Fresh Start For 2013 - National Coalition Calls On US Cereal Giants To Take GMOs Out Of Our Breakfasts

"GMO Inside" Calls on Kellogg's and General Mills to Label GMOs or Cut Them Out Entirely

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- GMO Inside, a coalition dedicated to advancing the right of consumers to know whether or not foods are genetically engineered, today announced that it is shining the light on the nation's largest breakfast cereal companies: Kellogg's and General Mills.  GMO Inside is calling on these companies, who claim to be wholesome and healthy, to make a Fresh Start and label or remove the ingredients in their products that have been genetically engineered. In cereals, this could apply to major ingredients such as corn, soy, and added sugars.

Throughout January, and available at http://gmoinside.org/take-action/, GMO Inside is calling on consumers to sign petitions, phone the companies to request non-GMO products, and take action on the Facebook profiles of each company and their many brands. General Mills is the maker of iconic cereals such as Cheerios, Chex, Kix, and Lucky Charms, as well as the owner of Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, and Hamburger Helper. Kellogg's manufactures Corn Flakes, POPS, Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes, and Special K, and owns MorningStar Farms, Pop Tarts, and Keebler, to name just a few.

GMO Inside is also urging Kellogg's and General Mills to pledge not to fund any opposition to I-522, the Washington State ballot initiative for GMO labeling, which will be up for a vote in November 2013—or any other initiatives and legislation emerging in states around the country. 

To date, more than 5,000 consumers have taken action with GMO Inside signing a petition to General Mills to remove GMOs from its bestselling Cheerios line of products, and more than 17,000 Facebook fans helped to shut down the company's Cheerios Facebook app in December 2012.

"We have been completely blown away by the amount of consumer support the GMO issue has created." said Alisa Gravitz, President of Green America.  "Since Prop 37 was defeated in California in November last year, consumer action has only increased.  I am completely inspired by the parents who are standing up against major corporations for the right to know what they are feeding their kids. Kellogg's and General Mills represent just the beginning of what this coalition is prepared to take on."

"We're calling on consumers to get a fresh start this year by beginning every day with a healthy breakfast, free of GMO ingredients," said Elizabeth O'Connell, GMO Inside Campaign Director.  "Putting Kellogg's and General Mills under our January spotlight is part of GMO Inside's commitment to educate consumers about which products are likely to have GMO ingredients. We'll call attention to new products every month."

GMO Inside believes that everyone has a right to know what's in their food and to choose foods that are proven safe for themselves, their families, and the environment. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have never been proven safe for consumption, and a growing body of studies is raising concerns around the health effects of eating them. Numerous US physicians now instruct all their patients to avoid genetically modified foods in their diets. GMOs are also increasing the use of toxic herbicides and causing harm to farmers in the US and abroad.

With the Fresh Start action, GMO Inside joins with the work of GMO Free USA, which is calling on Kellogg's to commit to making all of its products with non-GMO ingredients.  Both Kellogg's and General Mills sell their iconic products in Europe without GMO ingredients.

ABOUT GMO INSIDE

GMO Inside is a coalition of businesses and organizations that support a healthy, GMO-free food system.  The steering committee is made up of the following organizations and individuals and convened by Green America. For more information, go to: http://gmoinside.org/.

Food Democracy Now! is a grassroots community dedicated to building a sustainable food system that protects our natural environment, sustains farmers and nourishes families. Food Democracy Now! members know we can build a food system that gives our communities equal access to healthy food, and respects the dignity of the farmers who produce it. We believe in recreating regional food systems, supporting the growth of humane, natural and organic farms, and protecting the environment. For more information, go to: http://www.fooddemocracynow.org/.

GMO Free USA works to harness education, advocacy, and bold action to foster consumer rejection of genetically modified organisms, until they are proven safe. They support the labeling of GMO foods with the ultimate goal of getting GMOs out of the food supply and environment. Their current campaign focuses on engaging Kellogg's to get GMOs out of their entire product line. For more information, go to: http://gmofreeusa.org/.

Green America is the nation's leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America (formerly Co-op America) provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses, investors, and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. For more information, go to: http://www.greenamerica.org/.

Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) is a world leader in educating policy makers and the public about the documented risks of GM foods and crops, as well as the problems associated with current research, regulation, corporate practices, and reporting. IRT's founder, Jeffrey M. Smith, is an international bestselling author, filmmaker, and the leading spokesperson on the health dangers of GMOs. He documents how the world's most powerful Ag biotech companies bluff and mislead critics, and put the health of society at risk. For more information, go to: http://www.responsibletechnology.org/.

Nutiva® is dedicated to a healthy and sustainable world, demonstrating its mission to nourish people and planet by using delicious organic ingredients, enriching the soil, and donating 1 percent of sales to sustainable-agriculture groups. Founded in 1999, Nutiva is the world's best-selling brand of nutritious organic hemp foods, extra-virgin coconut oil, and chia seeds. Fifteen thousand retailers in the United States, Canada, and the European Union offer Nutivaproducts, including Whole Foods, Sprouts, Vitamin Shoppe, GNC, Publix, Safeway, Loblaws, and Amazon.com. Nutiva is located in Richmond, California. For more information, visit www.nutiva.com.

Vani Hari is a management consultant, food activist writer and a two time elected North Carolina delegate, endorsed by President Obama. Vani started FoodBabe.com in April 2011 to spread information about what is really in the American food supply. She teaches people how to make the right purchasing decisions at the grocery store, how to live an organic lifestyle, and how to travel healthfully around the world. The success in her writing and investigative work can be seen in the way food companies react to her uncanny ability to find and expose the truth. She been featured in the Washington Times, NY Times, Lawyers Weekly, Prevention.com, NBC –WCNC, ABC–WLOS, and profiled in Charlotte Observer. For more information, go to: http://foodbabe.com/.

SOURCE Green America, Washington, DC