Non-GMO Project Verified: Produce

This single issue label indicates that fresh produce and products containing fruits and vegetables are produced in a way that does not use GMOs and minimizes possible cross contamination with GMO-derived products during production. Products and their ingredients are either tested for the presence of DNA from genetically modified organisms or audited to ensure they don’t contain products of genetic engineering. 

Because GMOs are so widely used in the food industry, the Non-GMO Project cannot guarantee that products are completely free of GMO residue; however, tested samples of certified vegetable seeds must routinely contain less than .25% ingredients from GMOs. Testable products containing fruits and vegetables must contain less than .9% products from GMOs. For ingredients that do not contain enough intact DNA for testing, their production process must be audited to demonstrate low risk of contamination. 

Non-GMO is not necessarily organic (though all organic is non-GMO). It also does not address fertilizers, pesticides or other chemicals used on the farm or in processing.