what is in our food. And if we want to avoid GMOs, we want to know if they are in there or not. Otherwise it’s not up to us. It’s up to the companies and we have no idea what we’re buying and putting on the table in front of kids.”

The risks are real, despite the biotechnology industry’s lobbying effort to deregulate, and its claims that these technologies are safe. IIn 2019, the FDA discovered that a gene-edited cow developed by a Minnesota company had off-target effects, including remnant bacteria as well as antibiotic-resistance genes. This discovery revealed that despite the gene editing precision claims promoted by biotech developers, off-target effects are not only possible but they could be disastrous. It also speaks to the need for a stringent FDA review process for genetically engineered animals so that the meat and/or milk of these animals doesn't eventually slip into the food supply chain. Other GMOs have slipped into the food system and done grave harm. In 1986, an over-the-counter GMO sleep-aid, untested and unlabelled, led to 80 deaths and thousands sickened.

Watch: Megan Westgate, Founder and Executive Director of the Non-GMO Project, urges the public to comment on Federal deregulation of GE animals. 

Lancaster, PA. 04/23/2021 — Select Juice, LLC, 100% cold-pressed juice created in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, today announced Non-GMO Project verification for seven fruit and vegetable juice blends from their ríjuice® product line. The company’s ingredients, systems, and facilities demonstrated compliance in a third-party audit and verification of traceability of sourced ingredients from suppliers.

Handcrafted by artisans that are passionate about what they do, the ríjuice line of culinary-inspired blends are designed to highlight the company’s signature ability to create extremely innovative, unique, and well-balanced formulas that appeal to a wide range of palates. Sean Wainwright, Chief Executive Officer stated, “Our mission has always been to create a flavorful, nutrient dense, pure product, and working with The Non-GMO Project is a logical extension of that commitment and provides our customers an additional measure of transparency.”

Founded in 2014, the company operates its own production facility located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. All of their juices are free of artificial ingredients, contain no added sugar or sweeteners, have no additives or preservatives, are dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and are never heated or treated.

The ríjuice product line is currently available for wholesale either through the company or through KeHE Distributors. They also sell and ship direct to consumers in the mid-Atlantic region through their website. The juices retail for $3.99 for a single serve 10-ounce bottle and $8.99 for a 33-ounce bottle.

About ríjuice

We are a flavor-forward premium juice company that proudly serves the health and well-being of our customers by offering unique blends made with only the best ingredients. Our carefully crafted juices are born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania – home of America’s most fertile farmland. It is our belief that better soil, better plants, and better farming practices make our product unparalleled in both taste and nutritional value. We strive to be the definitive source for 100% all-natural juices known for quality and freshness.

For more information visit www.rijuice.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram at rijuicefam.

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Media Contact

Sean Wainwright

sean@rijuice.com

The USDA has extended the public comment period for its proposed regulation of certain genetically engineered animals. Under its framework, the USDA would oversee these GMO animals and products from them, such as  meat, eggs, milk or other derivatives, as they move throughout the supply chain. In our submission, outlined below, the Non-GMO Project explains why any regulation of genetically engineered animals must meet the public’s demands for GMO transparency and deliver the rigorous oversight required to monitor such a complex industry.

As the leading third-party certification for GMO avoidance, the Non-GMO Project has unique and unparalleled expertise regarding the public’s opinions of GMOs and GMO transparency. Additionally, we know firsthand from a technical standpoint what’s required to provide that transparency, including traceability and segregation at all points in the supply chain. This deep knowledge gives us grave concerns about any change to the regulation of GE animals that could reduce rigor. Below we strive to offer clear and informed reasons for our position. Read our full comments here.

[maxbutton id="3" url="https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/APHIS-2020-0079-0001" text="SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS " ]

1. Regulation must be designed and conducted with the utmost rigor
The genetic manipulation of animals is a scientific endeavor that’s extremely complex. Its esoteric techniques introduce vast amounts of variables and implications for people, animals and the environment--many of which are still unknown due to lack of long-term testing and independent research. 

