A class-action lawsuit filed at the end of last year alleged that Non GMO (genetically modified organism) claims on many of Gerber’s baby food products are false and misleading because the products contain ingredients derived from genetically modified crops and protein and/or dairy sources derived from cows raised on genetically modified feed.
The lawsuit alleges that Non GMO and similar claims (e.g., GMO free) are understood by consumers in a manner consistent with the definitions set forth by the Non GMO Project, a non-profit organization that offers a “Non GMO Project” certification which requires that the certified foods contain no genetically modified processes or inputs (e.g., animal food products derived from animals fed genetically engineered feed).
Compounding the difficulty of determining the meaning of Non GMO is the fact that the absence of a required bioengineered disclosure (under the BE Standard) does not mean that a food is necessarily “Non GMO.” For example, as at issue here, a food sourced from animals fed genetically modified/GMO feed is not required to be labeled as bioengineered under the BE Standard, but it would not meet the Non GMO Project’s definition of Non GMO.
