JAMBAR Making Waves With New Tropical Trio Flavor and Signing of Pro Surfer Tia Blanco
Organic Energy Bar Maker Also Announces Three-Flavor Vegan Box
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (March 6, 2024) – Organic energy bar maker JAMBAR today announced the launch of Tropical Trio – a new vegan flavor featuring a bright and breezy blend of banana, pineapple and coconut. In addition to this ensemble of island fruits, the new bar contains gluten-free ancient grains, walnut butter and 10 grams of plant-based protein. JAMBAR also revealed the signing of pro surfer, mother and plant-based athlete Tia Blanco, as well as the launch of a 12-bar vegan box that will include Tropical Trio, Jammin’ Jazzleberry and Musical Mango.
The new flavor was formulated by JAMBAR founder Jennifer Maxwell, a food scientist and co-founder of the original PowerBar®. Designed to take taste buds on an island escape, Tropical Trio features comforting notes of banana that meet the exotic with hints of coconut and pineapple.
Professional surfer Tia Blanco.
Attendees at next week’s Natural Products Expo West (March 13-15) in Anaheim, California, will be the first to sample Tropical Trio at the JAMBAR booth (N2140). New JAMBAR ambassador Tia Blanco will be at the booth on Wednesday, March 13, from 1-4 p.m. for a meet and greet and to sign autographs.“Finally! A bar that not only tastes delicious, but one I can trust to deliver clean, plant-based energy. JAMBAR is the perfect fuel to power my active lifestyle and motherhood,” said Blanco.
A professional surfer from Southern California, Blanco was the gold medalist at the International Surfing Association Women’s World Surfing Championship in 2015 and 2016. She also won ABC’s The Ultimate Surfer competition in 2021 and is an accomplished yogi, painter and entrepreneur.
The newest member of Team JAMBAR, Blanco joins top-tier athletes including Olympic Gold Medalist Jonny Moseley, professional running power couple Joe Klecker and Sage Hurta-Klecker, Stroller Mile World Record Holder Neely Spence Gracey, pro cyclist and Gravel Hall of Famer Ali Tetrick, and professional skier and biker Ryan McElmon.
Tropical Trio is JAMBAR’s fifth flavor, and its first new flavor since the company launched in late 2021. In addition to the three vegan fruit flavors, JAMBAR also offers two bars that contain whey protein – Chocolate Cha Cha and Malt Nut Melody. All five flavors are crafted in a dedicated, state-of-the-art production facility in San Rafael, California.
JAMBAR Vegan Box Now Available
The company also announced the availability of a new 12-bar box featuring four bars each of JAMBAR’s three vegan options – Tropical Trio, Jammin’ Jazzleberry and Musical Mango. Every vegan bar contains 10 grams of high-quality sunflower protein and is sweetened using only organic maple syrup and natural sugars found in fruit.
The new vegan box can be purchased online at www.jambar.com and via Amazon Prime, and will be rolling out to retail locations this spring.
“Our vegan flavors pack a serious nutritional punch without sacrificing taste,” said Maxwell. “With the new vegan box, people who are focused on a plant-based diet can enjoy variety while staying true to their clean eating lifestyle.”
About JAMBAR
In late 2021, Jennifer Maxwell founded JAMBAR with the goal of helping people feel good about the ingredients they put in their bodies, and about the positive impact they can have on their local communities. Made from only premium organic ingredients, the bars feature ancient grains, authentic natural sweeteners and high-quality proteins.The company donates 50% of after-tax profits to organizations that support the transformative pursuits of music and sports. JAMBARs are available at jambar.com, via Amazon Prime, and at select grocery and sports specialty stores including Erewhon, Safeway (NorCal Division), Raley’s Supermarkets, Mother’s Market & Kitchen, Gelson’s Markets, Earth Fare, The Fresh Market, Good Earth Natural Foods, Mollie Stone’s Markets, Nugget Market and select Fleet Feet and other running store locations. Learn more at www.jambar.com and follow JAMBAR on Facebook and Instagram.
Media Contacts
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel: 303.807.1042
Debbie Pfeifer, JAMBAR, debbie@jambar.com, tel: 206.669.3580
Woman-Owned JAMBAR®, Maker of Organic Whole Food Energy Bars, Expands Retail Presence with Erewhon
Founded by Jennifer Maxwell, creator of the original PowerBar®, JAMBAR certified organic energy bars are now available in all 10 locations of leading natural products retailer Erewhon. Rapidly growing its retail and distribution base, JAMBAR also recently appointed natural products industry sales veteran Darren Wagoner as national sales manager.
