Viewpoint: Non-GMO marketing takes advantage of misinformed consumers

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Food marketing claims have always stretched the truth …. But some recent trends are taking dishonest marketing tactics to a whole new level. Most people have heard of Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs. Although a recent survey found that about 69 percent of consumers are not confident they know what GMOs are, only 32 percent say they are comfortable with GMO foods.

In contrast, scientists nearly unanimously agree that products that have been genetically modified are every bit as safe as their non-GMO counterparts …. Yet distrust and fear sell, so the crusade against these products has raged on. The standard-bearer of this movement is the Non-GMO Project, a nonprofit that bills itself as “North America’s most trusted seal for GMO avoidance” ….

Interestingly, while the Non-GMO Project has stamped over 50,000 products GMO-free, only 10 GMO plant types are even commercially available …. In other words, the vast majority of the products that are sold at a premium as “GMO-free” literally could not be GMO if they wanted to be ….

Perhaps in 2019 marketers can grow their margins by verifying that their products have not harmed any unicorns, are free of Bigfoot DNA, were not cursed by a witch and have never made contact with a leprechaun. Raising prices based on any of these claims would be as scientifically supported as a “GMO-free” premium ….

Read full, original article: GMO-Free Marketing is Deliberately Misleading Consumers

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