For related articles and more information, please visit OCA’s Millions Against Monsanto page, Genetic Engineering page and our Washington News
page.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 21, 2013

CONTACT: Organic Consumers Association, Katherine Paul, 207.653.3090; or Zack Kaldveer, 510-938-2664

FINLAND, Minn. – Last week’s lawsuit, filed by the Washington State Attorney General against the Grocery Manufacturers Association for violating the state’s campaign finance disclosure laws, forced the GMA to disclose the names of the food companies that have donated to the campaign to defeat I-522. I-522 is a Washington state ballot initiative that, if passed on November 5, will require food manufacturers who sell their products at retail to label those products that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

“This is a win for the grassroots and for consumers,” said Ronnie Cummins, National Director of the OCA. “Consumers boycotted food companies, and the organic and natural brands they own, after the companies contributed more than $23 million last year to defeat a GMO labeling law in California. Desperate to avoid another round of consumer backlash, food manufacturers were forced to hide behind the GMA in Washington State this year. Now, the GMA has damaged the NO on I-522 campaign’s credibility by breaking the law, and also has exposed the true intent of food manufacturers who are desperate to protect their profits by refusing to provide truth and transparency in food labeling.”

The grassroots group, Moms for Labeling, fired the first volley against the GMA with a lawsuit alleging that the GMA was laundering donations to the campaign, on behalf of food companies, through special assessments. When a judge dismissed the group’s lawsuit, on a technicality, state Attorney General Bob Ferguson picked up where Moms for Labeling left off, filing a similar lawsuit on behalf of the state.

The GMA had previously reported donations of $7.2 million to the NO on I-522 campaign. In response to the lawsuit filed by the state, the GMA published this list of donations, showing that food companies are behind millions in donations to the NO campaign.

Pinnacle Foods Group LLC $120,846

The J. M. Smucker Company $241,091

Rich Products Corporation $24,049

General Mills, Inc. $598,819

PepsiCo, Inc. $1,620,899

Bunge North America, Inc. $94,993

Bumble Bee Foods, LLC $36,073

Bush Brothers & Company A $16,233

Moody Dunbar, Inc. $1,804

Dean Foods Company $120,245

Kellogg Company$ 221,852

Nestlé USA, Inc. $1,052,743

ConAgra Foods $285,281

Bimbo Bakeries USA  $94,693

Welch Foods, Inc. $28,859

Knouse Foods Cooperative, Inc. $14,429

Bruce Foods Corporation $3,006

Abbott Nutrition $127,459

Campbell Soup Company $265,140

Del Monte Foods Company $86,576

Sunny Delight Beverages Company$ 21,043

Shearer’s Foods, Inc. -$ 25,251

Mondelez Global LLC $144,895

Land O’Lakes, Inc. $99,803

The Coca-Cola Company $1,047,332

The Hillshire Brands Company $97,398

The Hershey Company $248,305

Hormel Foods Corporation $52,908

Clement Pappas & Company, Inc. $21,043

McCormick & Company, Inc. $102,208

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. $55,313

Flowers Foods, Inc. $141,288

Cargill, Inc. $98,601

The Clorox Company $12,024

Totals $ 7,222,500

The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is an online and grassroots non-profit 501(c)3 public interest organization advocating on behalf of more than one million consumers for health, justice, and sustainability. The Organic Consumers Fund is a 501(c)4 allied organization of the Organic Consumers Association, focused on grassroots lobbying and legislative action.