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (Feb. 6, 2024) – Independent, woman-owned JAMBAR, the artisan-made, organic energy bar company founded in 2021 by Jennifer Maxwell, is pleased to announce significant expansion of its line of certified organic, whole food energy bars. Maxwell, a food scientist, athlete and musician, together with her late husband, Brian Maxwell, essentially created the entire energy bar category when they launched the original PowerBar® in the mid-1980s.
Consumers can now find JAMBAR organic energy bars in all 10 Erewhon locations. Based in Los Angeles, Erewhon is renowned as one of the most innovative natural products retailers in the U.S. Erewhon will offer three JAMBAR flavors – Malt Nut Melody, Chocolate Cha Cha and Jammin’ Jazzleberry. By supporting local producers, ethical brands and sustainable farming practices, offering exceptional customer service and education, and fostering community, Erewhon has built a reputation that attracts healthy lifestyle consumers, athletes, entertainers and celebrities alike.
“With its commitment to quality, selection and service, Erewhon has become a ‘gold standard’ among grocers who sell natural products. As a mission-based brand committed to providing customers with premium quality organic products at an affordable price, we’re excited to partner with Erewhon,” said Maxwell, JAMBAR’s CEO and founder.
“We are pleased to offer JAMBARs to our customers,” said Vito Antoci, executive vice president of Erewhon. “First, they are simply delicious and nutritious whole food, certified organic energy bars that meet our high standards. Second, we support mission-based brands such as JAMBAR, which donates 50% of after-tax profits to organizations that promote music and active living.”
JAMBAR Featured in Leading Groceries, Specialty Retailers
In addition to Erewhon, JAMBAR is expanding its retail presence across the U.S. – the company’s artisan-made, organic energy bars are now available in leading grocers and specialty and athletic stores, including Safeway (NorCal Division), Raley’s Supermarkets, Mother’s Market & Kitchen, Lazy Acres, Gelson’s Markets, Earth Fare, The Fresh Market, Good Earth Natural Foods, Mollie Stone’s Markets, Nugget Market, Cambridge Naturals, United Market, Scotty’s Market, Lucky’s Market, Bon Appetit, Fleet Feet and more.
Using only certified organic, whole food ingredients, JAMBARs are crafted in small batches in the company’s own state-of-the-art facility. Made of organic ancient grains, berries, nuts, premium chocolate, proteins from sunflowers and organic dairy, and real syrup, juices and honey as sweeteners, JAMBAR delivers a convenient, incredibly tasty bar you can take anywhere. All four flavors of JAMBAR — Malt Nut Melody, Musical Mango, Chocolate Cha Cha and Jammin’ Jazzleberry — are also available online at JAMBAR.com and via Amazon Prime.
For wholesale accounts, JAMBAR is distributed by leading natural and specialty foods distributors including UNFI, KeHE and Chex Distributing. For wholesale inquiries, contact jammin@jambar.com, tel 877-JAMBARZ.
JAMBAR Appoints National Sales Manager
In related news, JAMBAR recently appointed natural products industry sales veteran Darren Wagoner as national sales manager. Wagoner’s experience includes serving as national account manager and key account manager for such leading brands as Activate Drinks, Purity Organic, High Brew and CB Gourmet Foods. The appointment reflects the company’s focus on building sales in key natural products markets as it expands manufacturing and distribution.
Visit JAMBAR at Natural Products Expo West, Booth N2140
Visit JAMBAR at Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural and organic products trade exhibition, March 13-15, 2024, Booth N2140 in the North Hall’s Hot Products Pavilion at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. In addition, JAMBAR will be sampling its products at all Erewhon Southern California locations the week before Expo West.
About JAMBAR
In 2021, Jennifer Maxwell founded JAMBAR with the goal of helping people feel good about the ingredients they put in their bodies, and about the positive impact they can have on their local communities. A mission-based brand, JAMBAR donates 50% of after-tax profits to organizations that support music and active living. Runner’s World named JAMBAR the Best Protein Bar for runners in 2022 and also recognized JAMBAR with its 2023 Fitness Nutrition Award. Learn more at www.jambar.com and follow JAMBAR on Facebook and Instagram.
