So i called up Heinz to find out if their ketchup contained any genetically modified ingredients since i have no interested in eating that ****.
The rep on the phone said “we cannot guarantee that our products do not contain genetically modified ingredients”. For me that meant “yes it does, but no way we’re confessing”. So…. I then proceeded to tweet it.
Heinz caught word and sent us the following:
“In fact, our Heinz Tomato Ketchup products never contain genetically engineered ingredients. I apologize if our Consumer Affairs representative was not sufficiently clear in his explanation.
It may also interest you to know that every tomato that goes into every bottle of Heinz Ketchup sold in Canada, except for our organic variety, is grown by 47 farmers whose fields are within 100 kms of our Leamington, Ontario plant where it is made.
Heinz Canada is committed to providing a range of safe and nutritious products that consumers will both enjoy and trust. Sincerely, Joan Patterson Corporate Affairs Leader Heinz Canada”
Thanks for the clarification!!!!
UPDATE – According to a comment made from Doc below “Heinz is not responding at all to requests for more information about the (presumably) GMO beet sugar that replaced the (assumed) GMO HFCS in their product. You do the math.”
I called a few others last week……
Kettle Chips confirms they’re genetically modified free. (crunching away)
I also contacted Consumer Services for Smucker Foods regarding their Robin Hood Flour. They didn’t even respond. So now I spend 2x as much on organic flour.
When companies say “they cannot guarantee that their products do not contain genetically modified ingredients” I boycott.
Innkeeper’s Bed & Breakfast bread at Costco and Oregon Trail™ sold at Sams Club is genetically modified and made by Cargill = bread.com. Watch out for their other brands.
I won’t support companies who choose GM.
Does your food contain genetically modified ingredients? Here what you can do today….
- Call or e-mail companies that you buy from on a regular basis and ask them what their GMO policies are. Do they have any? Are they planning on drawing one up?
- Get the Non-GMO Project Shopping Guide app on your iPhone.
- Take action by signing the Labeling Petition www.responsibletechnology.org/GMFree/TakeAction/LabelingPetition/index.cfm
Take 2min to call or send an e-mail, chances are companies will stand up and pay attention to what we want.
Do the research slowly, at the pace of one item per week or even per month. Blog your responses. If you don’t have time, send them in.
Genetic Modified Foods and GM Animals will be the embarrassment of our generation just like environmental pollution is to our parents.
way to go. I have been informing friends about GMO, some pay attention and others do not. I have asked those Natural Food Pantry stores if they know what foods they sell contain GMO products, they didn’t have an answer for me either…..amazing, should they not know? they claim their products are “natural”.
Many companies are starting to notice that consumers will not accept this. Cracker Barrel has a commercial out that claims their cheese does not contain hormones, antibiotics etc. The power of a few can definitely change things. Imagine what we could do if only 10% of consumers voiced their concerns to their supermarkets and boycotted certain products!
The version of Heinz with High Fructose Corn Syrup does very likely contain GMO corn, most of the corn (80%+) produced in the U.S. is GMO and you can not find non GMO HFCS. The version with sugar may also likely be GMO if it is a beet sugar, again because most of the beets grown in the U.S. are GMO. Cane sugar is not GMO, but generally more expensive than beet sugar. I believe that the Heinz rep to whom you spoke was only referring to the tomatoes, which are not GMO.
Yup. Heinz is not responding at all to requests for more information about the (presumably) GMO beet sugar that replaced the (assumed) GMO HFCS in their product. You do the math.
https://www.facebook.com/HeinzKetchup
I find it questionable that Heinz doesn’t use GMO products in its ketchup because it contains corn syrup. Since 90% of corn crops are GMO it seems that the corn syrup in its ketchup does indeed contain GMOs.
HFCS doesn’t test positive for GMO because it has no proteins, therefore, no genetic information.
That information is great but I have a question about their “with the exception of our organic ketchup” part of the statement. Does that mean ALL Heinz ketchup is non GMO, including the organic variety and the exception part was referring to where the organic tomatoes are grown? Just curious as I buy heinz org ketchup and am also becoming very aware of the food I buy, trying to buy non GMO whenever possible! Thank you!