Are You Celebrating Non-GMO Month?
October isn’t just about pumpkin carving and scary movies. This time of year, many health-conscious and environmentally-wise people also choose to celebrate non-GMO month!
So while you’re enjoying the changing autumn leaves and feeling grateful for mother earth, it’s a beautiful idea to honor her by committing to a GMO-free October in everything you consume, from your food to your skincare products.
But why is it important to celebrate Non-GMO month? And how can you participate? Scroll down to get all the answers and resources necessary for a fun, healthy, and GMO-free October.
Are GMOs bad for the environment?
A GMO is a genetically modified organism. That means that its DNA has been changed by either combining the DNA of two different organisms or by inserting the DNA of one organism into the DNA of another.
But GMOs can be very damaging to the environment for a few reasons:
- Herbicide Resistance - Often, scientists modify plants so that they are resistant to herbicides (or even able to produce herbicides themselves!) This resistance means that the companies that plant GMOs can use powerful herbicides that kill other plants and animals without worrying about their modified super plants. Herbicides have been tied to many devastating environmental effects, including the widespread death of bees.
- Loss of Biodiversity - GMOs have been linked to biodiversity loss. For example, the widespread use of genetically modified organisms in North America has led to a significant loss of habitat for the monarch butterfly.
- Monopoly Corporations Taking Over U.S. Farmland - GMOs can be harmful to society. For example, major farms patent the DNA of their genetically modified organisms. Then, when a seed blows into neighboring farms, they can sue their neighbor for “stealing their property.” These legal issues are one of the reasons that conscious consumers decide not to support GMOs.
Are GMOs bad for your body?
With GMOs invading our food and personal care choices at an increasing and alarming rate, we have to ask ourselves whether this is something we want in or on our bodies.
Consumers should consider that “genetic engineering and biotechnology,” as this field is sometimes called, is a fast-growing industry with often little oversight.
Because of the herbicide resistance in GMO plants and animals, farming businesses can use dangerous herbicides like glyphosate.
Glyphosate
Glyphosate has been labeled as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization and will be banned in most of Europe by 2023.
Glyphosate has been used for decades on herbicide-resistant GMO crops and is found in 90% of US food products- many of the same products used in our skincare.
It enters the food chain through the drinking water, soil, and air. Its half-life is not particularly short, so the rain doesn’t just wash it away. In addition to causing cancer, glyphosate may affect the endocrine system and cause cellular and organ damage.
Glyphosate also disrupts biodiversity, the food chain, and plant pollination.
Are GMOs in our skincare routines?
GMOs are widespread in food and even, increasingly, in animals. However, although less publicized, GMOs are found in many cosmetic and personal care items we use daily, such as our skincare regimen. GMO ingredients are commonly used for elements such as:
- Coconut oil
- Corn oil
- Soybean
- Yeast protein
- Papaya
- Maltodextrin (from rice, corn, or potato starch)
- Citric Acid
These ingredients are common in moisturizers, antimicrobials, anti-oxidants, binding agents, and preservatives.
How to Find Non-GMO Foods
If so many skincare products on the market contain GMOs, how do I find ones that don’t?
- As of January 1, 2022, the USDA requires food products for commercial sale to carry a BE (bioengineered) label if they’ve been genetically modified.
- You can also look for the familiar orange butterfly indicating that the NON-GMO Project has rigorously evaluated a product and determined it to be free of significant high-risk ingredients.
These labels help with Non-GMO food, however, note that, unfortunately, cosmetics are neither routinely tested by the government nor legally required to BE labeled.
Non-GMO Skincare: Derma E
If you are looking for GMO-free, vegan, and cruelty-free skin care products that work, consider Derma E.
Derma E proudly respects our planet with eco-friendly packaging and manufacturing processes. Our products are without harmful ingredients like parabens, petroleum, sodium lauryl sulfates, mineral oils, artificial colors, soy, or gluten. Look at Derma E’s full range of natural skin care products here.
Celebrating Progress
Non-GMO month is the perfect time to feel great about our progress in the fight for labeling transparency and our right to choose what we want and don’t want in our bodies.
Derma E is proud to be part of the change and to respond to consumers' needs for responsible, natural, and effective skincare products.