ConAgra Goes Wide With GMO Label
23 March 2016 - 9:40AM
Dow Jones News
ConAgra Foods Inc. is going nationwide with labels that will say
a food product is made with genetically modified organisms, finding
it to be the easiest way to comply with a Vermont law on GMO
labeling.
Other food giants including Kellogg Co., General Mills Inc.,
Mars Inc. and Campbell Soup Co. have all said they are changing
their food packaging across the country in response to that state's
law requiring disclosure of GMOs as of July 1.
These companies say it would be too complex and expensive to
create a separate distribution network for the 626,000 residents of
Vermont. Last week, an effort by some members of Congress to block
Vermont's law stalled, pushing packaged food makers to start
preparing for it now.
ConAgra's products include Snack Pack pudding and Peter Pan
peanut butter. It said it stands behind the health and safety of
all of its products, including those with GMOs, but that it also
believes consumers should know what's in their food. It is to
reveal its stance via social media outlets Tuesday evening.
Like other companies, ConAgra is hoping for a national law that
addresses GMO labeling to avoid having to complying with multiple
state laws, should others follow Vermont. But the big debate in
Congress that's holding up a national standard is whether it should
mandate GMO labeling on the food packages, allow it to be on
company websites instead, or make it entirely voluntary.
ConAgra said it "supports using a variety of options for
disclosure of GMOs."
Kellogg said its products with GMOs will have labels nationwide,
beginning sometime in April, to comply with the Vermont law, but
that's only "until a federal solution is reached."
So far, Campbell Soup is the only big company to break from the
pack and endorse mandated GMO labeling on packages, while cutting
funding to lobbying efforts that oppose it. Campbell said it will
keep GMO labels on applicable food nationally, regardless of what
happens on Capital Hill.
Write to Annie Gasparro at annie.gasparro@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 22, 2016 18:25 ET (22:25 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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