Silk soymilk quietly drops the “organic.” In a cost-cutting move, Silk switched from organic soybeans to cheaper beans.
Not genetically modified, but most likely beans grown with pesticides.
So instead of organic, Silk is going with the “all natural” claim, which Consumer Reports insists is very different.
To call something organic requires an in-depth certification process, but “all natural” only means it contains no artificial flavors or genetically modified organisms.
Currently, Silk soymilk hogs 70% of the market, but retailers suspect the company’s credibility will take a hit. And why shouldn’t it?
A spokesperson for Silk said they saw no reason to notify buyers because switching beans did not constitute a major reformulation, which is a bizarre thing to say, since many people seek out organic products for their organic formulation.
But the company does claim it developed a “comprehensive plan” to announce the change, using a combination of emails to distributors, retailers, and brokers.
However, customers missed the boat. In a small Texas supermarket a hand-written sign was on display to inform consumers about the organic nix.
It’s pretty crappy, but I’m a skeptic of big business, so I’m not surprised. And I got tricked too. I just checked the empty Silk cartoon in my trash can, not organic!
Via Star-Telegram.
Image credit: VegDaily.com
Tags: soymilk
Good to know!!! Thanks for the information.
Just proves again how important a triple bottom line should be to any company – how can you feel good about a company if it takes advanteage of its customers just to impove its bottom line – would love to know how much money the company could save if it cut back expenses for its management.
Thanks for the great information!
[...] Silk Cuts Out Organic – But Doesn't Tell Anyone « OrganicAuthority … [...]
I noticed this as soon as I saw a new green box of Silk Organic at Whole Foods. I looked at the Silk I used to buy & saw they no longer said organic. Not all retailershave started carrying the Silk organic, but most of their store-brand soymilk is still labelled organic, although now I’m wondering who their supplier is (& if it’s Silk are they just using up their supply of boxes in stock? Think I’ll call my local grocery’s buyer today). So far Silk yogurt is still using organic soybeans. Don’t know what to do if they change that since they are the only brand available. Guess we should start calling them now to let them know we’re paying attention.
[...] Silk Cuts Out Organic – But Doesn't Tell Anyone « OrganicAuthority … [...]
i purchase my silk soymilk from costco. the milk carried there has it’s label in both english and spanish and is still labeled “organic”