Non-GMO

Non-GMO

GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms—food products that have been implanted with specific genes that alter their composition. These changes are usually done to improve crop output; GMO foods are designed to be easier to grow, resistant to pests, and can even be more nutritionally dense than their non-GMO counterparts.

Despite these benefits, GMOs also produce significant health risks to those who consume them. This is because GMO food production involves altering natural foods at their most basic level and changing their genetic structure. Researchers don’t really understand how these alterations affect our health. Even if certain foods are enhanced to provide extra vitamins and minerals, the presence of unnatural genes can produce unpredictable responses in our bodies.

 

What’s the Difference Between GMO and Non-GMO?

GMO foods are classified as any food products that have been altered at the genetic level. This designation applies both to the food itself (such as corn, one of the most common GM foods) and any derivatives of that food product (such as high fructose corn syrup). Also, if these GM ingredients are used in food production, the final product cannot be considered “non-GMO”—no matter how natural the rest of the ingredients may be.

 

Non-GMO Label Certification

GMO agriculture is growing in popularity due to the benefits of genetic modification, such as resistance to pests and increased crop yields. However, the food industry has done a poor job of exploring the long-term effects of these products and telling consumers which foods contain GMO ingredients.

To provide this important information to the public, non-profit organizations such as the Non-GMO Project have created guidelines for objective, third-party verification of non-GMO food products. This organization is the owner of the famous “Butterfly Seal”—a labeling standard that gives consumers an easy way to know which foods are guaranteed to be non-GMO. All Green Star Organic Milling products have obtained this certification, meaning that you’ll never have to worry about any genetically-modified ingredients appearing in our store.

 

Which Foods Are GMO?

Many foods contain GMOs these days, even if they appear completely natural. Some of the most common GMO-enhanced crops grown for food production include the following:

  • Corn
  • Soybeans
  • Sugar beets
  • Alfalfa
  • Papaya
  • Yellow squash
  • Zucchini

When these foods are used as a base for other products, GMOs can spread into all areas of our diet. For example, high fructose corn syrup is an inexpensive sweetener used in countless processed breads, soft drinks, and juices. When GMO corn is used to make this sweetener, the foods can no longer be considered “non-GMO.” The problem also extends to meat production—when cows or pigs are fed GMO corn, GMOs will be present in their meat.

Since the health risks of GMOs are not well understood, consumers need to examine their own diets and ask themselves if they really know what they’re putting into their bodies.

 

100 Percent Non-GMO Ancient Grains

Green Star Organic Milling philosophy is to provide natural foods that help people build healthier lives through healthier diets. All flours and grains produced atGreen Star Organic Milling are 100 percent whole grain, gluten free, and completely non-GMO. There are no laboratory foods or genetically altered products here; all of our ancient, heirloom grains are as natural and healthful as they were when our ancestors grew them thousands of years ago.

For example, most modern corn is genetically enhanced these days—and as corn is a staple ingredient for thousands of processed food products, these alterations carry over into many foods that otherwise appear natural. In contrast, the corn flours offered at Green Star Organic Milling foods are as natural and pure as the corn grown in Central Mexico over 7,000 years ago. This commitment to ancient, non-GMO foods applies to all products we offer. When it comes to wellness, there’s no substitute for natural.

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