It is always so refreshing to find a company willing to support modern farming methods, particularly bioengineered crops. In a grocery world where it seems like every brand is seeking to remove these crops in order to curry favor with a loud minority, brands taking the scientifically supported role shine a little bit brighter.
Believe it or not, the tides seem to be turning and more companies are willing to speak up and defend the GMOs found in their products. Don’t be fooled though: many companies will include a label indicating the presence of GMOs ahead of the national labeling law requiring such disclosures, not because they are champions of genetic modification. Nonetheless, there are companies willing to speak out in favor of biotechnology and set the record straight.
Here are some recent examples.
Soylent. Soylent is probably the most pro-GMO company out there. It produces plant-based powder that can be made into a nutritionally complete drink. The company has strongly defended GMOs, including a complete article on its website detailing the scientific and ethical support for biotechnology. It has also vigorously defended GMOs on its social media channels.
Betty Crocker. Betty Crocker recently delighted the pro-agriculture social media masses when it responded to an individual who had discovered the company’s frosting was labeled as “partially produced with genetic engineering” and was less than pleased. Betty assured the tweeter that the company’s first concern is always food safety, and that the scientific consensus supports the safety of genetically modified crops.
GMOs are safe, we would not use them if we thought otherwise. Safe food is, and always has been, our number one priority. Global food and safety regulatory bodies including the FDA and the WHO have also verified their safety. For more facts please visit: https://t.co/dwt1KAxRTJ
— Betty Crocker (@BettyCrocker) May 17, 2018
Clover Leaf Seafoods. Clover Leaf is a canned seafood company that used to proudly display the Non-GMO Project label on its products. While the tuna was never genetically modified, some of the products include soya oil, which could come from GMO soybeans. However, after consumers contacted the company and shared their aversion to the label, Clover Leaf decided to pull it. On its Facebook page, Clover Leaf stated: “We will be removing the non-GMO logo from labels on the next production run. We have substantial inventory of labels printed, but you can expect to see the labels without the non-GMO logo begin to show up at retail in about 3 months.”
Mann’s Fresh Vegetables. Mann’s Fresh Vegetables used to be verified by the Non-GMO Project, but just like Clover Leaf Seafoods decided to drop the butterfly. Why? Mann’s started preparing to sell its product in Canada. It was informed by the regulatory agency that there should be no non-GMO logo on lettuce because there is no GMO lettuce. According to an essay published by Mann’s Director of Corporate Marketing, Gina Nucci, that made the company think twice about the message they were sending. Mann’s decided to drop their affiliation with the Non-GMO Project. Nucci wrote: “There is extensive research showing that GMO products are safe to consume, just as there is overwhelming research showing that it is better to eat your vegetables — GMO corn included — than not.”
Land O’Lakes. Everyone’s favorite butter company has long been the target of activist campaigns because it refuses to remove GMOs from its products. But the company takes food security seriously and understands that genetically modified foods are a tool for meeting increasing world food demands. Land O’Lakes sponsors its Global Food Challenge scholarship and internship program for college students interested in real sustainability, including the use of GMOs. Land O’Lakes also worked closely with the USDA to make sure that the new GMO labeling law informed consumers but did not stigmatize biotechnology.
Science Diet. The non-GMO craze has recently found its way into pet food aisles as well. The folks at Science Diet aren’t interested though. When questioned on Amazon about whether its product contains GMOs, the company responded: “There are two key ingredients in our pet foods that are GMO — corn and soy. At Hill’s, we are confident that our use of these ingredients does not compromise the high quality of our pet foods in any way otherwise we would not use them.“
Quite honestly, I think it is far better for a company to make this list, than an opposing list. Every single time a company comes out and in defense of GMOs, supporters flock to that brand. We are just happy to see a company not cater to misinformation.
Amanda Zaluckyj blogs under the name The Farmer’s Daughter USA. Her goal is to promote farmers and tackle the misinformation swirling around the U.S. food industry.
