IGEN Non-GMO Tested
IGEN is a third-party programme. It uses lab tests. The tests check that a pill has no GMO material in it. Most non-GMO claims rest on supplier paperwork. IGEN tests the made product itself.
Who runs it
IGEN is short for the International GMO Evaluation and Notification programme. It is run by Nutrasource. That is a Canadian research firm. It runs IFOS too. The lab is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited. IGEN was set up to fill a gap. Most non-GMO labels rest on what the supplier says. They do not test for GMO DNA or protein.
What is actually tested
IGEN uses two lab methods to find GMO material. Each method has limits. Using both covers those limits.
- PCR (polymerase chain reaction). It copies and finds set bits of DNA. These bits come from common GMO crops. That means Roundup Ready soy. It means Bt corn. It means transgenic canola. And more. PCR is very keen. But it needs whole DNA. Heavy work on the food can break that DNA down.
- ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). It finds proteins made by GMO genes. One is the Cry1Ab protein in Bt corn. One is CP4 EPSPS in glyphosate-tolerant crops. It helps when the DNA is gone but protein traces stay. It works the other way too.
The limit of detection is normally below 0.1% GMO by mass. That is well under the 0.9% EU label limit. It is well below most shop-level non-GMO claims too.
How to verify a certificate
Certified products are listed on the Nutrasource portal. It is the same one used for IFOS. You can find it at certifications.nutrasource.ca. Each entry links to the test report behind it. Each listing is per product. So a new SKU from the same brand needs its own entry.
What IGEN does not cover
- Organic certification. Non-GMO and organic are linked. But they are not the same. Organic covers how a crop is farmed. That takes in pesticide and fertiliser use. In the UK that is the Soil Association. In the US it is USDA Organic. IGEN covers GMO content only.
- Banned-substance screening or contaminants. IGEN does not test for heavy metals. It does not test for pesticide traces. It does not test for anti-doping substances. It does one job only.
- Identity, potency, or efficacy. IGEN does not check that the active part is in the bottle at the stated dose. It does not check that the product has any given effect.
When it matters most
IGEN matters most for crops with common GMO forms. That means soy protein and soy lecithin. It means corn-based items like maltodextrin, dextrose, citric acid, and ascorbic acid. It means rapeseed-based oils. It means beet-based sugar. Some foods have no GMO form at scale. Think fish oil, mineral salts, and most plant extracts. For those, the badge adds little.
UK and EU rules already limit unlabelled GMO content above 0.9%. But the IGEN limit is lower. And it tests the product itself. So it gives a stronger guarantee than the rules alone.
Common misconceptions
- “Non-GMO” on a label is not always tested. Many non-GMO claims rest on a supplier’s own word. Or they rest on supply-chain audits. They do not test the made product. IGEN closes that gap. It checks what is in the bottle, not just the paperwork.
- IGEN does not mean the product is healthier. Do GMO foods carry health risks? That is a separate science question. There is no agreed answer. IGEN just checks that GMO material is absent. It takes no side on whether absence is better.