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Stonyfield Farm’s Gary Hirshberg takes on genetically modified foods

First Person/Gary Hirshberg

THIS STORY APPEARED IN

February 12, 2012|By Jenn Abelson

(Photograph by Carrie Branovan )

> Why did you give up your job as CEO of the company you cofounded, New Hampshire-based Stonyfield Farm? I’ve been in the business for half of my life, and now there are some other things pulling at me. We’ve got a very serious national debate going on about labeling genetically modified foods.

> What is different about these foods? The first genetically engineered crop to have been allowed into the commercial market for human consumption – sweet corn – has an insecticide built into its DNA. Biotech had said this insecticide would not be digestible and it would be broken down in saliva. But a study released in May found this insecticide, which had been bred into feed for cows, was detected in the umbilical-cord blood of pregnant women.

> Why are you in favor of labeling these foods? Well over 90 percent of consumers think this should be labeled. We already label for things like irradiation and made from concentrate. The only reason not to do this is if we want to buckle to the financial power of five or six biotech companies.

> Are there other health concerns? There is no doubt the deregulation of these crops has led to an explosion in the use of chemicals. The real impact is in the air and water. We need consumers to weigh in on whether we want to support that kind of food system.

> What success has the group you launched in September – Just Label It – had so far? Just Label It is in a coalition with the Center for Food Safety, which filed a petition with the FDA in September asking them to establish a rule requiring the labeling of genetically modified foods. I originally thought we’d have 50 partners [in the coalition], but we have 450. More than 550,000 people have made comments in support of the petition. I’m told it’s the most in the history of the FDA.

> What are your political ambitions? Many people thought I was stepping down so I can run for governor in New Hampshire. Of course, you don’t ever say never. But right now I realize there are a lot of other ways I can contribute to the challenges of our state and our region without running for elected office.