The regulatory framework for genetically engineered animals must be sufficiently and thoroughly rigorous. It is imperative that the safety of the animal and the safety of those who consume that animal are ensured through ironclad policy and scrupulous oversight.

No company modifying or engineering the genetic material of animals should be allowed to self-determine whether their products qualify for exemptions from regulation. Moreover, all company efficacy claims should pass regulatory approval, and environmental impacts must be adequately reviewed. Relaxed regulatory oversight only introduces unnecessary and unknown new risks.

2. The regulatory framework must adhere to public demand for GMO transparency
The public expects that if genetic engineering has been used in the development of an animal (or in their feed), then the resulting product is a GMO. It is the technique, not the outcome, that makes an organism genetically engineered or modified in the public’s mind. Under this assessment, these genetically engineered animals and products from them, including meat, eggs, milk or other derivatives, introduce GMOs at entry points in the supply chain.

In 2007, the Non-GMO Project Standard was developed to answer the public’s call for GMO transparency -- not just in finished products but through the entire supply chain. Our voluntary consensus Standard has been developed over time by input from the public, including supply chain members, consumers, and scientists. From its inception, these stakeholders have prohibited the use of genetically modified animals in Non-GMO Project Verified products. The diversity present in the supply chain today gives consumers the opportunity to choose what they purchase based on their preferences and values. The 60,000 products verified to the Non-GMO Project Standard showcase the significant consumer demand for GMO transparency and non-GMO options. 

Research conducted in 2020 concludes that 1 in 3 shoppers is more likely to buy non-GMO choices[note] Linkage Research January 2020[/note]. Of shoppers aware of GMOs:

• 65% believe GMO labeling should be mandatory[note] Organic & Beyond © 2020 The Hartman Group, Inc.[/note].
• 40% say they actively try to find out which products contain GMOs[note] Organic & Beyond © 2020 The Hartman Group, Inc. [/note].
• Nearly 40% consider GMOs unsafe to eat[note] Pew Research Center, Sept. 2020, "Science and Scientists Held in High Esteem Across Global Publics" [/note].

Because the public recognizes the lack of long-term testing on genetically engineered animals and the potential for off-target effects, consumers continue to demand transparency and deserve the right to choose what they’re eating. These genetically engineered animals and products from them, such as meat, eggs, milk or other derivatives, must be identified and labeled at all steps in the supply chain, from input to finished product.

3. The regulation must align its definition of “genetically engineered animal” with international standards and adopt the terms “Biotechnology” and “Genetically Modified Organism”
Under the Non-GMO Project Standard, a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)[note] https://www.nongmoproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Non-GMO-Project-Standard-Version-16.pdf [/note] is “an organism to which Biotechnology has been applied and derivatives of such an organism; cloned animals are included within this definition.”  Biotechnology[note]Adapted from Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2000). Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity: text and annexes. Montreal: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.[/note] is defined as “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.” 

This paradigm defines a GMO based on the process used to modify the organism and considers any derivative of the organism, regardless of degree of processing, to be genetically modified. In this way, a non-GMO food ingredient is derived from a non-GMO crop source, non-GMO animal source, and so forth.

A GMO or genetically engineered organism should be defined based on the process used to create it, not the traits present in the final product. All forms of biotechnology including gene-editing techniques resulting in what is commonly referred to as changes that could allegedly be found in nature or developed through conventional breeding methods produce a GMO. 

Defining a genetically engineered animal based on the process used to create it, not by the modification present in the animal, is consistent with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety[note]Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. (2000). Handbook of the Convention on Biological Diversity: Including its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Montreal: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.[/note], the Codex Alimentarius[note]Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission. (1992). Codex alimentarius. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.[/note], and the European Union’s GMO Legislation. Failure to harmonize definitions, allowable thresholds for accidental or technically unavoidable GM contamination, and failure to segregate GM animals and their derivatives, could negatively impact international trade and domestic producers by resulting in costly rejected shipments. Alignment with these international agreements, standards, and regulations will facilitate international trade and support domestic exports.

