News

2014-06-24 | permalink

USA: Non-GMO products and Food Safety Movement

As demand increases for non-GMO ingredients, manufacturers have to turn to suppliers they can trust. New products made with non-genetically modified organism (non-GMO) ingredients are on the rise in the United States. (.....) But, it can be hard for manufacturers to be sure that they’re actually getting non-GMO ingredients. However, there are some things they can ask their suppliers to make sure they’re getting the right ingredients, including:
- Can you track non-GMO ingredients back to the seed, the grower and the field?
- If your corn is “identity preserved,” what property is being “identity preserved”?
- How do you segregate non-GMO corn from GMO corn?
- What programs do you have in place to guarantee non-GMO status?
- How do you control your non-GMO supply chain with contract partners?
- Does an independent third party certify your non-GMO products? What are the standards used for certification? Do they match those of the Non-GMO Project?
Ingredion, global provider of ingredient solutions, is among the companies working hard to offer non-GMO products.
(Candy Industry)
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Let us celebrate today the latest initiatives of our nation's growing food safety movement. Across the country, consumers are demanding the right to know what is in their food, and labeling of genetically engineered food. It's a vibrant and diverse coalition: mothers and grandmothers, health libertarians, progressives, foodies, environmentalists, main street conservatives and supporters of free-market economics. Last year, a New York Times poll found that a near-unanimous 93 percent of Americans support such labeling.
(Huffington Post)

2014-06-23 | permalink

Cargill develops non-GMO soybean oil, but does not support the mandatory GMO labelling

Cargill is introducing a soybean oil made from identity-preserved (IdP), conventionally-bred (non-GM) soybeans for customers interested in exploring a non-GMO claim on their product label. The oil is refined in Cargill's Des Moines, Iowa, plant in a process certified by SGS, a global inspection, verification, testing and certification company. "Despite the many merits of biotechnology, consumer interest in food and beverage products made from non-GM ingredients is growing, creating opportunities and challenges for food manufacturers and food service operators," said Ethan Theis, food ingredients commercial manager, Cargill. Supplies of Cargill's new oil are limited, and one food manufacturer already has purchased a significant portion of the available supply. According to Theis, producing an IdP soybean oil from non-GM soybeans is an intricate process, from procuring a dedicated supply of non-GM soybeans to developing processes to avoid co-mingling with bioengineered crops during harvesting, transportation, storage, handling, processing and refining.
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Does Cargill support mandatory labeling legislation for foods containing GM ingredients?
(.....) Rather than mandatory labeling of GM foods produced, in whole or in part, from or with biotechnology, Cargill supports the voluntary labeling of conventionally-grown products for consumers who are seeking non-GM foods.

2014-06-20 | permalink

TTIP and GMO: European Union would not be changing its food safety laws under TTIP

A planned EU/US trade deal should sweep away "non-scientific barriers" to US sales of many genetically modified crops and some chemically treated meats in Europe, the US agriculture secretary said on Tuesday (17 June). The two sides aim to create the world's largest free-trade pact, whose advocates say it could boost their economies by $100 billion (€74bn) a year each. But after a year of talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), agriculture is emerging as one of the most difficult areas. The European Union has ruled out importing meat from animals injected with hormones and said that it will not simply open the door to GM crops.

2014-06-17 | permalink

Cyprus will remain a GM free zone

ENVIRONMENT Minister Nicos Kouyialis yesterday rejected opposition parties’ criticism that the agreement reached by EU ministers on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) opens the door to GM cultivation in Cyprus, and put it down to “misinformation”. On Thursday, the EU Council of Environment Ministers reached a compromise deal on GMOs, giving member states the right to decide whether to allow the cultivation of GMOs in their national territory. Kouyialis, who represented Cyprus at the meeting, welcomed the agreement on the restriction and prohibition of GMO cultivation, noting that after years of intense negotiations “we agreed on the current text, because we want Cyprus to be free of genetically modified organisms”. He clarified that keeping Cyprus a GM-free zone “is a long standing position of this government”.

2014-06-16 | permalink

USA: GMO labelling in Vermont, Ben and Jerry's and NON-GMO animal feed

Ben and Jerry"s: Our Non-GMO Standards

More than 60 countries already have laws restricting or labeling foods produced with genetic engineering. Now, Vermont is the first state to require common-sense labeling for foods produced with genetic engineering. Vermont’s first-in-the-nation law is expected to be challenged in court by food producers that do not want to disclose this information to consumers.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and other food industry groups have filed a complaint challenging Vermont’s controversial new law mandating the labeling of food produced with GMOs.

As Vermont's new law requiring labeling of food containing genetically modified organisms shows, interest in GMOs, or the lack of them, is hot. A growing number of image-conscious companies, including Burlington-based Lake Champlain Chocolates, are looking to go non-GMO. (.....) However, the Non-GMO Project, an organization that verifies and offers its non-GMO seal of approval to products proven to be without GMOs, requires dairy and meat to come from animals fed non-GMO feed to earn its verification. Miller said with 90 percent of feed corn genetically modified in the United States, Ben & Jerry's would have difficulty sourcing its ice cream that way. Miller said the company has been able to make the switch to non-GMO and Fair Trade certified without having to discontinue any flavors.