Organic vs. Non-GMO Foods: What’s the difference?

            First, I’ll define the difference between the two and why you might want to choose one or the other in stores. There are many differing factors a product must adhere to, to be able to be labelled as organic. Some of the factors include how the animal is raised, the quality of the soil, the use of additives or the use of chemicals such as pest or weed control. Non-GMO simply means that that the product was produced without genetic engineering, and it was produced without “GMOs” aka genetically modified organisms. The main difference of the two is that the certified organic program is run by the government and the Non-GMO program is ran by a third party.

I feel like I need to mention that organic or Non-GMO foods tend to be more expensive than their counterparts. If you’re on a strict budget, you can absolutely have a balanced diet without eating these foods.

Produce can be called organic if it’s grown in soil that hasn’t been grown in soil with prohibited substances. There is a laundry list of substances that are banned but the majority include synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. For organic meat, the process is simple and straightforward. If the animal is raised in natural conditions like in a free range or with the ability to move freely on a pasture it usually can be certified as organic. For processed organic foods, the food must contain all natural ingredients and can’t contain artificial ingredients like colors, flavorings or preservatives.

For a product to become Non-GMO verified it goes through a vigorous process to determine it’s eligibility. The main goal of this program is to determine if the product avoids using genetically modified organisms in its production. This status is not the only factor in determining the benefits of a food, and like mentioned above, your diet can still be healthy and well rounded with GMO variants. At the end of the day, it’s up to your priorities, budget, and personal preference.