Victory! Mars AND Kellogg’s To Label GMOs Nationwide

Credit: pgi.org
Credit: pgi.org

While biotech corporations like Monsanto fight tooth and nail to prevent genetically modified ingredients (GMOs) from being labeled, certain food companies must adhere to the standard in order to sell their goods in the state of Vermont.

As you might remember, the progressive U.S. state is the first to pass a mandatory GMO labeling requirement. The change takes effect in July.

Starting in April, however, the major food giants Kellogs and Mars will be labeling many of their products that contain GMOs nationwide. Natural Society reports that the words “produced with genetic engineering” will be added to products’ labels that contain GM ingredients.

Both companies are following General Mills’ lead, which announced in March that it would label GM products nation-wide to adhere to Vermont’s new GMO labeling law.

Reportedly, changing the label nation-wide is more cost-effective. Said Jeff Harmening, head of General Mills’ U.S. retail operations:

“We can’t label our products for only one state without significantly driving up costs for our consumers, and we simply won’t do that. The result: Consumers all over the country will soon begin seeing words legislated by the state of Vermont on the labels of many of their favorite General Mills food products.”

Kellogg North America president Paul Norman shares the same sentiment. He told the press that labels will appear nationwide, not just in Vermont:

“…because a special label for Vermont would be costly for us and our consumers.”

Finally, Mars is on the same page. The company shared in a statement: 

“In 2014, the state of Vermont passed a mandatory genetically modified (GM) ingredient labeling law that requires most human food products containing GM ingredients to include on-pack labeling as of July 2016. To comply with that law, Mars is introducing clear, on-pack labeling on our products that contain GM ingredients nationwide.”

The state’s requirement is leading up to a domino effect. As Big Food corporations change their labels to adhere to Vermont’s standard, it will hopefully become easier for similar legislation to be passed in other states. After all, 90%+ of Americans desire to know what’s in their food.

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