Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 4/27/15

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced it will no longer cook with ingredients that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs), though it will still be sourcing meat products from animal fed GMO grains; for now.

In a statement on its website, Chipotle acknowledged that “some studies have shown GMOs to be safe,” but said “more independent studies are needed” adding, “we don’t believe the scientific community has reached a consensus on the long-term implications of widespread GMO cultivation and consumption.”

So, the over 1,800 fast casual restaurants the company operates will stop making food items using GMO corn or GMO soybean oil.

As for meat products, Chipotle stated, “The meat and dairy products we buy come from animals that are not genetically modified. But it is important to note that most animal feed in the U.S. is genetically modified, which means that the meat and dairy served at Chipotle are likely to come from animals given at least some GMO feed. We are working hard on this challenge, and have made substantial progress: for example, the 100 percent grass-fed beef served in many Chipotle restaurants was not fed GMO grain—or any grain, for that matter.”

In January, Chipotle announced it had dropped a pork supplier on animal welfare concerns, temporarily suspending carnitas pork toppings at about one-third of its restaurants. In March, the company announced it has replaced the supplier.

Green America cheered Chipotle’s latest move, stating, “Consumers are increasingly concerned about the impacts of GMOs on the environment and human health and it is time for the restaurant industry and other food companies to make a change.

Chipotle has shown that it is possible for a large fast food chain to adopt a more sustainable food supply.”

North American Meat Institute President and CEO Barry Carpenter told Meatingplace it is hard to say whether Chipotle's move signals a larger trend.

"To date there hasn’t been a significant concern about meat and poultry from animals fed GMO feed, and this makes sense as animals have been raised on GMO corn and soybeans over several generations with no evidence of negative effects on growth, reproduction or disease," said Carpenter, noting there have been no documented cases of human illness or allergen associated with GMO foods.

"However, if demand shifts, we will as well," Carpenter added. "As an industry we have long succeeded at providing what the marketplace demands whether it be grain or grass fed, raised without antibiotics or organic and we are confident we can continue to provide the wide variety of choices that consumers desire.”

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