Abbott Laboratories

Abbott Laboratories is the maker of Similac Isomil infant formula, which contains both GMO corn and soy products.

Abbott’s Decision to Offer GMO-Free Baby Formula Applauded by As You Sow

Following Three Years of Shareholder Proposals, Consumers Will Have Non-GMO Option

Abbott Laboratories, producer of market-leading Similac Advance baby formula, has announced that it will offer a version of its formula made without genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to U.S. consumers by the end of the month. The move comes after three years of engagement and shareholder resolutions from As You Sow and pressure from other investors and grassroots groups.

Read our statement

Similac Advance is the number one commercial baby formula brand in the U.S. Abbott joins a growing number of companies offering popular brands made without GMOs, including Original Cheerios, Grape Nuts, Kashi, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, Chipotle food products, Smart Balance, and Hershey’s Kisses. Whole Foods Market will label all food in its stores for GMOs by 2018.

To learn more about GMOs, read our FAQs.

GMOs and Pesticides 2015

STATUS: 06.0%

BE IT RESOLVED: Shareholders request the Board of Directors publish within six months, at reasonable cost and excluding proprietary information, a report on genetically engineered ingredients contained in nutritional products sold by Abbott. This report should list Abbott product categories that contain GMOs and estimated portion of products in each category that contain GMOs, and discuss any actions management is taking to reduce or eliminate GMOs from its products, until and unless long-term studies show that the genetically engineered crops and associated farming practices are not harmful to the environment, the agriculture industry, or human or animal health.

Filing Documents

Press

Find more Abbott Laboratories 2015 press coverage and press releases.

Related 2015 Engagements

GMOs and Pesticides 2014

STATUS: 06.2%

Shareholders request that unless long-term safety testing demonstrates that genetically engineered crops, organisms or products thereof are not harmful to humans, animals and the environment, the company's board of directors adopt a policy to identify and label, where feasible, all food products manufactured or sold under the company's brand names or private labels that may contain genetically engineered ingredients and report to shareholders, at reasonable cost and excluding proprietary information, on such policy and its implementation by October 31, 2014.

Filing Documents

Press

Related 2014 Engagements

GMOs and Pesticides 2013

STATUS: 03.2%

As You Sow asked Abbott Laboratories to adopt a policy of removing genetically engineered organisms (GMOs) from its nutritional products, to adopt the interim step of labeling, and to prepare a report to shareholders on the implementation of this policy. Investors gave 3% support to the resolution at the company's annual meeting on April 26, 2013. This support level meets the SEC's threshold for re-filing and will enable us to continue engaging Abbott on GMO ingredients in their nutritional products.

Filing Documents

Press

Find more Abbott Laboratories 2013 press coverage and press releases.

Related 2013 Engagements