Media Contacts
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel: 303.807.1042
Debbie Pfeifer, JAMBAR, debbie@jambar.com, tel: 206.669.3580
JAMBAR® Takes Off: Artisan-Crafted Organic Energy Bar Created by Jennifer Maxwell, Inventor of the Original PowerBar®, Expands in Natural, Organic and Specialty Retail Stores
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JAMBARs are now available in four San Francisco International Airport retail locations and a growing number of natural and specialty food stores and grocers. Visit JAMBAR® at Natural Products Expo West, Booth #151 in the Arena, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California, March 9-11, 2023
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (February 21, 2023) — JAMBAR® – the artisan-crafted, certified organic energy bar created by Jennifer Maxwell, inventor of the original PowerBar® – is taking off. The whole food bar, available in four flavors and with 10g of protein per bar, is now available in four retail locations in the San Francisco International Airport and in a growing number of leading natural, organic and specialty retail stores across the country.
MIssion-based, the brand is committed to donating 50% of profits to philanthropic causes supporting sports and fitness, music, community and active living. Today, JAMBAR sponsors more than 200 sports and music events throughout the year. In January 2023, Bicycling and Runner’s World magazines both named JAMBAR as a 2023 Fitness Nutrition Award Winner.
In addition, the brand is getting ready to exhibit for the first time at Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural and organic products trade show, held each year at the Anaheim Convention Center (ACC) in Anaheim, California. Buyers from the world over attend this highly anticipated industry event. There, the JAMBAR team will share samples of its organic energy bars and interact with wholesale buyers and industry professionals in exhibit booth #151 in the ACC Arena, March 9-11, 2023.
Growing Retail Presence From East to West
In just two years since the company launched, JAMBARs are now available in such leading retail locations as Berkeley Bowl in Berkeley, California; 16 of 21 Earth Fare locations in the southeastern U.S.; all four Jimbo’s stores in San Diego; Good Earth Natural Foods in Fairfax and Mill Valley, California; all Mollie Stone’s locations in the San Francisco Bay Area; select Safeway stores in Northern California; Nugget Markets, Scotty’s Market, United Markets and Woodland Market in the Bay Area; and more.
"We first spoke with JAMBAR because they were a local company but soon discovered they are so much more! Besides creating a delicious, all-organic snack bar, they also donate 50% of their profits to support music programs and activities. They truly stand for health and taking care of people. A mission and a product that resonates with our customers as well as all of us at United Markets!" said Kelly Smith, president of United Markets.
For travelers in the San Francisco International Airport, JAMBARs – the perfect organic whole food energy bar for people on the go – are available in two Klein’s Deli locations and two Napa Farms locations.
“We are excited and motivated by such a positive response from natural, organic and specialty grocers across the country. They help support and expand our philanthropic mission,” said JAMBAR founder and CEO Jennifer Maxwell. “Also, I believe health-conscious consumers will embrace JAMBAR’s commitment to flavor, nutrition and sourcing the highest-quality organic ingredients in crafting JAMBARs. We offer premium, healthful, on-the-go nutrition at a reasonable price."
Small-Batch Crafted in the U.S.A. in JAMBAR’s Own Production Facility
With its own manufacturing facilities in San Rafael, California, JAMBAR is an independent, woman-owned business founded in 2021 by lifelong athlete, musician and food science and nutrition expert Jennifer Maxwell.
Natural products industry veterans and energy bar aficionados may remember Jennifer, who, along with her late husband, Brian, created the original PowerBar®, which, when it was introduced in 1985, effectively launched the entire energy bar category.
Today, inspired by organic food and agriculture and a desire to give back to and support healthy communities and the environment, Maxwell developed certified organic JAMBARs in four delicious whole food flavors that provide a good source of protein, nutrients and fiber. Using organic ancient grains, berries, nuts, premium chocolate, proteins from sunflowers and organic dairy, and real syrup, juices and honey as sweeteners, JAMBAR delivers a convenient, incredibly tasty bar you can take anywhere.
JAMBAR Is Available in These Musical Organic Flavors:
Chocolate Cha Cha — A blend of premium Guittard chocolate, real food ingredients and ancient grains. Fair trade certified, non-GMO and gluten free with 10g of protein per serving.
Malt Nut Melody — Peanut and maple malted magic with a touch of sesame and vanilla for an amazing medley of flavors, Malt Nut Medley is non-GMO, with 10g of protein per serving.
