Ice cream giant Ben & Jerry's has joined the movement calling for the labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms in foods, and has even vowed to transition away from using GMOs in their products all together.
Currently, 80 percent of Ben & Jerry's ingredients are non-GMO, and all their products in the European Union are already non-GMO.
They are making strides toward moving in that direction in the United States and Canada, and plan to accomplish that by 2015.
"We will track our progress as we complete this conversion, with public updates on this site. Beginning now, and throughout 2013, we will transition packaging so that all Ben & Jerry's products will be labeled with respect to GMO by the end of 2014."
Ben & Jerry recognizes the demand for greater transparency in the food industry, especially in America, and have made it clear that they stand with activists in the battle to push for healthier, safer food options.
"We have a long history of siding with consumers and their right to know what's in their food. We fought long and hard for labeling of rBGH, which was the first genetically engineered technology used in the U.S. food system. We thank and encourage all those who are continuing in this fight in support of transparency and consumer's right to know."
The company has even partnered with Just Label It!, an organization dedicated to empowering consumer's education regarding the ingredients in their food.
According to Just Label It!, "Studies show that more than 90 [percent] of Americans support mandatory labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods. Yet for twenty years we have been denied that right."
They go on, "Without labeling of GE foods, we cannot make informed choices about your food."
Genetically engineered foods are "Plants or animals that have had their genetic makeup altered to exhibit traits that are not naturally theirs," or, "Organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally."
