Chipotle takes genetically modified foods off menus
US fast-food chain Chipotle said Monday it had crossed off food made with genetically modified organisms (GMO) from its menus, saying they haven't been proven safe for consumption and the environment. “There is a lot of debate about genetically modified foods,” said Steve Ells, Chipotle's founder, chairman and co-chief executive, in a statement. The fast-growing Chipotle Mexican Grill, which has built its brand on “food with integrity”, began disclosing the presence of controversial GMO ingredients in its food in March 2013, and promised to eliminate all of them. The company said government data shows that 94 percent of corn and 93 percent of soybeans grown in the US came from GMO strains in 2014, making it difficult for consumers to avoid consuming genetically engineered foods in restaurants or buying them at the grocery store.