Consumer Reports: Many processed foods labeled 'natural' contain GMOs

The controversy is growing over whether foods should be labeled if they contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Vermont recently passed legislation requiring GMO labeling, dozens of other states are considering similar actions and labeling requirements are on the ballot in Oregon and Colorado this fall.

Consumer Reports tested more than 80 processed foods to see just how widespread GMOs are and whether you can trust food labels.

About 90 percent of corn produced in the U.S. is now genetically modified. The same goes for soybeans. Consumer Reports' tests show GMOs can be in lots of foods including some cereals, snack bars and soy-based infant formulas.

Since labeling is not required, you can't always tell if the food has GMOs just by looking at the package, although some may say "No GMO," "Non GMO" or "Non-GMO Project Verified."

Consumer Reports tested a variety of products containing soy or corn for GMOs, at least two samples of each with each from a different lot.

"Unless they were labeled organic, the vast majority of products without a specific claim regarding GMOs actually did contain a substantial amount," said Dr. Micahel Crupain, of Consumer Reports.

A Consumer Reports survey of 1,000 people also found that more than 60 percent believe "natural" means "no Gmos." That's not what the tests found.

"There is no legal definition for the claim 'natural' on processed foods," said Dr. Crupain. "Virtually all the samples we tested that said 'natural' but didn't make claims about being organic or non-GMO, in fact contained a high percentage of GMOs."

Then there are unverified claims like "non-GMO." Though not independently certified, they mostly proved accurate in Consumer Reports' tests.

The one exception were Xochitl corn chips. They're labeled "no GMO" but contained a high proportion of GMO corn in all six samples tested. Its "organic" white corn chips, however, did meet Consumer Reports' standards for non-GMO.

"Our findings confirmed that the most reliable labels for avoiding GMOs are 'Non-GMO Project Verified,' or 'organic,' both independently certified."