The technical age in which we now live has offered consumers access to an endless supply of information at their fingertips. Many utilize this easy-to-access information to educate themselves on the products they are consuming. GMOs are among the product attributes that consumers are considering as they’ve gained greater understanding of what they are eating and drinking. With this, many are turning to the Bellingham, Wash.-based Non-GMO Project and its orange butterfly logo to help guide their choices.
“When the Non-GMO Project first started, many people had never heard of genetically modified organisms,” explains Courtney Pineau, Associate Director for the Non-GMO Project. “Research consistently shows consumers are increasingly aware of the non-GMO movement and are scrutinizing ingredients to source cleaner, healthier products; consumer demand for non-GMO ingredients and products continues to drive major interest in Non-GMO Project verification. In 2016, Nielsen reported that 40 percent of people in North America try to avoid GMOs in the food they are consuming. The same year, Consumer Reports found 72 percent of consumers think it is important to avoid GMOs while shopping and 50 percent are looking for non-GMO labels to guide them.”