Political Issue That Has Ben & Jerry Riled Up

Love Ben & Jerry's ice cream? If you support GMO-labeling, you're about to love the tasty ice cream company even more.

Jerry Greenfield, one of the co-founders of Ben & Jerry's, recently ventured to Washington, D.C. to talk about the importance of GMO labeling, and to hand out little cups of Ben & Jerry's. GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are plants or animals that have had their DNA altered with DNA from plants, animals or bacteria and viruses. Those in support of genetically modifying crops say that it helps to protect the food from drought, can enhance the nutrition and even increase the yield.

Many people would like foods that contain GMOs to be labeled, but a new law would block states from doing that. Ben & Jerry's recently vowed to only use GMO-free ingredients in their products. Ben & Jerry's headquarters are in Vermont, which has already signed a GMO bill into law that will go into effect in July of 2016. The Grocery Manufacturers Association is already challenging the bill. During the month of July, Ben & Jerry's fudge brownie ice cream will be called "Food Fight! Fudge Brownie" to bring more awareness to the GMO debate. (Ben & Jerry's is known for coming up with the eye-catching names for their ice cream flavors.

"Companies should be proud to talk about the ingredients they put in their food," says Greenfield. "This is as mainstream of an idea as you can get." Greenfield has traveled through Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Washington to raise awareness about the issue.

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