Friday, 12 October 2012 06:52

How to Help Make Food Way Better: Celebrate Non-GMO Month (and win free chips)

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How to Help Make Food Way Better: Celebrate Non-GMO Month (and win free chips)

Happy Non-GMO Month everyone! Yep, this is such an important issue that it needs a whole month to raise awareness, thus it was created with a mission of empowering shoppers and retailers to make the right decision about food. Now that you know about it you'll see Non-GMO Project seals on many products, especially since over a thousand stores across the US and Canada are celebrating this month.

This month is especially important due to Prop 37 - you've likely spotted lots of "Yes on 37" and "Right to Know" campaign advertisements popping up lately. This ballot measure was created to offer consumers the right to know if their food has been genetically engineered or not via product labels. Written with broad input from food groups, industry, science, legal and health experts it will not affect food prices, requires no new bureaucracy, and will help address health concerns with GMOs - seems like a good idea, and yet many companies are against it and putting loads of money into opposing it (especially Monsanto and DuPont) There are some great videos going around about this that explain it in comprehensive, fun ways, like this celebrity filled ad and this music video.

Speaking of videos, here are two that really break down the issue with GMOs as well as the story behind Monsanto:

If buying organic is a priority for you, non-GMO should be as well, and it's important to know that the two don't necessary go hand in hand. GMO avoidance is a central principle of organic, however, due to the rapid increase of GMOs over the last 15 years, there is a growing contamination risk to all non-GMO crops. Organic products still have a much lower risk of contamination than conventional products, and the organic industry is working hard to keep organic non-GMO. This is a key reason to support labeling and choose quality products with the Non-GMO Project seal.

Another essential fact to know is that non-organic ingredients can still be non-GMO. Take corn for example: it is estimated that up 88% of U.S. corn is genetically engineered, but some companies are going to great lengths to source from uncontaminated crops. A perfect example is Way Better Snacks, which should be a familiar brand now that I've become an ambassador for them. I've written and made videos about their organic sprouted ingredients, their mission to help people live better lives and will be featuring their delicious chips in monthly recipes. Now I'm thrilled to share with you that they are Non-GMO Project Verified, which means they regularly test their ingredients (especially their corn) and are audited annually. If you haven't tried them yet, keep reading for a chance to do so for free!

So what can you do to celebrate Non-GMO Month? Here are three ways to make a difference for yourself, your loved ones, and the rest of the world:

  • Vote Yes of Prop 37 and spread the word about it online (email, social media, YouTube, etc.)
  • Buy products that are Non-GMO Project Verified, and bring up your favorite brands in conversations (sharing photos on Instagram is great for this too!)
  • Enter to win one of five cases of Way Better Snacks Simply Sprouted Tortilla Chips and try out one of my recipes! (all you have to do is follow the link and enter your name and email address - good luck!)
  • CA Right to Know's website has even more ways to assist Yes of 37
Learn more about Non-GMO Month from the other Way Better Snacks Ambassadors:
Disclosure: I have been selected by Way Better Snacks to participate in their Brand Ambassador blogger program. While I have been compensated for my time, my opinions are my own, and I have not been paid to post positive comments.
Read 12758 times Last modified on Monday, 15 October 2012 05:34
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Whitney Lauritsen

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