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Campbell’s says it supports Senate GMO bill

The Senate is set to vote on proposed GMO Labeling legislation next week and an executive from Campbell’s Soup Company says it’s a bill the company supports.

Kelly Johnston, vice president of federal affairs says while the company supports the legislation, it falls short of Campbell’s position of mandatory on-package labeling.  “But it’s the ability to have a national standard and the ability to avoid a state-by-state patchwork of laws that would farming and food production almost impossible,” he says.  “And it gives us the option to disclose to consumer in a way that works best with them.”

He tells Brownfield one of the biggest challenges to overcome has been that the food industry, from farm to fork, has allowed the perception to take hold that by using GMO’s food companies – and farmers, are trying to hide something.  “I think that the failure to really educate people earlier in this process,” he says.  “Many of us were warning 20 years ago we have got to have a very robust consumer education program.  And frankly the biotech companies, the farm organizations, and the food companies have really dropped the ball in that space.”

Johnston says in the last 12 months communication has improved – and it will need to continue moving forward.

Johnston spoke at a Dow event in Indianapolis yesterday.

AUDIO: Kelly Johnston, Campbell’s Soup Company