How Left Coast Naturals strives to follow non-GMO policy with Hippie Foods

What the company is doing to walk the talk

How many times have you been stumped at the grocery store, trying to decide between two boxes of something, only to choose the one with more health claims on it because you really have no idea which is better?

As more and more food labels include “GMO-free” and “non-GMO” claims, Left Coast Naturals strives to maintain transparency and rigorous standards about its non-GMO policies to help consumers make more informed decisions.

The company, a founding member for B Corp certification in Canada, launched its Hippie Foods tamari and cracked pepper coconut chips earlier this year, which is the first food product ever to include nutritional yeast that’s Non-GMO Project verified, according to the company.

“We believe in food the way nature made it and clean basic ingredients,” says Ian Walker, CEO of Left Coast Naturals. “GMOs are contrary to our core values and mission of being ‘good people providing good food.'”

Left Coast Naturals launched its non-GMO policy back in January 2014 and when it initially encountered a problem with the nutritional yeast in the new product, it decided to “walk the talk” by delaying the launch until a verified version was sourced.

“We have had an informal non-GMO policy since we started our business, but it was time to make it formal and offer complete transparency,” says Walker. “We hope we can be an example for other businesses to follow suit. I want my business to speak to my values as a person and as an entrepreneur.”

If you want to give the tamari and cracked pepper coconut chips, the coconut bacon chips or the new line of garden chips a try, you can find them at most natural foods retailers.