There is a labelling requirement in the EU: if a food product contains a genetically modified ingredient (GMO), this must be stated on the packaging. On top of that, under EU Regulation 2018/848, products bearing the organic label must not contain genetically modified organisms. So if you want to avoid GMOs, there are two practical things to check: the list of ingredients and the organic label.
What exactly are GMOs?
A GMO (genetically modified organism) is an organism whose genetic material has been modified using genetic engineering in a way that does not occur through natural reproduction or cross-breeding. In the food chain, this almost always involves crops, particularly soya, maize, rapeseed and cotton.
The modifications are usually agricultural in nature. For example, a crop may be made tolerant to a specific herbicide, or it may produce a substance that repels certain insects. The aim is to achieve a higher or more stable yield per hectare.
Before a GMO can be placed on the market in the EU, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assesses the dossier for food and feed safety and environmental risks. The European Commission and the Member States then decide on authorisation. The cultivation of GMO crops is virtually non-existent in the EU: only one maize line is authorised for cultivation, and a large number of Member States, including the Netherlands, have banned its cultivation on their own territory. However, imports of a long list of authorised GMOs are permitted for food and feed.
How can you recognise GMOs on the label?
The statement appears in or immediately next to the list of ingredients. The legal wording is ‘genetically modified’ or ‘produced using genetically modified soya’, with the specific crop mentioned varying from product to product. This information appears in brackets after the ingredient, or as a footnote below the list in a font that is just as legible.
Two things help when reading such a list. Firstly, ingredients are listed by law in descending order of weight: whatever is at the top is present in the greatest quantity. This tells you straight away whether soya or maize is a main ingredient or merely a trace amount. Secondly, the labelling requirement still applies even if no GMO DNA is detectable in the final product, for example in refined soya oil or maize-based glucose syrup. The requirement is based on the origin of the raw material, not on what a laboratory might subsequently detect in it.
| What you see on the label | What it means |
|---|---|
| ‘soya, genetically modified’ | The ingredient itself is a GMO |
| ‘Produced using genetically modified maize’ | Made from a GMO crop, for example starch or glucose syrup |
| No labelling | Either no GMO raw material, or a case that falls outside the labelling requirement (see below) |
| EU label with the control body’s code number (in the Netherlands: NL-BIO-01) | Certified organic; GMOs are not permitted |
There is a single threshold: an accidental or technically unavoidable trace of a GMO authorised in the EU does not need to be declared if it stays below 0.9 per cent per ingredient. This threshold is set out in Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 and is intended to cover unintentional admixture during harvesting, storage and transport, not deliberate use.
Which products are exempt from labelling?
This is where labels are often misinterpreted. Meat, milk, eggs and cheese from animals that have been fed genetically modified feed are not subject to the labelling requirement. The rule applies to the food itself, not to the animal’s feed. Similarly, technical additives and enzymes used as processing aids that do not end up in the final product do not need to be listed.
This is not a loophole but a clear distinction in the legislation. In practice, though, you can’t tell from a carton of milk or a box of eggs what the animal has been fed. If you do want to know, certification labels offer the only clue you have: organic, or a specific ‘GMO-free’ label for the feed.
Where are GMO raw materials most commonly found in the EU?
As cultivation within the EU is rare but imports are not, the focus is on imported raw materials. Broadly speaking:
- Animal feed. By far the largest source. The EU imports millions of tonnes of soya for animal feed every year, largely from North and South America, where GMO soya is the norm.
- Derived ingredients from soya and maize. These include soya oil, soya lecithin, maize starch, glucose-fructose syrup and modified starch. You’ll find them in sauces, soups, ready meals, biscuits and snacks. If the raw material comes from a GMO crop, this must be stated on the label.
- Vegetable oils and fats. Rapeseed and soya oil may come from GMO crops. This is not currently an issue for olive oil and sunflower oil: no GMO varieties are authorised for these in the EU.
Worth noting: work is currently underway in the EU on separate regulations for plants derived from new genomic techniques (NGT), such as CRISPR. The labelling and authorisation rules for these have not yet been finalised. All proposals continue to stipulate that these techniques are not permitted in organic production.
What does the organic label mean in this context?
The organic label is the most direct route. EU Regulation 2018/848 prohibits the use of GMOs and products derived from GMOs throughout the entire organic production chain. This applies to seeds, to additives used during processing, and also to the feed given to organically reared animals. An organic farmer is therefore not permitted to feed GMO soya.
In the Netherlands, certification is monitored by SKAL Biocontrole. On the packaging, you will see the green EU leaf and a code number from the certification body. Only products with valid certification may bear the term ‘organic’, which is a legally protected designation. In Germany and parts of Europe, you will also see the separate label ‘Ohne Gentechnik’ or ‘VLOG’, which specifically refers to feed free from genetic engineering and therefore also covers dairy products and eggs.
You can read about how this production method works in practice – from fertilisation to crop protection – in our guide to organic farming. Other factors people consider when choosing organic products, from cultivation methods to taste, are outlined in the benefits of eating organic.
How can you avoid GMOs in practice?
- Choose certified organic. This excludes the deliberate use of GMOs throughout the entire supply chain, including animal feed; only the general threshold for unintentional, technically unavoidable contamination remains in place.
- Read the ingredients list on composite products. Pay particular attention to soya and maize derivatives and to vegetable oils.
- Pay attention to the order. Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, so whatever is at the top makes up the largest proportion of the product.
- Cook from scratch with single-ingredient products more often. The shorter the list of ingredients, the fewer derived raw materials are involved.
- If you also want to avoid animal feed, look for organic dairy and eggs or a ‘GMO-free’ label.
Frequently asked questions
Does the label always state whether the product contains GMOs?
It does for ingredients in the food itself. It does not for products from animals that have been fed GM feed, nor for unintentional traces below 0.9 per cent per ingredient.
Is ‘GMO’ the same as ‘GM’?
Yes. ‘GMO’ (genetically modified organism) and ‘GM’ (genetically modified) mean the same thing. UK labels tend to use the full wording ‘genetically modified’ rather than either abbreviation.
Are organic products allowed to contain GMOs?
No. Regulation (EU) 2018/848 excludes GMOs and substances produced from GMOs from organic production. Only the general threshold for unintentional, technically unavoidable contamination remains applicable.
Are GMO crops grown in the EU?
Commercial cultivation is virtually non-existent: only one GMO maize line is authorised, and several EU countries have banned even that. Authorised GMOs are still imported, mainly as raw materials for animal feed.
How Ekopura deals with this
Ekopura formulates its products without unnecessary additives. Part of the range is certified organic, including organic natural whey protein, organic natural casein, organic vegan protein and organic vitamin C. These fall under Regulation 2018/848 and must therefore not contain any GMOs. For our other products, the same labelling requirements apply as for any foodstuff in the EU: the ingredients are listed on the packaging. If you’d like to check what’s on the label for each product, please browse the full collection. There’s a separate article on the composition of our organic protein powder.