Jammin’ Jazzleberry — Vegan and gluten free, a jazzy combo of organic strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, with 10g of plant-based protein per serving.
Musical Mango — Energy goes exotic with delicious mango and ancient whole grains. The Musical Mango bar is vegan, gluten free and contains 10g of plant-based protein per serving.
JAMBARs are available online at JAMBAR.com, on Amazon.com and also at leading natural food and specialty stores. For wholesale inquiries, contact jammin@jambar.com, tel 877-JAMBARZ. For more information, visit www.JAMBAR.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Visit JAMBAR at Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural and organic products trade exhibition, Booth #151 in the Arena at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, March 9-11, 2023.
Media Contacts
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042
Debbie Pfeifer, JAMBAR, pfeiferworks@gmail.com
JAMBAR®, the Organic Energy Bar on a Mission, Teams Up With Stephen & Ayesha Curry's Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JAMBAR®, the Organic Artisan Energy Bar That Donates 50% of Profits to Local Communities, Shows Its Commitment to Giving Back This Holiday Season
SAN RAFAEL, California (December 13, 2022) — As part of its holiday giving campaign, JAMBAR joined Stephen and Ayesha Curry on December 11 at their 10th annual Christmas with the Currys holiday event, which makes the season brighter for families in need throughout the Oakland, California, area. Jennifer Maxwell, the CEO of JAMBAR and co-founder of PowerBar®, and her team helped hand out holiday boxes. The Currys, through their Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, surprised 500 families at the winter-wonderland-themed event with special holiday gift boxes filled with gift cards, books, toys, groceries and fresh produce. In addition, each family’s box contained a JAMBAR Holiday Pack donated by Jennifer and JAMBAR.
“It’s great to have the support of another mission-driven Bay Area organization. JAMBAR’s commitment to delicious organic food, along with its emphasis on community and active living, aligns with our values,” said Marissa Trambley, Vice President of Philanthropy and Advocacy, Eat. Learn. Play.
Stephen and Ayesha Curry (back row). Photo by Noah Graham
and Mike Rasay/Getty Images for Eat. Learn. Play.
Maxwell founded JAMBAR in 2021 with the goal of helping people feel good about the ingredients they put in their bodies and the positive impact they can have on their local communities. Made from only certified organic ingredients, JAMBARs feature ancient grains, authentic sweeteners from nature and high-quality proteins. The company donates 50% of all after-tax profits to organizations that support active living and music.
Maxwell and members of the JAMBAR team volunteered at the 10th annual event, which was the foundation’s largest holiday celebration to date.
Jennifer Maxwell at the Christmas with the Currys event.
“Being able to witness firsthand Stephen and Ayesha’s commitment to making life better for local families and our community was really moving. We had so much fun celebrating the holidays with these incredible families and we’re happy to do our part,” said Maxwell.
Philanthropy has been central to JAMBAR since its inception. Through the JAMBAR Gives Back program, the company donates to a number of organizations that support music and active living, including Positive Coaching Alliance, Trips for Kids Bay Area, Jazz in the Neighborhood, Bread & Roses and the California Jazz Conservatory (Berkeley).
Visit here to learn more about JAMBAR’s philanthropic mission and the groups the company supports.
JAMBARs are available online at JAMBAR.com, on Amazon.com, and also at leading natural food and specialty stores including Good Earth Natural Foods, United Markets, Scotty’s Market and more. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
For wholesale inquiries, contact jammin@jambar.com, tel 877-JAMBARZ.
Visit JAMBAR at Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural and organic products trade exhibition, March 7-11, 2023, Booth 151, in the Arena at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Media Contacts
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042
Debbie Pfeifer, JAMBAR, pfeiferworks@gmail.com
JAMBAR® Expands Natural, Specialty Wholesale Distribution Network for Line of Certified Organic, Artisan Energy Bars
- New Distributors Include KeHE, Vistar and Faire -
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (January 18, 2023) — Certified organic, artisan, hand-crafted energy bar maker JAMBAR®, a new natural products brand which donates 50% of its profits to music and active living, is expanding its wholesale distribution network to make its products available to more natural channel, independent and specialty retailers, primarily in the Southern and Western United States.
The distributor partnerships reflect the company’s focus on building sales and retail accounts in key Western natural products markets in advance of exhibiting the brand for the first time at Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural and organic products trade exhibition, scheduled for March 7-11, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif.
