Campbell Soup Company has announced its support of federal legislation to establish a single labeling standard for foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Campbell operates a production facility in Paris, which celebrated its 51st anniversary in December 2015. The Paris location, one of three domestic production facilities for the multinational corporation, employs more than 900 people.
In recent years, the Paris site added a $48-million production line, a 76,000-square foot addition to the existing facility. The newer line makes ready-to-eat soups that come in packages rather than cans. The Paris facility also makes Campbell’s condensed soups, Prego Italian sauces, Pace Mexican sauces and V8 juices.
In a statement released Jan. 7, Campbell said that as a result of its decision to support mandatory national GMO labeling, Campbell will withdraw from all efforts led by coalitions and groups opposing such measures.
The company said it continues to oppose a patchwork of state-by-state labeling laws, which it believes are "incomplete, impractical and create unnecessary confusion for consumers."
Despite the company's support for such labeling, it maintains a public position that GMOs are safe.
"Science indicates that foods derived from crops grown using genetically modified seeds are not nutritionally different from other foods," the statement said.
