"Natural" claims in the cereal and granola aisle mislead consumers. A new research study from The Cornucopia Institute indicates the "natural" claim is mostly meaningless marketing hype, in contrast to the USDA certified organic label which signifies the food was produced without genetically modified organisms (GMOs), toxic pesticides and other potentially dangerous synthetic inputs. Cornucopia and USDA research finds GMOs, and toxic pesticide residues, in "natural" cereal ingredients... and many "natural" brands are often priced higher than equivalent organic products.
Some products of the San Diego-based cereal maker Kashi contain genetically-modified ingredients. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, earlier this year, most of the company's products were pulled off at least one grocery store's shelves.
And for the past two years, San Diego-based natural grocer Jimbo's hasn't accepted new Kashi products because of concerns about GMOs, or genetically modified organisms.
The Tribune claims Kashi recently joined the Non-GMO project and had seven products verified as Non-GMO: 7 Whole Grain Flakes, 7 Whole Grain Pilaf, 7 Whole Grain Puffs, Autumn Wheat, Cinnamon Harvest, Island Vanilla and Strawberry Fields.
Based on testing, some of Kashi's products contain GMOs and chemically processed soy, according to an October 2011 report on cereal brands by the Cornucopia Institute, a public interest group. The report makes clear that "natural" claims are basically meaningless, and confuse consumers, undermining the regulated "organic" label.
From the report:
"Numerous 'natural' products were indeed contaminated with high levels of GE ingredients, sometimes as high as 100%: Kashi® GoLean®, Mother’s® Bumpers®, Nutritious Living® Hi-Lo®, and General Mills Kix... Several Bear Naked® and Kashi® products contain hexane-extracted soy protein. The 'hexane bath' that the soybeans are immersed in consists of more than 50% n-hexane, which is a known neurotoxin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."
Kashi debuted in 1984 with a "breakfast pilaf" and went on to become an accredited name in whole grain nutrition. Kashi was acquired by Kellogg in 2000.
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