With manufacturing facilities and headquarters in San Rafael, Calif., JAMBAR is an independent, woman-owned business founded in 2021 by mom, life-long athlete, musician, and food science and nutrition expert Jennifer Maxwell. Natural products industry veterans and energy bar aficionados may remember Jennifer, who, with her late husband Brian, created the original PowerBar®, which, when it was introduced in 1985, effectively launched the entire energy bar category. PowerBar was sold in 2000.
Today, inspired by the organic food movement and a desire to give back to and support healthy communities and the environment, Maxwell developed certified organic JAMBARs in four delicious, gluten-free, whole-food flavors that provide a good source of protein, nutrients and fiber.
Distributors to Serve Independent, Natural & Specialty Retailers
JAMBARs are now available to retailers in Southern California, the Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest through leading wholesale distributor partners including KeHE, one of the nation's leading natural products distributors with distribution centers across the country. KeHE will assist in distributing JAMBAR products in Northern California and the San Francisco Bay Area, to start. JAMBAR is also available through Vistar, one of the nation's largest distributors of candy, snacks, beverages and other convenience foods to retailers, hospitality, campus retail, vending, theater and concessions, and more. JAMBARs also are available through a number of additional independent regional distributors, as well as to retailers throughout the country via Faire's online wholesale ordering platform. Faire features products made by small businesses and brands, including JAMBAR.
As JAMBAR grows its presence in the natural and specialty retail channels, it also is expanding its distribution base rapidly, says company founder Maxwell. She encourages prospective buyers to contact JAMBAR to find the best distributor through which to work.
In addition, JAMBAR is working with leading independent brokers including Independent Natural Products Brokers, serving Southern California, Arizona, Utah, Washington and Oregon; and FamilyQuest Marketing, serving natural products retailers in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming.
JAMBARs are Small-batch Crafted
Using only certified organic, whole food ingredients, JAMBARs are crafted in small batches in the company’s own facility by a team of dedicated employees who share the company’s mission. Using organic ancient grains, berries, nuts, premium chocolate, proteins from sunflowers and organic dairy, and real syrup, juices and honey as sweeteners, JAMBAR delivers a convenient, incredibly tasty bar you can take anywhere.
JAMBAR is available in these certified organic, musical flavors:
Chocolate Cha Cha — Find your rhythm with a luscious blend of premium Guittard chocolate, real food ingredients and organic ancient grains. Dancing on the edge of decadence, it’s a bar to make brownies jealous! Fair trade certified, non-GMO and gluten free, Chocolate Cha Cha delivers 10g of protein per serving.
Malt Nut Melody — Peanut and maple malted magic mixed with a touch of sesame and vanilla for an amazing medley of flavors, Malt Nut Medley is non-GMO, with 10g of protein per serving.
Jammin’ Jazzleberry — A jazzy combo of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, it’s “berry” delicious and vegan, gluten free and contains 10g of plant-based protein per serving.
Musical Mango — Energy goes exotic with delicious mango and a blend of ancient whole grains. The Musical Mango bar is vegan, gluten free and contains 10g of plant-based protein per serving.
JAMBARs are available online at JAMBAR.com, on Amazon.com, and also at leading natural food and specialty stores including Good Earth Natural Foods, United Markets, Scotty’s Market, Safeway, Nugget Markets, Mollie Stone's, Jimbo's, Woodlands and more. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For wholesale inquiries, JAMBARs are available in leading natural and specialty food distributors including KeHE Distributors.
For wholesale inquiries, contact jammin@jambar.com, tel 877-JAMBARZ.
Visit JAMBAR at Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural and organic products trade exhibition, March 7-11, 2023, Booth 151 in the Arena at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif.
Media Contacts
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042
Debbie Pfeifer, JAMBAR, pfeiferworks@gmail.com
USDA Faces Legal Challenge from Organic Industry Over GMO Labeling Standards
Photo: Pexels
This article originally appeared in Presence Marketing’s January 2022 Industry Newsletter
By Steve Hoffman
The year was 2014 when the state of Vermont passed a stand-alone GMO labeling law, and for a short time, U.S consumers saw major food companies disclose on the package products that contained GMO ingredients. Then in 2015, led by former Representative Mike Pompeo, Congress passed a national GMO labeling law, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015, that among other requirements, preempted individual states from mandating their own, more transparent GMO labeling laws. To many critics, the passage of the act watered down transparency in the law that favored corporate interests over the consumer’s right to know. The law, known as the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, (NBFDS) took effect in July 2016 and tasked the USDA with drafting and implementing the new labeling rules.
