With $2.6 billion in annual sales, Dannon is the latest entry on the list of large U.S. food companies that will put GMO labels its products nationwide “to ensure full transparency for consumers.” The yogurt maker said it would begin nationwide labeling as soon as labeling becomes mandatory at the state level – scheduled for July 1 in Vermont. The company, based in White Plains, New York, announced GMO labeling as part of a move toward sustainable agricultural practices by its suppliers and use of non-GMO feed for dairy cows that produce the milk used in its three flagship brands. “The ambition is to evolve the remaining brands over time,” said the company.
Five other major foodmakers have announced nationwide labeling – ConAgra, Kellogg, General Mills, Mars and Campbell Soup.
Gary Hirshberg, chairman of the Just Label It campaign, applauded Dannon’s decision and called on Congress “to act quickly to require a national, mandatory GMO label that will allow consumers to know what’s in their food at a glance. Adding a few words or a symbol to the label will not increase food prices, as labeling opponents contend.” The Senate has been at an impasse since the defeat March 15 of a bill to pre-empt state labeling laws and keep labeling voluntary on the federal level.
While GMO labeling was the headline, Dannon aimed more broadly, said the New York Times. “Under a new supply system … farmers in the program must adhere to Dannon-dictated animal welfare standards and work to improve and conserve soil on their farms, among other things. The company’s program plays into an array of consumer trends, from the desire for better treatment of farm animals to a preference for the wares of small, new food companies that promote the simplicity and purity of their products. Those upstarts represent stiff competition for Dannon, whose yogurts represent more than a third of those sold in America,” said the Times.