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

 On the Tuesday in June when the Assembly health committee killed a bill to require warning labels on sodas, 13 lawmakers and more than three dozen legislative staff members attended a reception inside California’s Capitol sponsored by PepsiCo.

The soft drink giant – a major opponent of the effort to put health warnings on sugary drinks – reported it spent $2,200 catering the event on a patio outside Assemblyman Luis Alejo’s office. It also provided $1,600 worth of books to be signed by the reception’s featured guest: PepsiCo executive Richard Montañez, who wrote an autobiography about his rise from janitor to vice president at the corporation that makes chips and soda.

Two lawmakers at the event helped defeat the bill earlier that day. They said the reception had nothing to do with their decisions. But when it comes to food fights in the state Capitol, big business often wins.

Lawmakers have considered at least four bills this year aimed at giving Californians more information about what they eat and drink. Bills that seek to accurately label seafood and the origins of produce sold at farmers markets are moving through the Legislature, while bills to put health warnings on sugary drinks and label foods with genetically engineered ingredients died in the face of industry opposition.

“We saw a huge mobilization of resources against (the soda label bill) from a relatively small group of corporate associations,” said Sen. Bill Monning, the Carmel Democrat who carried SB 1000, which would have required sodas sold in California to carry labels warning that consuming sugary drinks contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay. He compared that to support for the effort from dozens of community health groups.

“There is definitely a dynamic at play where the lobbying resources make a difference.”

Later on the day the bill was killed, PepsiCo spent another $400 wining and dining lawmakers, the company’s lobbying report shows, taking Alejo, his chief of staff, Assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez and his wife to dinner at the Aioli restaurant in midtown. Rodriguez is a member of the health committee. Alejo is not.