Do You Really Understand What Non-GMO Means?
The topic of GMO’s is a complicated one, and no surprise that there is much misinformation on this subject, however well-meaning, on social media and fringe websites. In an effort to help focus on the facts and the reality of the use non-GMO vs. GMO ingredients, we hope these answers will clear up a few of the most asked questions on this subject.
Are ingredients in Shaklee supplements non-GMO?
Some of them are. Currently, non-GMO ingredients used in our supplements are soy protein, whey protein, alfalfa, and soluble corn fiber.
Why only in these supplements?
Ingredients that don’t contain protein (nearly all other ingredients is dietary supplements) don’t contain GMO’s. Here’s why: If GMO’s are present, they reside in a plant’s protein. This is why we use non-GMO soy and whey protein; alfalfa contains a small measure of naturally occurring alfalfa protein and soluble corn fiber contains a small measure of naturally occurring corn protein. The basic rule is: no protein, no GMO’s.
What about ingredients like soybean oil and soy lecithin, which might come from GMO soybeans, or vitamin C and maltodextrin, which might come from GMO corn?
Production and purification processes for these ingredients cause separation and falling away of protein that might have been attached in the ingredients’ unprocessed state. Remember: no protein, no GMO’s.
Still, I’d rather the other ingredients be from non-GMO sources, even if they don’t contain GMO’s. We do, too, and in a perfect world, we could accommodate that preference. Unfortunately, many ingredients are not available from a certified non-GMO source and/or not available at a required purity or potency level in quantities that can reliably be supplied.
What about companies who claim products with non-GMO ingredients?
They are either not being entirely truthful or spinning, or they are marketing a few, select supplements with low nutritional values limited by the availability of non-GMO only ingredients. Consider, if one ingredient among many is non-GMO, a company might label the product, “made with non-GMO ingredients.” Most consumers would agree that making such a claim may be truthful, but disingenuous.
What about consumer organizations whose members use non-GMO ingredients. Why isn’t Shaklee listed with these companies?
Such organizations are aspirational based—they promise to make the effort to use non-GMO ingredients when possible. Being on their list (generally fee-based) is, in our view, more of a marketing angle because it is not an assurance that member companies are any more committed to the use of non-GMO ingredients than Shaklee.
Shaklee Medical Affairs
