As the first verified non GMO bakery in Canada to create sprouted whole grain, non GMO bread – it’s safe to say we’re passionate about keeping genetically modified organisms (GMOs) out of all our products. We demonstrate this by our association with the internationally-recognized Non GMO Project – a non-profit organization committed to preserving and building the non GMO food supply.

Our production facility is certified organic by QAI (Quality Assurance International), an independent regulatory agency. In addition, we regularly test all of our ingredients for GMO contamination. What does all this mean to you? It means you can be assured that no GMO ingredients will ever be used in our products or sold in our retail store outlet.

Before we can talk about Non GMOs we first need to explain them. GMOs – or genetically modified organisms – are plants and animal species created through gene splicing or biotechnology, also referred to as genetic engineering (GE).

In the plant world, most GMOs were created to withstand pesticide applications or extreme temperature ranges (such as drought). The intended outcomes were improved nutrition or higher crop yields.

Proponents of the GMO movement maintain that GMO crops are safe to eat, more nutritious, strictly regulated, environmentally beneficial, and an aid in addressing world hunger. The truth is that, in many cases, GMO crops have demonstrated the opposite effect and have instead raised many questions about consumer and environmental safety.

Add to that fact, here in Canada and the US, governments have approved GMOs for use based primarily on studies conducted by the very companies that created the GMOs and will, subsequently, realize profits from their ongoing sale and distribution.

After years of being told “there is nothing to worry about” consumers are beginning to gain awareness. They are becoming more educated about GMOs, and the potentially negative impact they could have on both our health and our environment.

There are a number of crop strains that have, at some point, been bio-engineered and are therefore, deemed to be at risk of being GMO: alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton, flax, oil, papaya, rice, soy, sugar beets, yellow summer squash, and zucchini. Ingredients derived from these risk crops are often used in the bread-making industry, such as amino acids, citric acid, flavorings, sugar, sucrose, vegetable oil, vitamins and yeast products. We also know that animal byproducts such as milk, meat, eggs, honey and other bee products are at risk as well, due to potential contamination from feed and other input factors.
Since wheat was never approved for GMO testing or sale in North America, it was not originally one of those crops considered to be at risk. This changed with the discovery of GMO wheat in an Oregon field in May 2013. The incident has raised serious questions about the safety and validity of GMO experimentation performed in an uncontrolled environment (eg. outside). No longer can scientists guarantee us that GMO grains will not contaminate other crops.

With medical and scientific evidence indicating GMOs do not appear to be the answer to better nutrition, improved yields and reducing world hunger, a growing consumer movement has been gaining momentum. Consumers are now demanding to be informed about the presence of GMOs in the food chain and have put increasing pressure on their governments to be more responsive to the numerous issues associated with GMOs, in many cases, specifically asking that GMOs not be used in food products and, if they are, that mandatory labeling be imposed. While more than 50 countries have banned GMOs, North American governments have been slow to respond.

In light of the recent GMO wheat case in Oregon, testing wheat for GMO’s has now become a necessity for Silver Hills Bakery as this development gives rise to the possibility that not all bread can be considered non GMO bread.  We were one of the first to voluntarily implement mandatory GMO testing for all of our wheat. To reassure our customers that our bread is completely free from GMO each and every lot of wheat is tested for both quality and genetic composition.

And while using government-approved GMO ingredients, like corn syrup, molasses or vegetable protein, is widespread in the bread-baking industry, Silver Hills Bakery has always used non GMO wheat and other baking ingredients. Our facilities and our products are regularly inspected to ensure all our ingredients comply with non GMO food standards.

Silver Hills Bakery has always believed that you should be able to trace the ingredients in your food back to the farms where they originated. So you can be sure that you are getting the best, most nutritious, “as nature intended” products for you and your family.