naturalnews.com printable article

Originally published November 4 2015

Contributors to the Grocery Manufacturers Association - A leading opponent of GMO labeling

by Joel Edwards

(NaturalNews) The Grocery Manufacturers Association is one of the largest organizations representing the food industry. As of 2013, they had over 300 member businesses in food and beverage production as well as biotech and seed companies.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association is one of the leading opponents of GMO labeling. They have poured millions of dollars into defeating bills to label GMOs introduced in various states and are big supporters of the DARK Act to make labeling GMOs illegal at the federal level. In the 2012 ballot initiative in California (Proposition 37) and 2013 ballot initiative in Washington (Proposition 522), the Grocery Manufacturers Association and its members donated over 54 million dollars, just to fight labeling.

This organization spends millions of dollars a year lobbying at the federal and state level, primarily to fight GMO labeling. In 2014, they poured money into fighting the GMO labeling initiatives in Colorado (Proposition 92) and Oregon (Proposition 105). The GMA spent big dollars convincing the public that labeling GMOs will increase overall food prices. Unfortunately, their efforts have been successful, though by a narrow margin. Of the 68 companies and organizations listed that funded opposition to these four propositions, only seven were not members of the Grocery Manufacturers Association as of 2013. These 7 organizations are identified.

No.DonorNo On 37No on 522No on 92No on 105
1Monsanto Co.$8,112,867$5,374,411$5,958,750$4,755,878
2Dupont$5,400,000$3,880,159$4,928,150$3,000,000
3PepsiCo$2,485,400$2,352,966$2,350,000$1,650,000
4Grocery Manufacturers Association$2,002,000$11,000,000**$169,190$106,600
5Kraft Foods$2,000,500-$870,000$1,030,000
6BASF Plant Science
(Non-Member)		$2,000,000$500,000--
7Bayer CropScience$2,000,000$591,654--
8DOW Agrosciences$2,000,000$591,654$1,157,150$306,500
9Syngenta Corporation$2,000,000---
10Coca-Cola North America$1,690,500$1,520,351$1,170,000$1,108,000
11Nestle USA$1,461,600$1,528,206--
12General Mills$1,230,300$869,271$695,000$820,000
13ConAgra Foods$1,176,700$828,251$350,000$250,000
14Kellogg's Company$790,700$322,050$500,000250,000
15Smithfield Foods$683,900--$250,000
16Delmonte Foods$674,100$125,677--
17Campbell Soup Company$598,000$384,888--
18Smucker Company$555,000$349,978$295,000$345,000
19Hershey Company$518,900$360,450$320,000$380,000
20Biotechnology Industry Organization
(Non-Member)		$502,000-11,200$108,000
21Heinz Company$500,000---
22Mars Inc.$498,350---
23Hormel Foods$467,900$76,803$85,00085,000
24Unilever$467,100---
25Bimbo Bakeries$422,900$137,460$230,000270,000
26Bumble Bee Foods$420,600$52,365$45,000$50,000
27Ocean Spray Cranberries$409,100$80,295$35,00080,000
28Council for Biotechnology Information
(Non-Member)		$375,000-$12,827-
29Sara Lee Corporation
(Non-Member)		$343,600---
30Abbott Nutrition$334,500$185,025$160,000$190,000
31Pinnacle Foods Group$266,100$175,425--
32Dean Foods$253,950$174,553--
33Cargill$250,000$143,133$111,000$135,000
34Bunge North America$248,600$137,896--
35Rich Products Corporation$248,300$34,911$30,000-
36McCormick & Company$248,200$148,369$130,000-
37Flowers Foods$182,100$205,099-$250,000
38Mondelez International$181,000$210,336$720,000-
39Dole Packaged Foods$175,000---
40Knouse Foods$167,600$20,946$20,000$25,000
41Welch Foods$167,000$41,893$30,000$35,000
42Land O'Lakes$153,300$144,878$760,000$900,000
43Sunny Delight Beverages$139,700$30,547$25,000$25,000
44Wrigley Jr. Company$123,350---
45Tree Top Inc.$110,600---
46Clement Pappas & Co.$100,000$30,547--
47Hilshire Brands Company$85,900$282,775--
48Hero North America
(Non-Member)		$80,800---
49Mead Johnson Nutrition Company$80,000-$50,000$50,000
50Faribault Foods$76,000---
51Solae Inc.$62,500---
52Goya Foods$56,700---
53McCain Foods USA$53,400---
54Godiva Chocolatier$42,700---
55B&G Foods$40,000---
56Clorox Company$39,700$17,455--
57Bruce Foods$38,500$4,364--
58C.H. Guenther & Son$24,700---
59Morton Salt$21,400---
60Reily Foods Company$18,400---
61Inventure Foods$15,600---
62Hirzel Canning Company$15,000---
63Idahoan Foods$10,000---
64Sargento Foods
(Non-Member)		$10,000---
65Snack Foods Association
(Non-Member)		$10,000---
66Shearer's Foods-$36,656$30,000$35,000
67Niagara Bottling---$10,000
68Michael Foods--$30,000-

**GMA member donations included in list

In 2013, the Grocery Manufacturers Association took down the publicly available list of members from their website. The 2013 membership directory is archived online and available here.

The Food and Water Watch, a consumer advocacy group, listed the 2012 Board of Directors of the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the amount of money each group contributed. These companies are some of the biggest opponents of GMO labeling. Additionally, these companies are supporting the GMA's lawsuit against the State of Vermont. In a democratic process, the people of Vermont have spoken, and they want GMOs labeled. The GMA is suing to subvert the results of this democratic process. These companies spend big dollars blocking your right to know, not just through the GMA but by direct campaign donations as well.

In these matters, money talks. However, there was a good reason that the Grocery Manufacturers Association no longer publicizes their list of members; it is becoming increasingly expensive to ignore the will of the people. The companies are obviously worried about damage to their image from blocking your right to know what is in your food. If we don't vote with our dollars, organizations like Monsanto, the GMA, Pepsi, and other companies will vote with our dollars for us, and not with any regard to our wishes. Also check out Scientists Against GMOs – Hear From Those Who Have Done The Research and Understanding and Detoxifying Genetically Modified Foods.

Sources:

organiclifestylemagazine.com

foodandwaterwatch.org

justlabelit.org

justlabelit.org

sourcewatch.org

usrtk.org

web.archive.org

gmaonline.org

About the author:
Joel learned long ago that pharmaceuticals were not the answer to health and vitality. He gave up on pharmaceuticals many years ago, and he also gave up wheat and refined sugars. His hobbies include gluten free baking, gardening, and fitness. Joel is passionate about agriculture and environmental issues. Joel believes that progressive, cutting-edge, organic agriculture can feed the world.


Joel learned long ago that pharmaceuticals were not the answer to health and vitality. He gave up on pharmaceuticals many years ago, and he also gave up wheat and refined sugars. His hobbies include gluten free baking, gardening, and fitness. Joel is passionate about agriculture and environmental issues. Joel believes that progressive, cutting-edge, organic agriculture can feed the world.


All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml