ConsumerWatch: Watchdog Group Serves Up 'Natural' Food Controversy
El CERRITO (CBS 5) - The maker of Kashi cold cereals is promising to make more of its products Genetically Modified Organism-free by 2014, following consumer complaints about genetically modified soybeans in many of Kashi's cereal products.
The controversy erupted earlier this week when a grocer in Rhode Island pulled Kashi cereals off his shelves, citing a report that the Kashi brand uses genetically-engineered, non-organic ingredients in the majority of its cereals.
The report by the Cornucopia Institute, an organic and agriculture policy group, came out last year, but didn't get much attention. The grocer's protest did, however, with pictures of his store shelf quickly going viral.
The Natural Grocery Company in El Cerrito stocks about a dozen varieties of Kashi cereals, both those with GMO ingredients, and those without. The store distinguishes between the two by using green shelf labels in front of the non-GMO products, and blue shelf labels in front of those with the controversial item.
Assistant Manager Jennifer Sandkuhler says she welcomes the controversy.
"I think it's great," she said. She hopes it will lead to decreased use of GMO ingredients, and more support for a California bill that would require GMO products to be clearly labeled. "We want consumers to be informed about what they're eating."
Kashi's list of GMO-free products
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