The Dannon Co. Commits to GMO Labeling

The Dannon Co. has become the latest CPG company to say it will label all products that contain GMO ingredients, which is part of a larger commitment the White Plains, N.Y.-based yogurt giant has made to transparency, sustainability and natural ingredients.  

The transition to fully GMO-transparent packaging will be complete by December 2017, the company said. General Mills and Mars Inc. have made similar promises. 

Among other components of Dannon's pledge include working with its dairy farmer partners and their suppliers to implement the use of sustainable agriculture practices and technology, in an effort to support better soil health and water management, an increase in biodiversity, and a decrease in carbon emission.

Additionally, Dannon said it will use fewer and more natural ingredients in its namesake, Oikos and Danimals brands, beginning in July 2016.

For its milk products, Dannon will work with its farmer partners to ensure that the cows that supply Dannon’s milk for these flagship products will be fed non-GMO feed. The process will begin for those three brands in 2017 and will be completed by the end of 2018; the company plans to evolve its other product lines over time.

“We created a new way to work with dairy farmers to improve our shared sustainability priorities,” said Mariano Lozano, president/CEO. “Our ambition is to produce healthy food that is affordable, creates economic and social value and nurtures natural ecosystems through sustainable agriculture."

Dannon has already begun work on the first phase of its commitment by encouraging practices such as rotating crops, managing fertilizer, pesticide and herbicide application in the production of feed for a portion of the cows providing the company’s milk supply.

"While this commitment is ambitious," added Lozano, "we believe it’s necessary to continue to serve Americans using a sustainable and transparent model.”