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Campbell’s reiterates GMO stance

A spokesman for Campbell’s Soup Company has clarified its position on GMO foods with Brownfield Ag News.

Campbells says it continues to support GMO foods as safe and plans to increase transparency of the ingredients used in their products.

A previous Brownfield story featured a Campbell’s purchasing agent who said non-GMO ingredients are becoming mandatory for the company and the probability of farmers selling GMO crops to Campbell’s is very slim.

Tom Hushen, Campbell’s communications manager, tells Brownfield that is not true across the board at Campbell’s and while the purchasing agent works in a division of the company that offers more fresh and organic products, his comments were more personal in nature.  Hushen says the science continues to support that GMOs are safe and as a company they will be labeling U.S. products that include ingredients derived from genetically modified crops, but there is no directive to exclude GMO products.  “We continue to believe that GMOs are safe. We’ll continue to use them.  The science indicates foods derived from crops grown using genetically modified seeds are not nutritionally different from other foods.  We believe technology will play a crucial role in feeding the world, that said, we do offer choices.”

He says the company has recently launched a website WhatsinMyFood.com to help consumers learn about the ingredients in products.  Campbell’s is also expanding their organic product offerings to provide options for consumers who prefer their foods not contain ingredients derived from GMO crops.

Hushen says Campbell’s is currently working with the USDA and FDA to finalize simple, consumer-friendly GMO language.  The federal GMO labeling law goes into effect in 2018.

AUDIO: Interview with Tom Hushen