Chipotle removes GMO ingredients from menu

Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have found themselves on the forefront of media coverage in recent years, as they are believed to be a risk to the nation’s health and environment.

Delivering on a two-year promise, Chipotle announced it has removed all ingredients made with GMOs from its menu.

While there is no scientific evidence suggesting that GMOs pose risks to individuals and the environment, Chipotle founder and CEO Steve Ells believes this is a step in the right direction for the longevity and safety of food.

"I don't think this is about GMOs being harmful or not being harmful to your health," Ells tells The Salt. "It's a bigger picture. It's really part of our food with integrity journey."

In compliance with its promise, Chipotle replaced corn and flour suppliers with non-GMO corn varieties, and the soybean oil used for chips and taco shells has been replaced with non-GMO sunflower oil. Next on the brand’s to-do list is ensuring Chipotle doesn’t use meat from animals that may be fed GMO corn or soybeans. This, however, may take several years to complete and implement system-wide.

Chipotle’s announcement isn’t new in the restaurant industry. Last week, Pepsi announced it was removing aspartame – an artificial sweetener – from its diet products. Kraft Foods is removing artificial dyes in its famous Macaroni & Cheese. Even bigwig McDonald’s is starting to source chicken raised without antibiotics for its menu.

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