For related articles and more information, please visit OCA’s Genetic Engineering page and our Millions Against Monsanto page.

The growing demand for labeling that identifies genetically modified ingredients (GMOs) lost the California referendum but will be on the ballot later this year in the state of Washington.  Whole Foods gave the Just Label It campaign, justlabelit.org, a boost by announcing that by 2018 all products in their stores must identify on the label any genetically modified ingredients.

      Co-ops already have strongly supported the Just Label It campaign, and the National Cooperative Grocers Association continues to approach its suppliers about the issues.  Here are some additional comments (3/11/13) by Berkshire Co-op General Manager Art Ames:

“It behooves us to continue to look at other ways that we can effect change so that it is in the manufacturers’ best financial interest to eliminate GMOs.  In fact, it needs to be a great enough reward to counter-balance Monsanto’s efforts to the contrary.

“A few months ago, I talked about our strategy here as stated in our food policy;  “We recognize that consumers expect natural and organic products to be free of GMOs and are endeavoring to meet that expectation to the best of our ability.  Therefore we are no longer accepting new non-organic products that include GMO high-risk items (listed below) in their ingredient list, unless they are enrolled in The Non-GMO Project or can provide us a detailed description of measures taken to avoid GMO contamination. ”