Kashi Brand takes a big hit, genetically speaking…

Where's my Kashi? Photo by John Wood
Where’s my Kashi? Photo by John Wood

Remember the story from The Green Grocer, who posted a sign about Kashi (a company whose PR makes them sound safe and sane)?

NO CHEF!

Yes! If you missed it, here’s what it said:

“You might be wondering where your favorite Kashi cereals have gone. It has recently come to our attention that 100% of the soy used in Kashi products is genetically modified, and that when the USDA tested the grains used there were found to be pesticides that are known carcinogens and hormone disruptors.”

Recently The Huffington Post article that came out talking about Kashi…. And guess who owns Kashi? Kelloggs. Surprised?

YES CHEF!

Me too.

And as with most big companies…. Kelloggs got a hold of a nutritionist and part of the Kashi team to rebut:

“While it’s likely that some of our foods contain GMOs, the main reason for that is because in North America, well over 80 percent of many crops, including soybeans, are grown using GMOs  …. factors outside our control such as pollin drift from nearby crops, and current practices in agricultural storage, handling and shipping have led to an environment where GMOS are not sufficiently controlled”.

I think that’s something we already know. So is this a scare? Or just the truth being re-told?

I guess the thing that whacks me out the most is pregnant women ate Kashi counting on them to be clean and green. And who knows what affect down the road that could have. So GM Labeling is a must, in our future.

I will continue to think, say and believe that until the testing is completed and some long term studies, I’m just not going to be anyone’s guinea pig. We used to say ‘if you can picture it growing, you can eat it’. But that’s not true anymore. I went an entire summer not eating or giving my clients corn, because organic corn wasn’t readily available. It wasn’t until September that I could actually find some that looked good. So if you use your own common sense, and understand if it’s labeled Organic with a verified seal it absolutely cannot be genetically modified, then you’re good to go.

Unfortunately, the labeling story does not end here.

'Natural' Chickie
‘Natural’ Chickie

One of the things I have been hearing about just this week is the branding ‘Natural’.

It’s very hard to know what that means. And so other brands, brands we are really familiar with like Trader Joe’s, Snapple, Ben & Jerry’s are now being questioned for untrue advertising. Now, in my world?

YES CHEF?

That’s taking it a little too far. No need for Natural labeling.

That was my exact concern at the grocery store last week before reading any articles. So much so that I even took a picture, preparing to blog about it.

Natural Chicken? Organic Chicken? Grass Fed? Corn Fed? So many labels, and yet when I see this ‘Natural’ chicken, what I am really reading is what’s below it – no antibiotics, hormones, cage free and vegetarian fed. So why the need for ‘natural’ labeling? In what way does that help?

You know, I read, read, read anything and everything that comes out about the food industry. And the latest buzz is that they will be doing away with the word ‘Natural’ on labels. Good idea. Great idea.

Happy Eating,

Chef Marian