Thought Chipotle was GMO free? Not until today. Chipotle says it has completed removing  genetically modified ingredients from its food making it the pioneer fast-food place to do so. That means none of the ingredients will be genetically modified for its tortillas, rice, chips and salsa.

“Chipotle is on a never-ending journey to source the highest quality ingredients we can find,” according to the restaurant’s website. “Over the years, as we have learned more about GMOs, we’ve decided that using them in our food doesn’t align with that vision.”

Chipotle’s move to a non-GMO menu started in March 2013, when the company voluntarily chose to label items on its menu with a “G” to show the use of GMOs. The company started making changes to their recipes to include non-GMO ingredients as well as looking for more farms as suppliers. In late 2013, the company beganworking on transitioning to a tortilla that did not have genetically modified ingredients.

To remove  GMO ingredients from its menu, Chipotle said its suppliers planted non-GMO corn varieties for its tortillas. It also replaced soybean oil with sunflower oil to cook its chips and taco shells, and with rice bran oil in other recipes.

Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold says. The company hasn’t noticed any change in sales due to the menu disclosure. “It’s not a concern to us that we’re going to lose business over this,” says Arnold. “If anything, it engenders more trust when you’re more forthcoming about the food you serve. Any downside there may be … is going to be eclipsed by the upside with being transparent.”

Time to follow Chipotle’s Anti-GMO Lead!

Article originally posted on Living Traditionally republished with permission