GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering (GE). These GMOs are novel, unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial, and viral genes that do not occur through traditional crossbreeding methods. In fact, the opposite is the case: GE utilizes gene-splicing to bypass and overcome natural laws governing cross-breeding and hybridization.
We are concerned about the potential for GMOs to occur in our nutritional supplements, and we are conducting a three-step process to address this GMO issue:
1.
First, we are working with all our raw material suppliers to obtain non-GMO raw materials for our products. Step-by-step, together we are building a chain of verification to ensure this.
2.
Second, we are currently reviewing every product we offer to determine if the raw materials used can potentially be identified as non-GMO.
3.
Third, for those products that do contain ingredients that potentially could be identified as non-GMO, we have begun a testing program that will verify that our final products do not contain detectible GMO proteins. We use certified testing labs which perform validated real-time PCR tests on the finished final products. These tests can detect GMO content in finished products, as well as in raw materials from soybeans, corn, canola, sugar beets, and papaya.
In the days to come, you will start to see the following on some of our labels: “Tested, no GMO proteins found.” The reason we opted for testing the final products is that obtaining certification that a raw material is produced without genetic engineering is only part of the picture. GMOs could be introduced via cross contamination during transport, storage, or processing. Ingredients derived from corn and soy are often highly processed, and full non-GMO documentation is often difficult to source, but they can be tested as GMO-free. A test confirming that the product does NOT contain GMO proteins provides the most meaningful and reliable information for consumers and practitioners.
This is an ongoing project, with challenges to overcome in some aspects of nutritional supplement production. The gelatin used in softgels may not be traceable to animals raised on 100% non-GMO feed. Probiotic bacteria and yeasts are non-GMO, but is every ingredient in their growth medium? Excipients and processing aids sources are highly refined and may be difficult to document as non-GMO. And there are aspects of the science and understanding surrounding GMOs that are still to be developed.
We will continue to work with our ingredient suppliers and contract manufacturers, with the goal of verifying and documenting that all of the ingredients used in our products are non-GMO. And for products that have higher potential for GMO content, we will test.
Please check back to this web page for updates, or you may Contact Us here.
Yours in Health,
NutriCology