While lawmakers argue over labeling food made with genetically modified organisms, “products certified as containing no genetically modified organisms are proliferating on grocery shelves without any nationwide mandatory regulations,” says the New York Times. “Moreover, many manufacturers are nodding to the public debate, adding the phrase “non-G.M.O.” to their packaging without a verification process.” The newspaper says there are few, if any, uniform standards among groups that certify food as not containing GMOs. The Times says “the Non-GMO Project, the leading certification group in the United States, has verified more than 24,500 products.”
Non-GMO food is a sliver of overall U.S. food sales. A public opinion analyst says there is an aura of inevitability that labeling will occur. The Non-GMO Project says it verifies an average of 600 products a month but the waiting list is getting longer. One of its officials says there are conversations with grocery chains about getting their private-label products verified. “Trader Joe’s already takes steps to ensure that its private-label inventory, which accounts for most of its sales, is free of genetically engineered products, and all products sold in Whole Foods are to be labeled by 2018,” says the Times.