“GMO Free Water”? Don’t be Fooled by Misleading Labels

For example, you can now buy “premium” water that’s not only free of GMOs and gluten but certified kosher and organic.
Never mind that not a single drop of water anywhere contains either property or is altered in any way by those designations.
While some labels provide useful information that is not readily detectable by consumers, others contain misleading claims that exploit a knowledge gap with consumers and take advantage of their willingness to pay a premium for so-called process labels.
In my experience as a food economist, such “fake transparency” does nothing to inform consumers about the nature of their foods.
Moreover, it can actually decrease well-being when accompanied by a higher price tag.
Some labels, such as “organic,” follow strict federal guidelines, while others aren’t regulated, such as “natural.” Eggs might come from chickens that are “cage-free” (which isn’t regulated) or “free range” (which is), while your milk could come from cows that are “grass-fed” (no standard) or “hormone-free” (requires verification).
So – know that, like the author’s example of “GMO-free” water, foods are often labeled as such – even when there is no GM equivalent.
In fact, there are only 11 commercially available GM crops in the United States: soybeans, corn (field and sweet), canola, cotton, alfalfa, sugar beets, summer squash, papaya, apples and potatoes.
GMOs have consistently been proven safe by scientific research, so “GMO-free” labels are typically meant to mislead and create fear around these foods.
So know the facts, and as the article notes, don’t buy into fake transparency!