Everyone knows Oreo— “America’s favorite” (GMO-filled) cookie, but you may not have heard of Mondelez, the company that makes Oreos. Recently, however, Mondelez seems to be taking steps to repair their image and venture into producing healthier, non-GMO (genetically modified organism) containing options.
After three years of declining sales and “activist pressure,” (Thanks GMOInsiders!) Mondelez, maker of Ritz crackers, Triscuits, and Cadbury chocolate, has decided it’s time for a change. Mondelez will be launching a new product line this July of packaged crackers and snack bars called Vea. Vea products will be non-GMO project verified and contain no trans fats and no artificial ingredients, colors, or flavors.
We at GMOInside commend Mondelez for developing products that are non-GMO verified and contain no artificial ingredients. We are also excited about their decision to removed GMO’s from Triscuits. We must, however, question why Mondelez has not yet committed to removing GMOs from its other leading products like Oreos.
Mondelez CEO Irene Rosenfeld recently stated, "We're actively working to revamp existing products and introduce new ones that are aligned with today's definition of well-being," But why leave Oreos out? This revamping should extend to Oreos, one of their most well-known products, which are sold in more than 100 countries worldwide in numbers of over 70 million a day.
The high fructose corn syrup, beet sugar, and soy lecithin in Oreos all come from GE (genetically engineered) crops. This raises alarms for both health and environmental concerns, as GE crops allow more widespread use of toxic chemicals like glyphosate. Glyphosate is a probable carcinogen and a pollutant and its widespread usage has also led to the development of superweeds.
While we would like to thank Mondelez for its important shift in focus to more health-conscious, natural food, we will continue to push the company to go further and remove GMOs from its most popular products, starting with Oreos.
Take action and urge Mondelez to remove GMO ingredients from Oreo cookies. Thank you for staying informed and taking a stand!
