Sourcing non-GMO: Prop 37 supporters have lost the battle, but may ultimately win the war, predicts The Scoular Company

15-Nov-2012 - Last updated on 28-Sep-2021 at 11:22 GMT

Related tags High-fructose corn syrup

Despite the ‘NO’ vote on Prop 37, the momentum behind sourcing non-GMO ingredients remains as strong as ever, with non-GMO Project verified sales up 66% and a new class action lawsuit against a major food brand over ‘all-natural’ claims on products containing genetically engineered ingredients being filed almost every week.

And while supporters of GMO labeling may have lost the battle with last week's 'No' vote on Prop 37, they might ultimately win the war, predicts Anne Brown, senior manager of the food ingredients marketing group at the Scoular Group, the number one identity preserved non-GMO grain supplier in North America.

“I think that in Europe, consumers really drove the trend and the legislation followed, and I think that is what is going to happen in the US.

“Consumers are choosing to have non-GMO food or organic food, or traditional foods [with a GMO label], but they want to have the choice," added Brown, who was speaking to FoodNavigator-USA at the Supply Side West show in Las Vegas.

If manufacturers are seeking out non-GMO soy products, there are several competitively-priced options available, she said.

However, sourcing non-GMO corn-based sweeteners such as high fructose corn syrup is more challenging if you don’t want to pay a premium, she added.

1 comment

We're not going away!

Posted by Jennifer Christiano, 16 November 2012 - 06:23 GMT

Excellent article. Indeed, we, the people, will not tolerate having Garbage Made Over (GMO's) perpetually shoved down our throats. If one method of stopping the madness doesn't work the first time, we'll try another way and re-visit when the situation looks more favorable. Sooner or later, the right of the people to choose will prevail. We just have to step up the fight so we can make that happen before the genetic pollution becomes so intense that victory will be meaningful only on paper.