Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell fast-tracked a controversial piece of legislation aimed at overturning and preempting state laws for labeling foods made with genetically modified ingredients. The Senate passed the bill without going through committee or debate, and then the House okayed it without changing a word. Now comes confirmation from the White House that President Obama has signed the legislation into law. [More]
GMOs
President Signs Law That Overturns Vermont GMO Labeling Rules, Replaces Them With Barcodes
By 7.29.16
‘Natural’ Is A Meaningless Marketing Term When Applied To Food
By 1.27.16
One of the many labels that you’ll see on food at your local food-buying store is “natural.” What marketers want you to think is that “natural” products lack artificial flavor or color additives or preservatives, and maybe even that they’re made with organic ingredients. What it actually means is that the product says “natural” on the label, and that label is probably in shades of tan and light green. [More]
Campbell Soup To Label Products Containing GMOs, Supports Mandatory Labeling
By 1.8.16
While some large food producers contend that mandatory labeling of products containing genetically modified or genetically engineered ingredients would be a burdensome and unnecessary requirement, the folks at Campbell Soup Company have decided to not only voluntarily label their GMO-containing products but to publicly support mandatory GMO labeling. [More]
Looking Ahead: 5 Big Issues To Follow For 2016
By 1.1.16
Now that 2015 is done and we finally learned that Luke Skywalker is actually Faye Dunaway’s daughter (and sister!), it’s time to take off the party hats, sweep up the confetti, and do the walk of shame forward into the uncharted territory of the year to come. [More]
Lawsuit Alleges Chipotle Misleads Customers About Use Of GMOs
By 9.1.15
Back in April, Chipotle proudly declared that it was the only major fast food chain in the country to contain an entirely GMO-free menu. Now, just four months later, a recently filed class-action lawsuit says that proclamation isn’t exactly truthful, accusing the fast casual restaurant of false advertising and deceiving diners into paying more for their food. [More]
Subway Removing Artificial Ingredients From Its Menu By 2017
By 6.4.15
Last April, Subway stopped using Azodicarbonamide – a chemical that is used to improve elasticity in bread but that also shows up in things like yoga mats. Now, the sandwich shop is taking things a step farther, by making plans to drop all artificial ingredients from its menu by 2017. [More]
Makers Of Similac Advance Baby Formula Releasing GMO-Free Version
By 5.26.15
As many consumers move along with the trend toward products made without additives, preservatives, or genetically modified organisms, the maker of Similac Advance says it’ll be selling a GMO-free version of the product by the end of the month. [More]
Chipotle Says All Its Food Now GMO-Free
By 4.27.15
For two years, the Chipotle chain of restaurants has been labeling which of its menu items may contain genetically modified ingredients, and starting today the company says that all of its food will be GMO-free (while simultaneously acknowledging that GMOs may be completely safe). [More]
Grocery Groups Sue Vermont Over New GMO Food Labeling Requirement
By 6.13.14
Back in April, Vermont became the first state to require food companies to label their products if they contained genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Now various industry food groups are coming together to fight the rule with a lawsuit claiming the law is a “costly and misguided measure” that in the end, the groups say, won’t help consumers. [More]
Vermont Becomes First State To Pass A Bill Requiring GMO Food Labels
By 4.24.14
Yesterday, Vermont’s House passed a bill that will make the state the first in the country to require labeling of foods that contain genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. All it needs now is the governor’s signature, and he’s expected to slap his John Hancock on it soon. [More]
Food Industry Volunteers To Self-Regulate GMO Labeling By Doing It If They Feel Like It
By 2.7.14
Do you have any idea if the ingredients in that sandwich you just made for lunch were genetically modified? Probably not: there’s no federal rule requiring labeling of GMO ingredients one way or the other. Now, a group of food industry organizations is calling on Congress to take action about GMO labeling… but the request isn’t quite what it seems. [More]
Is Chipotle’s Anti-GMO Stance Resulting In Profits?
By 1.31.14
Last year, gut-busting burrito chain Chipotle quietly became the first restaurant of its type to begin identifying which of its ingredients may contain genetically modified ingredients, while also publicly stating that its long-term goal is to eliminate GMO ingredients from its menu. This can be a costly move in a business with relatively thin margins, but it may be working in Chipotle’s favor. [More]
Monsanto Shareholders Fail To Convince Company To Disclose Info About Genetically Modified Seeds
By 1.28.14
Earlier today, the world’s largest seed company, Monsanto, held its annual shareholders meeting outside of St. Louis. While there were a small number of protestors outside, the bigger story was going on inside the meeting, where shareholders were asked to vote on measures that would require more transparency about Monsanto and its genetically modified seeds. [More]
Original Cheerios Will Soon Be GMO-Free (There Aren’t Any Genetically Modified Oats Anyway)
By 1.3.14
General Mills says it’s been making original-flavor Cheerios without genetically modified organisms and that they’ll be on store shelves soon after consumers piped up to ask for GMO-free products. It’s only doing so for the original flavor because that one is mostly oats and conveniently enough, there aren’t any genetically modified oats anyway. [More]
Whole Foods Reportedly Ditching Chobani Over GMO Concerns
By 12.18.13
If Chobani’s recall woes weren’t enough, the maker of the Greek-style yogurt may also be losing an important retail partner with Whole Foods reportedly planning to stop shelving the stuff in the coming year over concerns about genetically modified content. [More]
USDA Approves Label That Will Identify Products From Animals Fed A Non-GMO Diet
By 6.21.13
There will be a bit more transparency in the grocery aisle soon, at least for some products. The United State’s Agriculture Department has given the go-ahead to a label that will tout meat and liquid egg products as being free of genetically modified ingredients. This doesn’t mean, however, that the USDA is requiring all meat and poultry processors to do so, but it’s the first time the department has approved a non-GMO label. [More]
Chipotle Is The First U.S. Fast Food Chain To Identify Products With GMO Ingredients
By 6.19.13
Sure, you probably know the basic ingredients in your fast food lunch — chicken or beef, lettuce and tomato, whathaveyou — after all, you’re the one who ordered it. But if you, like many consumers, care whether or not those ingredients include genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the ingredient list usually is no help. Chipotle announced that it will now mark those ingredients on its website for discerning consumers. [More]
Ben & Jerry’s Pledges To Stop Using Genetically Modified Ingredients
By 6.3.13
I scream, you scream, we all scream for non-genetically modified ingredients in our ice cream? Whether you’ve been screaming for a change or not, Ben & Jerry’s says it’ll remove all genetically-modified organisms from its list of ingredients in the company’s ice cream products by the end of the year. [More]
