Are sugar in the USA stores from GMO sugar beets?

Expert response from Laura Rutherford

Ninth Generation Farmer

Thursday, 04/09/2014 18:16

Thank you for this question! About half of all sugar sold in the United States comes from sugar beets. American grocery stores purchase sugar from a variety of sources and sell it under their own brand names or under a private brand name. Sugar from all sources has been tested at the molecular level, and scientific evidence has proven that there is no DNA or protein present in refined sugar. Therefore, sugar, whether from sugar beets and sugarcane or from sugar crops grown using conventional, biotech or organic methods, is identical. There is also no difference between domestically and internationally grown sugar. No matter where it came from, the refined sugar you buy at your local grocery store is the same and has the same nutritional value and composition.

Expert response from Laura Rutherford

Ninth Generation Farmer

Thursday, 04/09/2014 18:16

Thank you for this question! About half of all sugar sold in the United States comes from sugar beets. American grocery stores purchase sugar from a variety of sources and sell it under their own brand names or under a private brand name. Sugar from all sources has been tested at the molecular level, and scientific evidence has proven that there is no DNA or protein present in refined sugar. Therefore, sugar, whether from sugar beets and sugarcane or from sugar crops grown using conventional, biotech or organic methods, is identical. There is also no difference between domestically and internationally grown sugar. No matter where it came from, the refined sugar you buy at your local grocery store is the same and has the same nutritional value and composition.