4. Responses to Specific Questions Posed by USDA

• Question: Are there types of modifications that should make an animal of an amenable species modified or developed using genetic engineering eligible or ineligible for the expedited safety review process outlined above?
  • All amenable species modified or developed using genetic engineering should be held to the same level of rigorous evaluation for safety of the animal, the safety of anyone who may eat the animal, claim efficacy, and ongoing environmental impact; no expedited reviews should be granted based on the type of modification.
• Question: Should USDA exempt certain types of genetic modifications of amenable species intended for agricultural use from regulation? If so, what types of modifications and why?
  • USDA should base the regulations on the process used to genetically engineer or modify the animal in accordance with international standards and regulations. For this reason, all amenable species should be subject to the same level of rigorous ongoing safety evaluation and environmental impact evaluation and no genetically engineered or modified animals, regardless of the type of genetic modification, should be exempt from regulation.
• Question: What documentation, if any, should accompany amenable species modified or developed using genetic engineering destined for slaughter, certifying that their modifications have been assessed by USDA (APHIS and FSIS)?
  • Documentation supporting segregation and traceability of genetically engineered or modified amenable species should accompany the animals at every step in the supply chain from birth to slaughter. Documentation supporting segregation, traceability, and labeling should accompany all derivatives of genetically engineered or modified animals, regardless of degree of processing, to facilitate transparency in the marketplace, and to respect and support domestic and international specialty markets that may prohibit or require the labeling of the derivatives of genetically engineered or modified animals.

An assortment of their products have been verified compliant with the Project’s rigorous Standard.

Colorado Springs, CO, February 9, 2021  Outside The Breadbox®, the first commercial gluten-free bakery in Colorado, today announced Non-GMO Project verification for 10 items from their Vegan Oat product line. Outside The Breadbox’s ingredients, systems, and facilities demonstrated compliance in a third-party audit, which included an onsite inspection of their bakery and verification of traceability of sourced ingredients from suppliers.

“We strive to provide products with natural, allergen-free ingredients to our customers,” said Erik Van Horn, owner of Outside The Breadbox. “We chose to get our products Non-GMO Project Verified because we respect our customers’ right to know what is in their food. People know to look for the butterfly mark because this verification offers the highest transparency about GMOs.”

The Outside The Breadbox online store currently offers five Non-GMO Project Verified products: Vegan Oat Bread, Vegan Oat Bagels, Plain Bread Crumbs, Plain Croutons, and Vegan Oat Hamburger Buns. Outside The Breadbox is working hard to rapidly add more products to their Non-GMO certified list, which can be filtered for on the products page of their website.

“The Non-GMO Project was founded in 2007 with the mission to provide consumers with verified non-GMO choices,” shared Kiira Heymann, Client Experience Manager for the Non-GMO Project. “We currently support over 3,000 verified brands representing over 59,000 products and are pleased to welcome Outside The Breadbox to our growing portfolio. We look forward to working with their team in their ongoing commitment to providing their customers with Non-GMO Project Verified choices.”

All Outside The Breadbox products are plant based, dairy free, and egg free; certified through the Gluten Free Certification Organization (GFCO); and baked in their family-owned nut-free and soy-free facility in Colorado Springs, CO. A complete list of stores that carry Outside The Breadbox products can be found on their website.

To be alerted about specials and new additions to their Non-GMO verified product assortment, follow Outside The Breadbox on Facebook and Instagram and sign up for their newsletter on their website.

About Outside The Breadbox

Established in 2003, Outside The Breadbox is a family-owned gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free bakery located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The company supplies certified gluten-free and verified Non-GMO products to local and regional grocery stores, directly to customers at its Colorado Springs storefront, and via its online store. Outside The Breadbox was the first commercial gluten-free bakery in Colorado and, since its inception, has continued research and development with all-natural, clean ingredients to deliver allergen-free products that delight consumers with uncompromised taste. Their expanding product line includes gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO breads and bagels, as well as cookies, crackers, pies, and pizzas. As they grow their business, the family remains dedicated to delivering only wholesome, delicious products to their customers’ tables. In support of their local community, Outside The Breadbox donates baked goods to Marian House and Care and Share Food Bank. For more information, visit www.outsidethebreadbox.com, call 719-633-3434, or visit their retail location at 2027 West Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO, 80904.

