The Non-GMO Project Verified butterfly shows up on a lot of labels. It is one of the fastest-growing food certifications in North America. But most shoppers cannot say what a GMO actually is, how one gets made, or why it ended up on the label of a ketchup bottle. Here is the short, honest version.
What is a GMO?
GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. It is a plant, animal, or microorganism whose DNA has been changed in a lab using techniques that do not happen in nature, like inserting genes from one species into another.
Traditional crossbreeding (think of every apple variety in the produce aisle) is not a GMO. Lab-edited DNA is. The distinction is small in language and large in practice.
How GMOs are made
Scientists isolate a gene that produces a desired trait, like resistance to a specific herbicide or the ability to make its own pesticide, and insert it into the target organism's genome. The two most common techniques are:
- Agrobacterium transfer: a bacterium delivers the new gene into the plant cell.
- Gene gun: microscopic gold particles coated with DNA are physically shot into plant tissue.
- CRISPR gene editing: newer precision tools that snip and rewrite DNA at specific sites.
Common GMO crops in the US
Roughly 90 percent of US corn, soy, cotton, and sugar beets grown today are genetically modified. They feed into far more grocery shelves than most people realize. The high-risk list maintained by the Non-GMO Project includes:
- Corn (and corn syrup, including HFCS)
- Soy (and soy oil, soy lecithin)
- Sugar beets (most US white sugar)
- Canola
- Cotton (cottonseed oil)
- Alfalfa
- Papaya (Hawaiian)
- Yellow summer squash, zucchini
Non-GMO vs organic
The two are not the same and the difference matters at the checkout.
Non-GMO Project Verified
Confirms a product is made without genetically modified ingredients and is tested against a strict third-party standard. It does not regulate pesticides, fertilizers, or farming practices.
USDA Organic
Prohibits synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, irradiation, and GMOs. Organic is broader, but the GMO bar inside organic is less rigorously tested than Non-GMO Project Verified.
The cleanest products carry both. The next best thing is a verified non-GMO label you can trust on its own.
Why it matters in a ketchup bottle
Most major ketchups list one or more of: high fructose corn syrup, modified corn starch, or "natural flavors" carried in soy or corn derivatives. Each of those ingredients almost certainly comes from a GMO crop unless the label says otherwise.
Choosing non-GMO is not about fearing the science. It is about knowing what is in the bottle, supporting farms that keep non-GMO seed in the supply chain, and avoiding the heavy herbicide loads that GMO row crops are often paired with.
How 78 Brand verifies non-GMO
Our Original Ketchup is Non-GMO Project Verified. That means every at-risk ingredient (cane sugar, vinegar, spice carriers) is traced back to a non-GMO source and tested at thresholds well below the 0.9 percent compliance line.
Across the rest of the lineup, every ingredient is sourced as non-GMO using the same supplier paperwork and lot-by-lot testing. Read the label twice. Then read ours.
Frequently asked questions
- What does GMO stand for?
- GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. It is a plant, animal, or microorganism whose DNA has been altered in a lab using genetic engineering techniques that do not occur in nature.
- Are GMOs safe to eat?
- Major regulatory bodies including the FDA, WHO, and EFSA classify approved GMOs as safe for consumption. The debate is less about toxicity and more about ecological impact, pesticide exposure, and consumer transparency.
- Is non-GMO the same as organic?
- No. Organic certification prohibits synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and GMOs. Non-GMO Project verification only addresses GMOs. A product can be non-GMO without being organic.
- How do I know if a product is non-GMO?
- Look for the orange and blue Non-GMO Project Verified butterfly on the label. It is the most rigorous third-party non-GMO standard in North America.
- Are 78 Brand products non-GMO?
- Yes. 78 Original Ketchup is Non-GMO Project Verified. Every ingredient across our lineup is sourced as non-GMO and tested against the Non-GMO Project standard.