This Just In...

Earlier in this blog we talked about how American chocolate had won a fight to keep British chocolate, made with more natural ingredients, out of this country. Today, Hershey's has announced its pulling some GMOs out of their most popular products:

from The Daily Mail:

The company is also dropping emulsifier polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) and artificial vanillin, the Confectionery News reported. PGPR reduces the viscosity of chocolate and is used by companies as a replacement for expensive raw ingredient cocoa butter...The decision comes amid a growing backlash against 'Frankenfoods'. Critics of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) foods consider them environmentally suspect and a possible health threat.

This new direction was caused, it turns out, by a vocal backlash against the use of GMOs on Hershey's Facebook page, but also a lean, as the article mentions, of its competitors away from GMOs and other items of offense, such as high fructose corn syrup. Anyway, this is a step in the right direction for Hershey and American foods in general. As the Aussies would say, "Good on ya, Hershey Facebook followers!"

As consumers, and as citizens, we need to keep up the pressure on not just food producers, but legislators, too, for healthy, natural, or at the very least, in my view, clearly labeled products to help us make the best decisions for ourselves and our families. Even on stuff we shouldn't be eating anyway, like candy bars.

A whole new world--now with fewer mystery ingredients!