“Some of those challenges [facing supplement manufacturers in becoming non-GMO verified] include tracing the origin of vitamins such as a B-complex and citric acid, which is made from GM corn or sugar beets and can be difficult to test for GM material.

“Supplement ingredients that have GMO-risk include solvents, carriers, standardization materials and acidifiers.”

Ken Roseboro (same source as above) wrote …

“Enzymes also have GMO risk particularly if they are extracted from papaya, which has been genetically modified. In addition, enzymes are often produced using GM microorganisms and substrates.

“To be non-GMO-verified, [Sandy] Kepler [vice president, Food Chain Global Advisors] said, ‘Enzymes have to be produced using non-GMO microorganisms.’

“Vitamins that may be produced using GM microorganisms include B12, B2, ascorbic acid, and beta carotene, while tocopherols are GMO-risk because they are made from soy.

“Other GMO-risk supplement ingredients include manufacturing additives such as gel-caps, gelatins, flow agents, and lactose, dairy and other animal derivatives.”

“Some of the same companies that mass-produce drugs in huge chemical labs also churn out vitamin and herbal pills sold in bottles with rainbows, sunrises and flowers on their labels.

“Dozens of other supplement makers reap more than $100 million in annual sales. One of the largest – NBTY Inc., on New York’s Long Island – sold $2 billion last year in the United States alone. Its brands include Nature’s Bounty, Vitamin World, Puritan’s Pride and Sundown.”

According to the same source …

“There are hundreds of small firms, including niche players with only a few products. But they account for a slim slice of total sales, industry experts say.

“The pharma giant Wyeth, for example, makes Centrum and other supplements, and Bayer HealthCare of aspirin fame makes the One A Day line. Unilever, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline and other big pharmaceutical firms also make or sell supplements.”