Cargill unveils non-GMO soybean oil: We support ag biotech, but we want to give customers options

Along with many firms we spoke to at the IFT show this year, Cargill is strongly in favor of genetically engineered crops that deliver clear benefits, environmental or nutritional. But it’s also paying attention to market trends, and the words 'non-GMO' are now creeping onto more and more food labels.

And while no one knows exactly how big the non-GMO trend will become, the issue will likely remain top of mind for many food manufacturers for the foreseeable future given the ongoing debate over labeling, said Randal Giroux, PhD, VP food safety, quality & regulatory at Cargill, which unveiled a new non-GMO soybean oil at the show.

“Our customers have been asking for this, so we are giving them options.”​

As for how much more its new non-GMO soybean oil will cost than regular soybean oil, it will depend on who’s asking and how much they want, but ensuring there is no cross-contamination with bio-engineered crops during harvesting, transportation, storage, handling, processing and refining is not cheap, he acknowledged.

The oil - which is made from identity-preserved (IdP), conventionally-bred (non-GM) soybeans - is refined in Des Moines, Iowa in a process certified by SGS, said Ethan Theis, food ingredients commercial manager.

Supplies are limited as one food manufacturer has already purchased a significant portion of the available supply, said Theis.

Pictured above left to right, Ethan Theis and Randal Giroux.