If you thought that the infamous butterfly seal was everywhere, be assured that the “quality seal” market for non-GMO products is only growing and diversifying.
While the Non-GMO Project Verified seal remains the most prevalent in the retail industry, there’s now a total of 6 different types of quality seals that can state that a product is in fact non-GMO.
All of these different companies offer the same sort of value: they document and verify the paper chain concerning GMOs, and make sure that any high risk ingredients are tested and that a process is in place to avoid contamination with other GMO products. At the same time, they offer a quality seal to any brands once they are verified, to show consumers which products have been reviewed by a third party to ensure that they are in fact non-GMO.
Today we’ll review the different seals available, their unique features and which one is right for your product if you’re in the midst of choosing.
By: The Non-GMO Project
By: NSF International
By: AGW (A Greener World)
This certification applies mainly to meat, dairy and eggs and “is the only food label in North America that helps consumers avoid genetically engineered (GE) food ingredients and support high-welfare, environmentally sustainable food animal production”.
In fact, any products approved as Certified Non-GE by AGW must also come from livestock approved under the Certified AWA (Animal Welfare Approved) farm standards. This new seal also incorporates stricter Non-GMO standards than the Non-GMO Project (0.1% GMO tolerance level vs. 0.9% with the Non-GMO Project).
Read More About This Seal: A New Non-GMO Quality Seal Is Developed
By: Eurofins
A similar program is also offered by the lab SGS.
By: ProTerra
Their focus is sustainably produced non-GMO commodities, primarily soy for the European Market. They currently serve a number of clients outside of the US.
By: USDA
The USDA explains: “The USDA Process Verified Program is a verification service that offers applicants a unique way to market their products to customers using clearly defined, implemented, and transparent process points. An applicant’s program may include one or more agricultural processes or portions of processes where self-described process points are (1) supported by a documented management system, and (2) independently verified by a qualified AMS auditor.”
For example, as stated on the Official Listing of Approved USDA Process Verified Programs: Natural Products, Inc. (NPI) products verified by the USDA Process Verified Program as Non-GMO are made from soybeans that were not produced using biotechnology or genetic engineering and meet NPI’s standard of 99.1% Non-GMO/Non-GE minimum (or testing specification 0.9% GMO maximum) Source
This USDA Process Verified claim can apply to much more than non-GMO, but this is a common option.
By: Natural Food Certifiers
However, none of their programs are the “industry leaders”, and therefore are an ideal fit for those companies that don’t need or want to work with the most recognized seals in the industry — just that they want some sort of 3rd party verification program in place.