Now, as the labeling rules are in effect as of Jan. 1, 2022, advocates for clear labeling of GMO foods say the USDA fell short of its promise of transparent GMO labeling. Moreover, the language the agency is requiring on labels to disclose genetically engineered ingredients is confusing to consumers, they claim. In an important first step in a lawsuit challenging USDA’s rules on GMO labeling (which USDA now refers to as “bioengineered or BE foods”) – filed by organic industry groups including the Center for Food Safety and the National Organic Coalition, natural products retailers Natural Grocers, Good Earth Natural Foods and Puget Consumers Co-op, and others – a California federal judge was asked on Nov. 23, 2021, to declare USDA’s GMO labeling standard invalid. The lawsuit was originally filed on July 27, 2020, the National Law Review reported in December.
“Consumers have fought for decades for their right to know what’s in their food and how it’s produced,” Meredith Stevenson, Center for Food Safety attorney and counsel in the case, was quoted as saying. “But USDA instead used its authority to label GE foods by obscuring this information behind QR codes and unfamiliar terminology and omitting the majority of GE foods. Fortunately, the law is on the consumers’ side.”
“It’s critical to shoppers that they know what ingredients are in their food and how they were produced,” said Heather Isely, EVP of Natural Grocers, a plaintiff in the lawsuit. “Hiding the presence of genetically engineered products from consumers is a blatant attempt to hide agricultural practices that continue to destroy soils, biodiversity, communities, and public health. Education is part of our core mission and we refuse to misinform our customers.” “I believe that USDA’s GMO labeling law forces me, as a grocer, to engage in deceptive labeling,” added Mark Squire, co-owner and manager of Good Earth Natural Foods. “I cannot look my customers in the eye unless I do whatever I can to stop this misleading labeling system that is so obviously designed to protect the agro-chemical and biotech industry at the expense of consumers everywhere.”
All retail food products made with genetically modified ingredients (GMO or GE), or what the USDA refers to as bioengineered or BE foods, will be required to disclose as of Jan. 1, 2022, if they contain bioengineered ingredients via plain text or a QR code on the label, reported Food Navigator-USA. However, many suppliers are still not up to speed with the USDA labeling standards, Nate Ensrud of FoodChain ID told Food Navigator-USA. Ensrud noted that the 13 foods USDA identified as high risk to be bioengineered “can be translated into thousands of ingredients and products sources from numerous global suppliers. Companies think that they have documentation that gives them clear insight into the BE risk of their ingredients, but a lot of what we’ve reviewed doesn’t meet the standards we would expect to support compliance,” he said.
At Issue over USDA’s GMO Labeling Standards:
- The term “bioengineered,” as opposed to the better recognized terms, GMO and GE. According to Meredith Stevenson, legal counsel with the Center for Food Safety, USDA’s mandate concerning the word “bioengineered” contradicts the letter of the law itself, which, she told The Counter, as Congress passed it, allows for this word to be used interchangeably with GMO and GE. Stevenson also noted that USDA’s terminology rule contradicts the agency’s own prior stance. Until 2016, USDA insisted on using the term GMO, saying the term permeated American society and not using the term GMO would mislead consumers.
- Highly refined products derived from GMOs in which genetically engineered material is not “detectable” using a “common testing method” after processing, are exempt from labeling disclosure. That includes sugar from GMO sugar beets, which, according to FoodPrint, comprises about 70% of the sugar consumed in the U.S., GMO canola oil, and additives derived from GMO corn or soy such as flavorings, colorings, thickening agents and binders.
- Allowing companies to use QR codes as a labeling option for consumers to scan instead of providing plain text GMO ingredient information on the label. According to the Pew Research Center, approximately one-quarter of low-income residents in the U.S. do not own a smart phone. “It’s quite discriminatory that they decided to go with a QR code that excludes a significant portion of the population from the right to know what’s in their food,” Dana Perls, Food and Technology Manager at Friends of the Earth, told The Counter in December.
- USDA adds to the obfuscation, reported The Counter, by not allowing retailers to use shelf tags or other signage to inform customers whether a product contains GMO ingredients, even if it was made in their own kitchen. However, retailers are permitted to let customers know if a products is non-GMO.