Land O'Lakes: A household name for the dairy-inclined, and an iconic American brand with a proud legacy as a farmer cooperative. But is it the best butter out there?
Founded in 1921, Land O'Lakes is now the nation's second largest member-owned co-op. Made up of almost 4,000 producer members, the co-op is made up of six different types of enterprises: dairy foods, animal feed, crop seed, business development services, and transport and licensing.
Taking a closer look at Land O'Lakes crop seed enterprise, you'll find that Land O'Lakes owns Forage Genetics, the co-developer of genetically engineered alfalfa (Monsanto was the other developer). The USDA approved GMO alfalfa for deregulation and commercial use in January 2011.
If you go one step further and look into Land O'Lakes management team, you'll find that their vice presidents, supply chain management experts, and operations officers are linked to companies such as General Mills, Pepsi, and Mobil Oil. Additionally, some of Land O'Lakes products are licensed by Dean Foods, the largest producer and distributor of dairy in the U.S.
From their website: "Land O’Lakes, Inc. will continue to advocate for the continued safe and effective use of agricultural biotechnology to increase the food supply while lowering cost. And we will continue to engage in an informative dialogue with our consumers so that they understand the safety, prevalence and benefits of GM technology and can make informed choices for themselves and their families."
Keep in mind, Land O'Lakes contributed nearly $100,000 to defeat I-522 in Washington state.
By playing a direct role in developing GMO alfalfa for commercial use, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to block labeling, and denying the facts about genetically modified crops and their impact on humans and the environment, Land O'Lakes contradicts its self-proclaimed dedication to helping consumers make informed choices. Especially considering that Land O'Lakes has built its reputation on being a member-owned cooperative, we think Land O'Lakes can do better.
For your winter holidays this year, opt for non-GMO verified or USDA organic butters to ensure that your holiday cookies are just like Grandma used to make. Stay tuned this month for some of our favorite holiday cookie recipes.
Think Land O'Lakes can do better than GMO butter? Take action now and demand better butter. Click here to get GMOs out of dairy!
