Gerber's Plans Do Not Include Genetically Modified Apples

By Sam Lewis

Famous baby-food company takes a stand as debate over genetically engineered foods roars on

The progress against genetically modified organisms (GMO) in food received a big blow Tuesday, Nov 5. Voters in Washington State declined a movement that would have begun a law requiring GMOs to be labeled on food in the state.

However, the movement still has plenty of steam, as well-known baby product manufacturer, Gerber, responded to a letter from Friends of the Earth, an international environmentalist network. In the letter, Gerber stated its position on Arctic Apples. “As stated in your letter, all of our Gerber fruit and vegetable purees are made without using GM crops,” reads Gerber’s letters. “We do not use Artic Apples, nor do we have plans to use Arctic Apples in the future.” The fruit is the world’s first genetically-engineered apple and is pending approval by the USDA. Artic Apple’s claim to fame is their “non-browning” characteristic. The announcement from Gerber insinuates all the negative media coverage GMO foods are receiving is having a profound impact, in spite of victories in the on-going debate by the biotechnology industry.

Genetically engineered foods have been a hot debate over the last year. Companies like Monsanto have been scrutinized for promotion of GMO food products, along with pushing Congress and state lawmakers to scrap bills restricting them or requiring them to be labeled. Issues of food products containing GMOs reached a boiling point in March with the “Monsanto Protection Act.” This venture was written in cooperation with Monsanto lobbyists and limited the abilities and enforcements of federal bodies if new health issues regarding GMOS surfaced. The Senate terminated the effort in September in spite of Monsanto’s wishes to keep it alive.

The controversy of GMOs in food will continue to roar as one of the most high-profile food-safety concerns. Despite Gerber’s position on the issue, the debate is far from settled. However, even as Washington State follows California as the second state rejecting required labeling of GMO in food products, consumer pressures may still influence food makers to adopt anti-GMO policies