What It Means To Be Non-GMO Verified
Lately, we’ve received questions about why all of our labels have a “Non-GMO Project Verified” certification. Sunflower seeds, as many of you know, are naturally GMO-free. There are several reasons we put our seeds through the rigors of meeting the “Non-GMO Project Verified” standards.
GMO-free versus Non-GMO Verified
As it stands, companies are free to advertise their products as being GMO-free as long as the core product itself is free of GMOs. There’s a difference between simply claiming seeds are GMO-free, and actually having a product that’s Non-GMO.
We go beyond sunflower seeds alone to ensure we provide a better-for-you product. From the hatch chiles in our infamous Hatch Green Chile seeds, to the organic cheese in our Parmesan & Pepper seasoning; every ingredient in a bag of Chinook has been examined and approved by the Non GMO Project.
What are GMO’s?
According to the Non-GMO Project, genetically modified foods are “organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through engineering.” Companies genetically modify organisms we consume for several different reasons - to make them more resistant to pests, more resistant to certain chemicals, and adaptive to different environments.
What exactly is the Non-GMO Project?
The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit group working to fight deceitful labeling of GMO products. According to their website, the Project Verified seal is an “assurance that a product has been produced according to consensus-based best practices for GMO avoidance”. In order to label a product with the Non-GMO Verified logo, a product must adhere to these strict requirements for each ingredient in the bag.
The Non-GMO Verified label carries a lot more weight in the sunflower seed industry than a simple GMO free claim. Which is why Chinook Seedery cares so much about what goes into making the #BESTSEEDSEVER. At the end of the day, we think the results will speak for themselves.
