‘Organic’ GMO? No Way!

Consumers have always been able to count on the fact that if a product is certified organic, it’s GMO-free. That’s because GMOs aren’t allowed in organic.

At least they haven’t been, so far.

Last week, our allies at Food DemocracyNOW! broke the news that Melody Meyer, a member of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), wants gene editing, a dangerous new form of genetic engineering, to be allowed in organic. Meyer said as much, in a blog post.

Yep, higher ups at the OTA—that “organic” Big Food front group that sold out the GMO labeling movement—are at it again.

First, they sold us out on the DARK Act, the bill that effectively killed GMO labeling in the U.S. Now, they want to use the loopholes and exemptions written into the DARK Act to force the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) to allow certain types of genetic engineering (some of which are referred to as GMO 2.0) to be allowed in organic.

At its next meeting, November 16 – 18, in St. Louis, Mo., the NOSB will consider an “Excluded Methods Terminology” proposal that could determine whether or not Meyer and her compatriots at the OTA score another win against organics.

We say, no way. If you haven’t already, please sign this petition to the NOSB demanding that all GMO technologies be kept out of certified organic products. TAKE ACTION BEFORE NOV. 15: Tell the National Organic Standards Board to keep genetically modified organisms out of certified ‘USDA organic’ food

Support OCA’s anti-GMO work (tax-deductible, helps support our work on behalf of organic standards, fair trade and public education)

h/t: Organic Consumers Association