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Media Contact:

Allison Price
303-800-6364

Brands, retailers and consumers at risk -- 2020 GMO labelling law will not apply

BELLINGHAM, WASH—In an article published on January 28, 2021, in Nutrition Business Journal, synthetic biology (“synbio”) was identified as a major threat to the North American supply of food and supplements at grocery stores. In particular, natural and organic food brands, retailers, and consumers are in danger of finding these unregulated and unlabelled GMOs in their shopping carts. 

The past five years have seen an explosion in startup biotech companies using these new GMOs to create ingredients and products. The Non-GMO Project has tracked a 250 percent increase in biotech companies -- now numbering more than 400. Many of these start-ups hope to sell to consumers who believe they are buying purely natural products. And the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, passed by Congress in 2016 and launched in 2020, will not apply -- meaning these products are not required to carry a GMO label. 

The threat of new GMOs in the food supply is real. In 1989, a Japanese company created L-tryptophan using synbio, for an over-the-counter sleep-aid.  The resulting product caused an eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (EMS) epidemic that sickened thousands and led to 60 deaths. The outbreak resulted from unintended side-effects caused through synbio, according to Dr. John Fagan, chief scientist of Health Research Institute–HRI Labs, who recently invented a test to detect new GMOs in food and supplements. 

Ingredients such as vanillin and other flavorings, colorants, CBD, collagen, plant-based proteins, dairy proteins, vitamins, omegas, and probiotics are all being developed through synbio and slipping into the food supply without regulation. 

The potential impacts include destroying the livelihoods of farmers and producers of natural products such as vanilla, which is the single most important export in at least five countries in the Global South. 

The article suggests that it is urgent for the natural and organic food industry to take a stand against new GMOs. One way of doing that is to continue to support the Non-GMO Project, the only 3rd-party certifier in North America of non-GMO products. The Non-GMO Project Standard is regularly updated to address new GMOs produced through technologies like CRISPR and synbio. That means the Non-GMO Project Verification seal, which features the familiar monarch butterfly, will continue to be the most trusted way to avoid synbio for food manufacturers and consumers who don’t want this experimental new form of genetic engineering in the food supply. 

Read the full article here: https://www.newhope.com/news/synthetic-biology-test-could-force-natural-products-industry-define-its-position

MEDIA CONTACT:

Hans Eisenbeis
Director of Communications
The Non-GMO Project
press@nongmoproject.org
360.255.7704 x4

In the past few years, new plant-based meat alternatives have inundated the market. These products resemble meat, but contain no actual animal tissue. They are created with plant-derived ingredients like soy or pea protein. With as many as a quarter of North American millennials describing themselves as vegetarians or vegans, and plant-based diets on the rise generally, there’s huge demand for burger-like meat alternatives. Unfortunately, for people looking to avoid both GMOs and animal-derived products, the growing popularity of these options is making this particular aisle at the grocery store more challenging to navigate.

Of course, people opt out of a meat-based diet for many reasons, including cultural beliefs, concerns about personal and planetary health, and animal welfare. “Flexitarian” people who wish to reduce the meat in their diets often struggle to find sustainable and truly nutritious proteins that also satisfy that occasional craving for a burger. Add to that a desire to avoid GMOs, and it’s a tall order. At times it may seem hopeless. If that’s you, we’ve got you covered. Check out this infographic designed to help you avoid GMOs that may be hiding in your plant-based meat ingredients list:

Why choose plant-based meat?

Plant-based meats are often touted as environmentally friendly. They can be less resource-intensive, particularly when it comes to water and land use. However, not all plant-based meats are created equal. Some products are made with GMO ingredients, many of which are engineered for herbicide resistance. Since GMOs were introduced in the 1990s, the use of toxic herbicides like glyphosate (the active ingredient in Monsanto’s infamous RoundUp) “has increased 16-fold.” In 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) identified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen, and there are literally hundreds of active lawsuits about the health impacts of widespread use of this toxic agricultural input.

