GMO (genetically modified organism)

A GMO — genetically modified organism — is a plant, animal or microorganism whose DNA has been changed with genetic-engineering techniques rather than conventional breeding. In food, the term usually refers to crops engineered for traits like herbicide tolerance. Because trace genetic material can be hard to exclude entirely, certified products carry a scoped non-GMO claim, verified against supplier declarations and testing, not a promise of zero.

In depth

Genetic engineering inserts, deletes or edits an organism's DNA in a way that would not occur through traditional crossbreeding. The most common genetically engineered crops in the food supply are corn, soy, canola and sugar beet, which flow into thousands of downstream ingredients.

A non-GMO claim is a statement about sourcing and avoidance: the product's inputs are traced to non-genetically-engineered origins and, where relevant, tested. It is a tightly scoped claim, verified against your supplier declarations — not an absolute guarantee, which is why a responsible mark never states that a product is entirely without any GMO material.

The related U.S. label term is bioengineered, the USDA's regulatory word for detectable engineered genetic material. See also high-risk crop for the short list of inputs most likely to be genetically engineered.

Related marks

• Non-GMOStrongest as part of a bundle.

Related terms

• Bioengineered (BE) — Bioengineered (BE) is the USDA's regulatory term for a food containing detectable genetic material that was modified through genetic engineering.
• High-risk crop — A high-risk crop is a crop with a commercially available genetically engineered version in wide cultivation, so ingredients derived from it need closer non-GMO scrutiny.
• Supplier declaration — A supplier declaration is a written statement from a supplier confirming facts about an ingredient, such as its source, composition or processing.

Frequently asked questions