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Kellogg flagged its Kashi brand as a non-GMO alternative for consumers
Cereal giants Kellogg and General Mills have both defended the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their breakfast cereals in response to a January anti-GMO campaign against them.
Anti-GMO campaign coalition GMO Inside has launched a fresh campaign for 2013 and for the month of January will be focused on Kellogg’s and General Mills.
“Putting Kellogg’s and General Mills under our January spotlight is part of GMO Inside’s commitment to educate consumers about which products are likely to have GMO ingredients. We’ll call attention to new products every month,” Elizabeth O’Connell, campaign director at GMO Inside, said.
The campaign has called on both companies to either label GMO ingredients or remove them.
GMOs are safe and can help feed the world, says Kellogg
Kris Charles, spokesperson for The Kellogg Company defended its use of GMOs.
“Leading health organizations worldwide have concluded that GMOs are safe. They require fewer pesticides, provide improved nutrition and, with increased yields, will help feed the world’s every-increasing population,” Charles told BakeryandSnacks.com.
“We continue to actively monitor the science, regulations and our consumers’ preferences on this topic,” he continued.
He said that Kellogg’s Kashi brand offers a variety of Non-GMO Project Verified options for those US consumers looking for an alternative.
Kellogg's Kashi brand did face a lawsuit back in 2011 against its 'all natural' claims and its cereal brand was a topic of conversation back in April 2012 after products were pulled from a grocery store in Portsmouth after genetically modified (GM) ingredients were identified.
Following this, Kellogg had seven Kashi cereal products verified as non-GMO under the Non-GMO Project.
GMO labeling calls
In November last year, California’s Proposition 37 (Prop 37) received a 'No' vote after it called on companies to disclose foods sold in the state that were ‘genetically engineered’ (for raw agricultural commodities) or ‘may have been entirely or partially produced with genetic engineering’ (for processed foods or supplements).
Supporters claimed that consumers have a right to know what is in their food but opponents argued it would lead to a tidal wave of frivolous lawsuits and raise grocery bills without providing any health or safety benefits.
Responding to the latest anti-GMO campaign in an emailed statement, General Mills said: “We have long opposed state-by-state labeling, as we openly and transparently explained on our website months ago. We were not alone in taking that position. Most of the food industry opposed Prop 37 for the same reasons.”
“Some of those unhappy with Proposition 37’s defeat are now targeting companies that opposed it. But we remain opposed to state-by-state labeling, for the reasons we’ve explained,” it continued.
Anti-GMO gains momentum
Despite the ‘No’ vote on Prop 37, food ingredients marketing group the Scoular Group told our sister site FoodNavigator-USA last year at Supply Side West that the momentum behind sourcing non-GMO ingredients remains as strong as ever, with non-GMO Project verified sales up 66%. This, it said, was driven by consumers looking for a choice of non-GMO products or labeled GMO content.
7 comments (Comments are now closed)
Just Label it!
The burden of proof should be on the shoulders of those who introduce experimental foods into the food supply without informing the public. I have yet to see any valid, long-term (more than 90 days), third-party research that proves GM foods are safe for human consumption. So therefor I would say to Roman that he should do his research before he simply states that anybody criticizing genetic engineering of food is obviously incapable of understanding their value. He also talks of genetic engineering in the laboratory as though it were the same as selective breeding of plants, which it is not. As for the medical applications of genetic engineering, I agree they are valuable, but generally a patient submits to a treatment with informed consent. This is what we ask for with our food. Just Label It!!!
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Posted by SBP
25 January 2013 | 17h41
Research before making claims
You guys oppose principles before finding the consequences of your demands. The value of GMO food brings is beyond your comprehension if you argue against it.
Firstly, it saves a lot of crops (higher yield), which means food available to more people, at more affordable rates.
Secondly, the improved nutrition comes the same technology used to improve drought resistance... the crops are selected and cross bred, the best lines are chosen.
The problem in labeling is that people such as yourselves will start to panic without looking at the details and the core principles of the technology. This can be seen in the medical field. The MRI technology (magnetic resonance imaging) was renamed from the standard name (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) because a layman person associates words with feelings attached to a different principle creating faulty beliefs. Wake up, and do your research.
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Posted by Roman
25 January 2013 | 14h47
Promises, promises--not just about golden rice.
I would also like to add that golden rice is not the only example of a GM food created by the biotech industry that was said to hold great promise and did not deliver. The major point I want to make, however, is that these foods have not been proven to be safe, and there is strong indication that they are not safe. The studies are short-term and done by the companies that will profit hugely by a positive outcome. There are no objective, third party studies done, to my knowledge. Kelloggs, this is why many of us will not buy your products.
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Posted by SBP
24 January 2013 | 21h54
Golden rice not the pot at the end of the rainbow
I'd like to know where Van Reese, who posted above, got his information about how golden rice has helped save so many children from blindness, as I have read that the quantities of this rice that would have to be consumed to meet the daily nutritional requirement for Vit A are so huge that nobody could possibly do it. Seems like a scam to me.
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Posted by SBP
24 January 2013 | 21h00
GMO OK
Scientifically, there is no reason to distinguish GMO from non-GMO. However, reason is in short supply these days, so that is why they do not label foods as "proudly made with GMO ingredients". One example of more nutritious GMO food is golden rice. This rice is modified to contain vitamin A. It has literally saved thousands of children from a life of blindness caused by a diet which would normally be deficient in this critical vitamin. Jennifer, it is very fortunate that you are able to live in a country where you can choose how and where to get your food; most of the world does not have that luxury. GMO holds the promise for increased yields and increased nutrition at the lower cost required to feed more of the world's hungry.
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Posted by Van Reese
24 January 2013 | 19h27
Improved nutrition?
Kris Charles with Kellogs: You said that GMOs "provide improved nutrition". I'd really be interested in finding out more about that. Improved nutrition in what?
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Posted by Doug Foreman
23 January 2013 | 19h55
Another consumer off of Kashi
Kellgg's and General Mills can put out whatever self-serving, self-deceiving PR they wish to, however, the FACTS are clear: genetic engineering is a poorly tested technology that has been rushed to market despite numerous unknowns and evidence of serious problems.
If the companies are really that proud of putting Frankenfood into their customer's bodies, there is absolutely no reason why they can't proudly proclaim "Now Made With Genetically Engineered Ingredients" over all product sold nationwide. Nobody is stopping them from making this claim on their labels. As for myself, I'm now assiduously avoiding Kashi (non-GMO certified or not), and any other products that I can identify as belonging to either General Mills or Kellogg's.
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Posted by Jennifer Christiano
23 January 2013 | 18h25
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