Consumers today face a new challenge. Not only do they need to know which foods and health aids make up a healthy diet, they need to know how to get non GMO vitamins and supplements. Mainstream American farmers and food producers have enthusiastically embraced genetic modification. It's harder than ever to get truly natural, untainted foods and nutritional products. The only way to do it is to grow your own or find producers whose integrity you can rely on.
So far, the 'organic' certification should mean that no genetically modified ingredients are in a product. However, this could change if forces that want to weaken the standards succeed in getting the FDA to change the rules. Those who care should make their views known to the government and should ask questions of supplement providers to be sure of their standards.
It's never wise to depend on information that's really cleverly-disguised advertising. This is why the organic certification is important. It's a third-party seal to assure consumers of a product's quality. An all-natural claim is not the same. There is a push going on to include genetically engineered ingredients in 'natural' products; it has not succeeded as yet but probably will not go away any time soon.
Some high-quality brands have well-established reputations for purity. They have earned the public's trust by years of integrity. Buying products from industry leaders rather than unknown companies is one way of getting 'clean' vitamin pills and supplemental nutrients. All concentrated health aids are unnatural in one context, since high dosages of a single nutrient are not found in naturally growing things. However, minimal processing and careful production can means safe, effective, and healthy products.
Even with certifying associations, it's still buyer beware. Many original pioneering companies in the industry have been sold. This fact may not be well-publicized, since the cachet of the brand is important to the new owners. However, the philosophy of the present ownership might not be the same. If a brand has been acquired by a major conglomerate, you need to be aware of the fact.
Many products will have a non-GMO seal on the package. This means that no active ingredient, filler, flavoring, coloring, or capsule should be made of genetically engineered matter. Purists in the health food community hope that growing customer awareness will force even mainstream producers to avoid using modified substances.
Confusion arises because industry-backed research says including genetically modified ingredients in a supplement does not pose a threat. Other studies, however, do raise concerns, especially for infants and young children still developing and for those already weakened by age, illness, or chronic disease. Those who like their food and supplements as clean and unprocessed as possible are used to erring on the side of caution when it comes to products on the market.
Industry claims that genetic modification is safe are suspect because of conflict of interest and the history of the food industry using ingredients subsequently found to be harmful. Vitamin pills and other supplements that are natural are, of course, made from foods. The consumer who wants to be healthy and to live a natural life needs to shop carefully.
So far, the 'organic' certification should mean that no genetically modified ingredients are in a product. However, this could change if forces that want to weaken the standards succeed in getting the FDA to change the rules. Those who care should make their views known to the government and should ask questions of supplement providers to be sure of their standards.
It's never wise to depend on information that's really cleverly-disguised advertising. This is why the organic certification is important. It's a third-party seal to assure consumers of a product's quality. An all-natural claim is not the same. There is a push going on to include genetically engineered ingredients in 'natural' products; it has not succeeded as yet but probably will not go away any time soon.
Some high-quality brands have well-established reputations for purity. They have earned the public's trust by years of integrity. Buying products from industry leaders rather than unknown companies is one way of getting 'clean' vitamin pills and supplemental nutrients. All concentrated health aids are unnatural in one context, since high dosages of a single nutrient are not found in naturally growing things. However, minimal processing and careful production can means safe, effective, and healthy products.
Even with certifying associations, it's still buyer beware. Many original pioneering companies in the industry have been sold. This fact may not be well-publicized, since the cachet of the brand is important to the new owners. However, the philosophy of the present ownership might not be the same. If a brand has been acquired by a major conglomerate, you need to be aware of the fact.
Many products will have a non-GMO seal on the package. This means that no active ingredient, filler, flavoring, coloring, or capsule should be made of genetically engineered matter. Purists in the health food community hope that growing customer awareness will force even mainstream producers to avoid using modified substances.
Confusion arises because industry-backed research says including genetically modified ingredients in a supplement does not pose a threat. Other studies, however, do raise concerns, especially for infants and young children still developing and for those already weakened by age, illness, or chronic disease. Those who like their food and supplements as clean and unprocessed as possible are used to erring on the side of caution when it comes to products on the market.
Industry claims that genetic modification is safe are suspect because of conflict of interest and the history of the food industry using ingredients subsequently found to be harmful. Vitamin pills and other supplements that are natural are, of course, made from foods. The consumer who wants to be healthy and to live a natural life needs to shop carefully.
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