Los Angeles,
CA, September 17, 2013—Taken aback by Dannon’s blasé attitude about using an
allergenic, bug-based extract and not just berries to color their yogurt, one
of the nation’s most powerful natural health watchdog groups is pressuring the
yogurt giant—and hundreds of other food companies—to come clean with consumers.
Citizens for
Health, the consumer advocacy group best known for keeping dietary supplements
legal and for protecting the integrity of organic labeling, wants Dannon and
other food companies who use the insect-based dye carmine, also known as
cochineal extract, in their products to
more clearly label them or switch to plant-based alternatives.
“When
consumers asked Starbucks to stop using bugs in their Frappacinos last year,
the company responded with sensitivity and complied within 48 hours without any
further prompting,” says Jim Turner, president of Citizens for Health and former
food policy advisor for Ralph Nader. “It’s mindboggling that Dannon would so
off-handedly dismiss the very same consumer request. They’re just crying out to be challenged.”
Citizens for
Health has partnered with a national fitness guru to help get their message
out. Michelle Dozois, creator of several
multi-million-selling fitness DVDs, is using her influence in the health and
fitness community to educate consumers further.
“Michelle is
a leader in the health and fitness community, but also a mom who believes that
her kids deserve better than bugs,” Turner says. “She can talk mom to mom.”
Dozois is
asking people to sign a petition posted on the Take Action website at http://takeaction.takepart.com/actions/berries-over-bugs-tell-dannon-get-insects-out-yogurt. The petition was organized by the scientist-led
advocacy group Center for Science in the
Public Interest that first put Dannon in the spotlight this summer. “Our
two groups work closely together,” Turner says, “and truth in labeling is an
important shared value.”
“I’m not opposed to people eating insects if
that’s what they want to do,” says Dozois, “I just don’t want to be tricked into
putting bug-based extracts into my kids’ lunch boxes. I want Dannon and other
food companies to clearly label bugs!”
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