It’s no surprise then that GMO crops generally have a high environmental footprint. Most GMOs are commodity crops (such as soy, canola, and corn) planted in “monocultures”—vast swaths of agricultural land dedicated to a single crop. Monocultures have been linked to reduced biodiversity, soil degradation, the overapplication of synthetic fertilizers, increased pesticide use, and heavy greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change. 

Perhaps even more disturbingly, new genetic engineering techniques are also showing up in the plant-based meat space. These pose additional risks to the consumer, with some companies capitalizing on their novelty to avoid labeling their products as GMO. Don’t be fooled: new GMOs are still GMOs, and none of them are allowed in Non-GMO Project Verified products. If you choose plant-based meat for environmental reasons, make sure your choice is actually helping Mother Earth by going non-GMO and organic whenever possible!

How do I avoid GMOs in my plant-based meat?

Look for the Butterfly! There are hundreds of Non-GMO Project Verified meat alternatives to choose from. By choosing Non-GMO Project Verified plant-based meat choices, you can be sure you’re shopping your values and doing your part for the planet. When you buy Non-GMO Project Verified products you’re not just avoiding GMOs—you’re voting for a better future.

This content was originally posted on 10/11/2019.

November 19th 2020  

Sustainable Foods Summit Goes Online  

London – The Sustainable Foods Summit will discuss the impacts of the  coronavirus pandemic on production and consumption of sustainable foods. COVID-19 is  changing the way we shop and eat; it is also influencing raw material supply chains and  distribution of food products. The sustainability implications will be discussed at the 11th  North American edition, hosted on an online platform on 25-28th January (Pacific  Daylight Time).  

Major discussions in this virtual edition include…

1. Transition to a new green new deal. Winona LaDuke, the renowned Native  American activist, environmentalist and writer, will share her views on moving to a green  economy. In her keynote, she will call for an infrastructure overhaul to meet the  challenges of climate change, energy, and food. What is the role of sustainable  agriculture in meeting these challenges? How can food companies & retailers help build a  more equitable and resilient food industry? She will outline practical steps to help make  the green transition.

2. Rise of regenerative agriculture. There is a growing realization that regenerative  agriculture can help resolve many of the environmental & social issues faced by the agri food industry. Diana Martin from The Rodale Institute will give an update of the new  Regenerative Organic Certified scheme and its three pillars of soil health, animal welfare,  and social fairness. Launched in 2018, the scheme has been adopted by Patagonia,  Guayaki, Navitas Organics, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, and Tablas Creek Vineyard.

3. Sustainable food retailing. Consumer demand for organic & sustainable foods has  increased during the pandemic. Alan Lewis from Natural Grocers will share the retailers’  experiences. Natural Grocers is a leading chain of natural & organic food shops,  operating 159 stores in 20 American states.

SPINS will present its retail sales data on natural & sustainable foods. What product  categories are reporting the highest sales? What trends are occurring in product  purchases? Marketing guidelines will be given to brands and retailers looking to  capitalize on changing consumer behavior...

4. Marketing to the post-COVID consumer. Some argue that consumer behavior has  changed irreversibly during the pandemic. Apart from changing the way we shop,  COVID-19 is also changing the products we buy, as well as perceptions of brands.  According to Signal Analytics, Trader Joe’s is one of the brands that has resonated  strongly with consumers during the pandemic. The research agency will be presenting its  latest consumer and market trends at the summit.

5. Plastics in a circular economy. Although there is a growing call to move away from  single-use plastics, some organizations are finding new applications for plastic waste.  Think Beyond Plastic is one such entity; Daniella Russo, Founder and CEO, will show  how it aims to advance the circular economy for plastics by focusing on new materials,  sustainable chemistry and new product delivery systems.

6. Future of sustainability schemes. The number of sustainability schemes and ethical  labels continues to proliferate in the food industry. With the absence of a single  sustainability scheme that covers ingredients and finished products, there are concerns on  how events will unfold. Industry experts will discuss the merits and drawbacks of  sustainability schemes, as well as give their perspectives on future developments. Will we  see some convergence or more divergence in sustainability schemes and labels?

