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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Finding Organic Non GMO Supplements

By Colette Foreman


Without the safety of genetically-modified organisms being established by long-term research, many consumers are avoiding them in their food. However, they may not have considered the wisdom of choosing organic non GMO supplements as well. Many nutrients that make up vitamin and mineral formulas actually come from food; with the growing number of bio-engineered plants and animals, screening everything meant to enhance health may be helpful.

There is a short-cut to checking. The label 'organic' should mean that nothing other than organically-raised and processed ingredients are in a product. Since the 'organic' designation is used only for food, this would mean that the supplement is food-based and contains only certified food and edible herbs or other plants. Not many companies in the United States produce such products, so the choice is limited.

This does not mean the choice is poor, however. Many companies that use food-grade ingredients have a complete product line. Consumers should be able to find what they need without too much trouble.

Another way to make sure of getting highest-quality, pure, and completely natural products is to buy from companies that promise to use only carefully-selected and independently-tested raw materials in their formulas. The company that pledges this kind of care should have third-party certification and an excellent rating in the industry. All reputable manufacturers will have toll free numbers and be glad to answer any questions consumer may raise.

Of course, a GMO-free logo on the label helps, as well. Many consumer groups would like to see the opposite - GMO content - labeled, but this is not a legal requirement. Many manufacturers will have the fact that their products are free of such altered substances prominently displayed on the label to help careful consumers know their products fit their needs.

Another thing to remember is that not all companies make their products from their own raw materials. When some or all of the ingredients are obtained from outside sources, making sure of purity gets harder. Again, the best guarantee is the integrity of the manufacturer. There are many fine, reputable companies that take extraordinary care to insure that their products are pure, safe, and effective.

Even though the amounts of any substance in supplementary form are small, they can be dangerous. In addition, they are often expensive. Consumers should be able to trust that they will get exactly what they pay for, in the amounts stated on the product label, and in a form that is bio-available (usable by the human system) and all-natural.

The research is not definitive yet, so no one really knows what introducing GMOs into the food supply and the environment is doing. The decline of honey bees and butterflies worries many, even though this has not been officially linked to the biochemical industry. In the meantime, consumers may want to err on the side of caution and avoid any but 100% organic supplements. Without mandatory truth in labeling, there is no other way to be certain of what is in a bottle or package.




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