Consumers May See 'Organic' & 'Non-GMO' Food Labels as Synonymous

-
Post #3

A new study has come out stating that many consumers view "non-GMO" and "organic" as synonymous. The two labels are not identical. The "Non-GMO verified project" label actually does allow up to 0.9% of genetically modified ingredients. The "organic" label does not allow any amount of genetically modified ingredients. In June 2016, Congress passed a law that required companies to label their genetically modified ingredients and products by June 2018.

Over 1,000 people were surveyed to see how much more consumers are willing to spend if a product is labeled with either of the two mentioned above. Purchasing of apples and granola bars were chosen as topics to include in the survey. Granola bars represent a manufactured food that is "commonly differentiated by the absence of genetic material." Apples represent a fresh fruit that would require companies to disclose if their crop contains genetic material.

Regarding boxes of granola, consumers were willing to pay 35 cents more for "non-GMO" labels and 9 cents more for granola bar boxes that were labeled "organic." Regarding apples, consumers were willing to pay 35 cents more for apples labeled "non-GMO" and 40 cents more for apples labeled "organic." The researchers concluded that consumers do not distinguish between the two labels. Even though organic items are now allowed to contain any genetically modified material, the label "non-GMO verified" communicates more of an absence of genetic material to those buying the product.

http://www.todaysdietitian.com/news/112217_news.shtml

DU

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Are All Sugars Created Equal?

-
Image
Are All Sugars Created Equal?  I think one of the most confusing nutrition topics for people is sugar. With so many conflicting stories out there, it’s difficult to separate the facts from the fiction. Not to mention, the types of sugars are endless. How do we know what’s best for our bodies? White or brown sugar? Cane or raw? Should we just go with Stevia instead? Is it even okay to consume artificial sweeteners? Should we avoid foods with high amounts of natural sugar in them? Each answer only seems to lead to another question!  Let’s start off with distinguishing the purpose of sugar in the first place. Do our bodies even need it? The short answer is yes! Sugars are carbohydrates (what we commonly call “carbs”), one of the three main macronutrients that our bodies need for fuel to function and survive. One of the major ways to categorize sugar is by separating the “natural” sugars from the “added” sugars. Natural sugars are, well, naturally found in foods. They give us the energy th
Read more

Milk Mythbusters

-
Image
Just like with any nutrition topic, the facts about milk can become convoluted pretty quickly. Whether you drink milk for the protein, the nutrients, the flavor, or just like to switch it up, there are pros and cons to every kind. Here are some quick nutritional facts about each type to help you decide which is best for you. Animal-Based Milks  Whole Milk: The original diary drink. It gets a bad rap, but what whole milk has going for it, is that it’s in its proper nutritional form. Whole milk contains all of its original fat-soluble vitamins, A, E, D, & K, along with the fat to help you absorb them all. It also has the proper concentrations and ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids, or your omega-3s and omega-6s, so that they are metabolized as they should be. The downside is that whole milk is calorically dense, meaning that a little goes a long way. You don’t need much to get what you need, so just don’t overdo it!  2% Milk: The fat content of 2% milk is about half of that in who
Read more