7. Merits of organic farming. Organic is the most popular form of sustainable  agriculture, having over 70 million hectares of certified land worldwide. Apart from  avoiding synthetic agricultural chemicals, organic farming also encourages biodiversity.  Fernando Alfonso from Native Products will show how organic agriculture is  encouraging biodiversity on its farms. Native Products is one of the leading organic food  brands in Brazil, starting organic farming in 1987. In another seminar, the Organic Trade  Association will highlight the social, economic and environmental benefits of organic  food production.

8. Widening range of plant proteins. A wide range of plant proteins are now being used  to make plant-based foods. Michelle Wolf, Co-founder and CTO of New Wave Foods,  will show how the company has developed plant-based shrimp using sustainably sourced  seaweed and natural flavors. Its New Wave shrimps will be launched in restaurants and  foodservice outlets in early 2021.

Dan Curtin, President of Greenleaf Foods (owner of Lightlife and Field Roast Meat Co.),  will highlight major developments in the plant-based foods market. An update will also  be given on sustainable sourcing of soy. Soy remains one of the most widely used plant  proteins in food and drink products.  

About the Sustainable Foods Summit
The aim of the Sustainable Foods Summit is to explore new horizons for eco-labels and  sustainability in the food industry by discussing key industry issues in a high-level forum. 

The international series of summits now takes place in the major geographic regions of  the world. The North American edition will take place on 25-28th January (PDT time).  More information is available from  

http://www.sustainablefoodssummit.com/northamerica/  

About Ecovia Intelligence
Ecovia Intelligence (formerly known as Organic Monitor) is a specialist research,  consulting & training company that focuses on global ethical product industries. Since  2001, we have been encouraging sustainable development via our services portfolio:  market research publications, business & sustainability consulting, technical research,  seminars & workshops, and sustainability summits. Visit us at www.ecoviaint.com  

Further Information
For further information, please contact:  

Ms. Polyana Sartori
PR & Marketing Events Associate
Tel: (44) 20 8567 0788
Email: press@ecoviaint.com

October is Fair Trade Month and Non-GMO Month. Grocery stores across North America will be promoting products and brands that are working to fix a broken food system.

WASHINGTON, September 30, 2020 – This October, brands, non-profits, retailers and shoppers are celebrating Fair Trade Month and Non-GMO Month. The harvest month of October has become a time when more attention is focused on food quality and sustainability as people begin to prepare for holiday cooking and family gatherings. Together, Fairtrade and Non-GMO Project certifications represent consumers’ rejection of industrial agriculture and the heavy cost it has had on both our planet and our people.

This year more than ever, people understand the importance of working together for a common cause. Fairtrade America and the Non-GMO Project have partnered to help small independent retailers communicate how third-party certifications labels on food are a shortcut to trust for shoppers.

Currently, more than 300 retailers across North America have committed to promoting Fairtrade certified and Non-GMO Project verified products this October. Through training staff and digital and in-store promotions, shoppers will know more about the benefits to people and planet when they shop their values.

Shoppers are more aware than ever where their food comes from and why it matters:

• 81 percent of North American adults believe the quality of their food is critical to their health.*

• 66 percent are paying more attention to where their food comes from.*

• 58 percent are buying food brands that are making positive change in our food system.*

The global pandemic is changing consumer food habits and generating awareness for the connection between all of us. According to The Hartman Group, more people are cooking at home for the majority of their meals, and there is more opportunity to examine food, ingredients and food labels as they shop. When wearing a mask in store, shoppers and staff alike are reminded that their health is linked to the health of others. They’re also reminded that paying a decent price for high quality food respects the family farmers and workers who are growing it during these challenging times. It’s a win-win-win: Consumers eat better, farmers get paid better, and everyone is healthier, while growing a more sustainable future for agriculture.

Retailers interested in participating in October can sign up here, and receive free promotional materials as well as Fairtrade certified, non-GMO, organic cotton face masks with the promotional messaging.

