Labeling Opponents

Who are the companies fighting our right to know?

Transparency is our right. Yet a handful of companies, such as Monsanto, Kraft, Kellogg’s and General Mills, have gotten away with hiding important information about our food for nearly two decades.

In November of 2012, some of America’s biggest and most profitable chemical companies teamed up with a handful of large food companies to spend more than $45 million in an advertising blitz to stop Prop 37, an initiative to require labeling of genetically modified foods. In 2013, the same companies raised millions to try to defeat a similar initiative in Washington state. In 2014, they were pouring money into anti-GMO labeling ballot campaigns in both Oregon and Colorado.

For these companies, a defeat of labeling supports their interests, not the consumers. The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) – Big Food’s national lobby group –called defeating Prop 37 “the single highest priority for GMA” in 2012, and has poured millions into defeating Washington state’s initiative. While claiming their products are safe and that biotechnology is beneficial, they are emptying their pockets to fight a simple label. What is there to hide?

Polling shows overwhelming public support for labeling of genetically modified foods, yet the same food and chemical companies continue to ignore consumers fight our right to know every chance they get.

This will continue to be a David vs. Goliath battle, an unequal fight between the American consumer and corporate money. It’s time to call out these companies, and demand that support the consumer’s right to transparency.

**GMA member donations included in list