it doesn't. All foods should be labeled if they contain GMO's so people who want to stay healthy can avoid the frankenfoods.

Rivkah: Organic DOES mean it is not GMO. Under USDA regulations, a product is not allowed to be labelled organic if it contains GMOs. Since GMOs aren't labelled separately, the only way to avoid GMOs is to buy organic.

organic is pesticide free with no guarantee of being GMO-free since if GMO's are grown without pesticides, they are organically grown. HERITAGE means GMO-free or Trader Joe's label on a product means GMO-free. GMO's cause my throat to swell and chest pain from the frankenfood aspect that my body rejects. I have eaten organic labeled fruits and vegetables that cause an allergic reaction like I have to GMO's. Heritage seed plants are not GMO's. I wish the government required GMO's to b e labeled since 80% of foods in grocery stores have GMO's in them. Shopping is a real challenge.

-up??? Well, being that Monsanto has placed many of it's people in and invested much money in buying-off the US government, I'm laying odds that the good ol' buddies somehow fudged the initial "Organic" tests and will somehow not ever be selected for the annual residual testing. "In order for the FDA to determine if Monsanto's growth hormones were safe or not, Monsanto was required to submit a scientific report on that topic. Margaret Miller, one of Monsanto's researchers put the report together. Shortly before the report submission, Miller left Monsanto and was hired by the FDA. Her first job for the FDA was to determine whether or not to approve the report she wrote for Monsanto. In short, Monsanto approved its own report. Assisting Miller was another former Monsanto researcher, Susan Sechen. Deciding whether or not rBGH-derived milk should be labeled as such fell under the jurisdiction of another FDA official, Michael Taylor, who previously worked as a lawyer for Monsanto." I'm sure the genuine article Organic competitors who refuse to buy the GMO monsanto seeds, etc, will be run out of business systematically with these "random" 5% annual check-ups. Ya' think?

I know, I know...you can be paranoid about everything and make yourself ill just thinking about it, throw up your hands and say "why even try to eat healthfuly or organically". Don't make yourself nuts. Just do your best with the resources you've got.

The USDA does not have an organic designation. Various organizations that issue their organic certificates do and the USDA uses those certificates. Every single of one of those certificate issuing groups do in fact require GMO-free. That is available on line from numerous sources. Trader Joe's Organic does indeed mean GMO-free. If you had a reaction - it was not due to any pesticides or GMO products. Just ask Trader Joe to direct you to proper organic issuing authority and you will find that it is an absolute fact.