*NGP/Linkage Consumer Survey of 2000 North American Consumers, January 2020

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About Fairtrade America

Fairtrade America betters the lives of farmers and workers in developing countries by inspiring businesses to implement ethical production practices and assisting shoppers in making informed purchasing decisions. Fairtrade America is the US chapter of Fairtrade International, the original and global leader in fair trade certification with over 30 years of experience working to make trade fair, with headquarters in more than 30 countries across the globe. A non-profit 501(c)3 organization, Fairtrade America is the world's largest and most recognized fair trade system—part of a global movement for change. Learn more at www.fairtradeamerica.org.

Fairtrade America contact details:

Mary Linnell-Simmons

Marketing Director

mlinnell-simmons@fairtradeamerica.org

About Non-GMO Project

The Non-GMO Project is a mission-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to building and protecting a non-GMO food supply. We do this through consumer education and outreach programs, marketing support provided to brands with Non-GMO Project Verified products, and providing training resources and merchandising materials to retailers. The Non-GMO Project Verified seal is the market leader for GMO avoidance and one of the fastest-growing labels in the retail sector. We offer North America’s most trusted third-party verification for non-GMO food and products.

Non-GMO Project contact details:

Hans Eisenbeis

Marketing Director

hans@nongmoproject.org

Late on Friday afternoon, May 18, 2020, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a significant change in how it regulates genetically modified organisms and genetic engineering, even as dozens of new, unregulated, untested and unlabeled GMOs are entering the food supply. 

APHIS’s framework has always been a very narrow scope of regulation on GMOs. It focused on Agrobacterium, a plant pest that has been used to create GMOs. APHIS has decided this regulatory tool and the public review of GMOs that it provided is too burdensome for the biotech companies that want more genetically engineered ingredients to enter the food supply. Many consumers are surprised to learn that the US has never had a regulatory process to evaluate the human health and safety of GMOs; this 30-year-old rule was one of the only tools the public had to evaluate and regulate GE crops for negative impacts. 

Unfortunately this decision signals a clear, strategic shift even further away from transparency in the food system. Consumers overwhelmingly want to know what’s in their food and how it is made. What’s more, there is no mechanism today to evaluate, regulate or label hundreds of new GMOs that use new techniques. The Non-GMO Project is currently monitoring 375 startup biotech companies, a number that has increased 220 percent in the past three years. These companies are using new genetic engineering methods to create unnatural GMO products that are unregulated and unlabeled. Meanwhile, old GMOs are still a huge problem — still grown on 90 percent of arable farmland in the US.

USDA Organic Certified and Non-GMO Project Verified have been tremendous success stories, together amounting to more than $50 billion in sales in the US. This growth has happened precisely because consumers show a strong preference for agriculture done in a more responsible and sustainable way. The public comment period for this revision in policy resulted in more than 6,000 comments from the public and all but 25 were strongly against this deregulation. This regulatory change clearly does not honor public opinion. But thousands of farmers, food companies, and grocery stores do.

We know that consumers will continue to vote with their dollars for Non-GMO Project Verified groceries. People who want a better, more natural food system can still trust and depend on the Non-GMO Project. We continue to monitor these developments. We persist in testing products for GMOs, as we have done for the past 13 years, regularly updating our Standard to evaluate new ingredients, new products and new food companies, educating people and giving shoppers the option to avoid all GMOs — by simply looking for the Butterfly on their favorite products.

Beginning today, the Non-GMO Project is launching an awareness campaign to highlight how individual actions ultimately lead to huge impacts. This idea is called the butterfly effect, and in the natural world, it happens all the time: A small and seemingly insignificant event spirals outward, creating massive and complex changes in the world around us. And we each have a role to play. If 2020 has taught us anything, it's that small actions and choices have large impacts. When we act towards a common goal, we are capable of amazing things.

Look for the Butterfly Effect

In collaboration with renowned domino artist Lily Hevesh and Children of the Setting Sun Productions, the Non-GMO Project brings you a stunning “domino fall” video to illustrate how small, individual actions impact the greater whole. The video playfully examines a “world of connections, woven together with infinite dexterity," arguing that industrial agriculture — with its reliance on GMOs, toxic chemicals, and vast monocultures — disrupts these connections and robs from the Earth. 

