Nutrasource Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Services (Canada) has announced the reception of a USTPO (United States Patent and 
Trademark Office) on “Methods for detecting genetically modified organisms” for the IGEN certification program. The International Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Evaluation and Notification program verifies label claims about the presence of GMOs in products and ingredients.
Today, regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada do not require companies to declare a product’s GMO status. Despite consumer demand for mandatory GMO labeling, guidelines in North America ask companies for only voluntary GMO labeling, meaning products that do contain GMOs may not be labeled as such.
“We are thrilled to announce the reception of this patent for our IGEN program, as we continuously aim to increase consumer confidence promoting transparency,” said William Rowe, president and CEO of Nutrasource, “the IGEN certification program was designed specifically to certify that any product, from herbal supplements and vitamins to food ingredients do not contain any of the GMO genes and proteins found in common bioengineered crops.”
The IGEN certification mark offers peace of mind for shoppers in the absence of a mandated GMO label. As a third-party program, IGEN works by encouraging food and dietary supplement companies to voluntarily test their products for the presence of GMOs and showcase their GMO status on their labels.
Common GMO plants used in the food supply include alfalfa, apple, canola, chicory, cotton, eggplant, eucalyptus, flax, maize (corn), melon, papaya, plum, poplar, potato, pumpkin, rice, sugar beet, sugarcane, tobacco, soybean and wheat.
“While there is no conclusive evidence that GMOs have a direct or immediate effect on human health, many are concerned about the long-term health and environmental impacts of genetic engineering,” added Rowe. “As a result, consumers are demanding that GMO products be labeled so they can be better informed on what they are purchasing.”
For more information, visit www.nutrasource.ca.
