Dive Brief:
- La Brea Bakery announced its commitment to go source non-GMO ingredients by the end of this year in all of its artisan breads. The company will offer the first non-GMO artisan bread line available in North America, according to a news release.
- New World Pasta, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ebro Foods, has announced the Non-GMO Project seal began appearing on many of its pastas this year.
- Both companies cited their commitments are in response to consumer-driven food trends.
Dive Insight:
According to a news release La Brea Bakery is responding to consumer trends and demands, and noted a 2014 Consumer Reports National Research Survey that found more than 70% of Americans don’t want GMOs in their foods.
It's important to note that consumer confusion still abounds when it comes to all types of food labeling, with GMO concerns in particular. At least 60% of consumers think that a packaged or processed food is considered natural if it is non-GMO and doesn't contain artificial ingredients or colors, chemicals, or pesticides, and 45% believe the term "natural" is verified, according to a recent study from Consumer Reports. This is not accurate.
Fewer than 20 crops have GMO varieties approved by the USDA, according to The Wall Street Journal. Only eight are in extensive commercial production: alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton, papaya, soybeans, summer squash, and sugar beets. Commercial production of GMO potatoes and apples started recently but they aren’t yet widely available.