by McKenna Whelan
It’s no exaggeration that people already adore Chipotle. In a move that might make them even more popular, the company recently announced they would stop using Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) in their food. Not all of Chipotle’s menu will be completely GMO free; items such as corn tortillas and cooking oil will still contain GMOs, though co-chief executive and founder of Chipotle Steve Ells says in a few years time he wants to change that.
GMOs are known to cause some controversy, but there is no hard proof that GMOs can cause health effects on humans. The Non-GMO Project explains that in many countries GMOs are seen as potential risks.Many countries like Japan and Australia have set restrictions, labels, or have even banned GMOs in their foods.
Americans are less aware of what they’re eating because of the lack of labels identifying GMOs in their food.
“It is even found that in the U.S. that in 80% of conventional processed foods there are GMOs” says The Non-GMO Project.
There is no doubt that Chipotle will receive a lot of benefits from dropping GMOs. It will create an influx of income due to consumers interest in Chipotle’s GMO free food.
“Just because food is served fast doesn’t mean it has to be made with cheap raw ingredients, highly processed with preservatives and fillers and stabilizers and artificial colors and flavors.” Ells says.
Chipotle has started a new advertisement campaign titled “A Farewell To GMOs” and have dedicated a web page explaining their act (http://chipotle.com/gmo). Chipotle believes that one of the reasons why people appreciate their food is because of their great ingredients.
Chipotle describes the three main reasons why they have dropped GMOs.First, scientists are still studying the long term implications of GMOs. The second reason is the cultivation of GMOs can damage the environment. The final reason is that they believe that Chipotle should be a place where people can eat food made with non-GMO ingredients.
On their website they have expressed their opinions about food with integrity. Chipotle says, “We’re committed because we understand the connection between how food is raised, prepared, and how it tastes.”
citations
G-M-Over It. (n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2015, from http://chipotle.com/gmo
Chipotle Says Adios To GMOs, As Food Industry Strips Away Ingredients. (n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2015, from http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/04/27/402632212/chipotle-says-adios-to-gmos-as-food-industry-strips-away-ingredients
GMO Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2015, from http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/
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Chipotle Removes Pork from Menu at 600 of Its Locations. (2015, January 14). Retrieved May 1, 2015, from http://greatideas.people.com/2015/01/14/chipotle-carnitas-pork-crisis-shortage/
