October 2011 is Non-GMO Month!

Few companies sell products that are certified as “Non-GMO” products. At Cibaria, we are proud to offer high-qualify Non-GMO Canola Oil . Many people are now purposefully seeking out Non-GMO products, and for a very good reason.

What are GMO’s?

GMO’s or Genetically Modified Organisms are organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. This DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it modified or novel genes. Transgenic organisms, a subset of GMOs, are organisms which have inserted DNA that originated in a different species.

Are GMOs safe?
In 30 other countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production of GMOs, because they are not considered proven safe. In the U.S. on the other hand, the FDA approved commercial production of GMOs based on studies conducted by the companies who created them and profit from their sale. Many health-conscious shoppers find the lack of rigorous, independent, scientific examination on the impact of consuming GM foods to be cause for concern.

How common are GMOs?
According to the USDA, in 2009, 93% of soy, 93% of cotton, and 86% of corn grown in the U.S. were GMO. It is estimated that over 90% of canola grown is GMO, and there are also commercially produced GM varieties of sugar beets, squash and Hawaiian Papaya. As a result, it is estimated that GMOs are now present in more than 80% of packaged products in the average U.S. or Canadian grocery store.

Non-GMO Month

Non-GMO Month was created by the Non-GMO Project in 2010 as a platform for raising awareness on the GMO issue. Citizens and organizations across North America are waking up to the failure of GMO technology, and discovering the risk GMOs pose to our health, our families, and our planet.

Non-GMO Month is an opportunity to coordinate our voices and our actions, so that we can stand up loudly and clearly for our right to know what’s in our food, and to choose non-GMO.

Protecting consumer choice and a non-GMO food supply require a multi-faceted approach and lots of team work, which is why this website was created. Together, we make Non-GMO Month happen by creating and participating in events, and spreading the word in our communities.

You might decide to celebrate Non-GMO Month by hosting a film screening in your living room and inviting the neighbors over, or maybe you’re ready to join in the historic Right2Know March from NYC to DC! There are lots of ways to get involved. Make sure your local natural foods store is registered for Non-GMO Month, and pledge to choose Non-GMO Project Verified foods for the month of October. Got another idea? Make it happen! Register your event here.