The back of the cup features a signed note by co-founder Gary Hirshberg - who is also chairman of the ‘Just Label It’ campaign to promote GMO labeling - that reads: "It's a complex world. But this yogurt is simple. We make it without the use of toxic persistent pesticides, artificial hormones, antibiotics and GMOs."
According to Stonyfield, many consumers do not realize that there are no fixed criteria underpinning the word ‘natural’, with 56% assuming that products featuring 'natural' claims are "made without the use of toxic persistent pesticides" and "made without the use of synthetic hormones".
It added: “Currently there are no standards for the term ‘natural’ on food labels. Purchasing foods with the USDA Certified Organic seal is the only guarantee that the item was produced without the use of toxic persistent pesticides, synthetic hormones, antibiotics and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).”
*’Organic’ farming does not mean ‘pesticide-free’; but it strictly limits the use of synthetic pesticides. The survey of 1,000 Americans was conducted by Lindberg International on behalf of Stonyfield.