“We recognize that our work to build a non-GMO food system, one that honors nature and our place in it, is just a small piece of a much broader collaboration,” said Megan Westgate, Executive Director of the Non-GMO Project.  “We are all connected in ways that make it possible to make big changes through small but important choices. That includes the food we buy, and also what we give back to the Earth and to each other.”

Within this interconnected landscape, each one of us has an impact, and we can choose to be an agent of positive change.

#BeTheButterfly

Starting the week of May 18th, 2020, we invite you to share stories of your contributions to a healthy, prosperous and diverse future for all. We hope you will take inspiration from each other's ideas, expanding the global movement towards sustainability. By sharing #BeTheButterfly stories, Non-GMO Project's social media followers can enter to win a state-of-the-art ebike from Rad Power Bikes, the Seattle-based pioneer in sustainable transportation. Coordinating prizes throughout the campaign will also include Patagonia backpacks, Klean Kanteen containers, and more!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for upcoming contest details!

Join us over these next 12 months as we partner with mission-aligned artists, brands and innovators that are making their own #BeTheButterfly pledge. Like the monarch butterfly, we might think that we travel alone, but ultimately we live together.

In light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Non-GMO Project wants to support participants in their ongoing participation in our Product Verification Program. As such, an interim policy regarding product verification renewals has been developed and was released to the Technical Administrators on March 27th. This policy aims to make accommodations for the ongoing changes in the supply chain due to the current pandemic without compromising the integrity of the Non-GMO Project Standard and verification mark. Should you be experiencing trouble in meeting the requirements of your renewal, please reach out to your technical administrator for guidance. Our Client Experience Team is also here to help — let us know how COVID-19 is impacting your business and if there are ways we can support by emailing us at verification@nongmoproject.org. This information will also be useful as we consider further updates to the interim policy to address the evolving landscape of COVID-19.

Read a letter from our Executive Director here.

Last night, as I sat listening to the exuberant chorus of spring peepers from the pond in my backyard, I was struck by how full of paradox the world feels right now. Here in Bellingham, WA, our daily lives have completely changed. We moved all of our Non-GMO Project staff to virtual work 10 days ago and we are in the strange process of creating new daily rhythms that don’t include offices, schools, restaurants, or any social gatherings.

At the same time that all of this isolation is occurring, our interconnectedness has never been more palpable. When I started the Non-GMO Project nearly 14 years ago, I was driven by a burning desire to empower people with food choices that honor the truth of our dependence on nature, reinstating more respect and integrity into the relational process of eating. Like many of you, I felt incredulous about all of the ways that humans ignore our interconnectedness with each other and with nature, and scared about what that would cost future generations. In recent times there has been such an escalation in wake up calls to come into right relationship with our planet and with all of life. As the messages come through louder and clearer, I believe it is incumbent upon each of us to listen as best we can. What is here to be learned? What is being asked of us? What are the changes we need to make, and the calls we need to heed?

At the Non-GMO Project, this includes work we have been doing for the past year to develop a 10-year strategic plan that challenges us to think bigger about what we can contribute to empowering people to care for themselves, the planet, and future generations. That work feels more urgent than ever, and I look forward to sharing details in the coming months.

At the same time that we all need to attend with more sincerity to the big picture, this pandemic obviously also brings a tremendous amount of urgency to many immediate details of how we need to adapt our daily lives and the running of our businesses. To that end, the Non-GMO Project has formed a COVID-19 task force to assess and mitigate impacts to our Product Verification Program (PVP). We will be following up by publishing interim guidelines and policies to our Technical Administrators next week in order to support our PVP participants in navigating product verification during this unpredictable time. We'll also continue to communicate with our PVP participants directly in order to ensure you're aware of the steps we're taking to weather this storm together.

In the meantime, I hope that you are finding moments in these uncertain days to honor and be nourished by interconnectedness. May we all take good care of each other, and of this beautiful, precious planet.

With Love,

Megan Westgate