For related articles and more information, please visit OCA’s Genetic Engineering page and our Millions Against Monsanto page.
Frito-Lay, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pepsico, was recently sued for the labeling of certain lines of Tostitos and SunChips products. In a December 14, 2011 complaint filed with the Central District Court of California, the class action plaintiff, Julie Gengo, alleges that certain of the Tostitos and SunChips lines, marketed as being “made with ALL NATURAL” ingredients, are misleading because they are made of genetically modified ingredients.

The products that are the focus of the lawsuit are made with mostly corn and vegetable oil. In fact, corn and vegetable oil “constitute the first two ingredients listed on the nutritional label of each of these products…” According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 88% percent of corn and 94% of soybeans grown in America is genetically modified. Soybean and corn oils are commonly used in processed foods such as chips.

Plaintiff alleges that Frito-Lays’ advertising misleads consumers with product labeling prominently announcing “all natural” ingredients as well as claims on the company’s website. These products, claims the plaintiff, are not “all natural” as they are made from genetically modified ingredients-just ask Monsanto, which defines GMOs as follows:

 “Plants or animals that have had their genetic makeup altered to exhibit traits that are not naturally theirs. In general, genes are taken (copied) from one organism that shows a desired trait and transferred into the genetic code of another organism.”