Dannon yogurt, non-G.M.O., Groupe Danone
Dannon produces such yogurt brands as Dannon, Oikos and Danimals.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The Dannon Co., a business unit of Paris-based Groupe Danone, and maker of such yogurt brands as Dannon, Oikos and Danimals, has committed to making sweeping changes to its production process, including the transition to milk from cows fed feeds not grown with bioengineered ingredients. The transition is expected to take three years and the company also has committed to declare on its product labels the presence of bioengineered ingredients starting in December 2017.

The underpinnings of the effort are a shift in the company’s business philosophy toward greater transparency and the adoption of the clean label trend. Starting in July 2016, Dannon said it will move to using ingredients perceived as natural in the formulation of Dannon, Oikos and Danimals products, which make up 50% of its production volume. The company’s goal is to extend the program to such additional brands as Activia, Light & Fit and Danonino over time.

Mariano Lozano, Groupe Danone, Dannon
Mariano Lozano, president and c.e.o. of Dannon

“We created a new way to work with dairy farmers to improve our shared sustainability priorities,” said Mariano Lozano, president and chief executive officer of The Dannon Co. “Our ambition is to produce healthy food that is affordable, creates economic and social value and nurtures natural ecosystems through sustainable agriculture. Although our journey is independent from that of our organic sister companies, we have learned a lot from and are inspired by Stonyfield and Happy Family.”