Companies attack proposal to label modified foods

A container is filled with genetically modified corn in this file photo. / Scott Olson/Getty Images

(MoneyWatch) Although the use of genetically modified foods goes back decades, it remains controversial. The latest battle is taking place in California, where a proposed ballot initiative would force retailers and manufacturers to label foods containing genetically engineered ingredients.

CA Proposition 37, as the measure is called, appears popular, with supporters heavily outnumbering opponents. But when it comes to lobbying around the initiative, that's another story. Those against the legislation have far outspent its backers, pouring more than 8 times the money into defeating the proposal. 

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Most of the anti-Prop 37 funding comes from multinational biochemical and food-industry corporations, including Bayer, Coca-Cola (KO), DuPont (DD), General Mills (GIS), Monsanto (MON), Nestle and Pepsico (PEP). Other opponents include the companies behind such familiar food brands such as Godiva, Hershey, Goya, Kellogg, Mars, McCormick, Morton Salt, Ocean Spray, Sara Lee, J.M. Smucker and Wrigley.

One major food company that has publicly endorsed the measure is grocery chain Whole Foods (WFM), along with numerous other food vendors, according to an advocacy group formed to rally support for Prop 37. Support also has come from consumer interest organizations such as Public Citizen and labor groups such as the California Nurses Association and United Farm Workers.

According to MapLight, a nonpartisan research firm that that tracks money in politics, as of last week more than 1,900 proponents of Prop 37 -- a mix of individuals and organizations -- had donated a total of $4.1 million. By comparison, 187 organizations had spent $34.5 million to in hopes of defeating the proposal.

The largest contribution in support of Prop 37 came from Mercola.com, a natural health website, which chipped in $1.1 million. The top 10 proponents provided roughly $3.1 million out the total funding behind the measure. Of the $34.5 million raised in opposition, $24.1 million came from the top 10 contributors.

Despite the imbalance in lobbying funds spent on Prop 37, polls are reportedly running 2 to 1 in favor of the measure.

Monsanto alone, which markets crop seeds genetically modified to withstand the company's popular Roundup herbicide, donated nearly 21 percent of all funds in opposition to Prop 37. Some of the companies, such as Bayer, BASF and Syngenta, are based in Europe, where laws are already on the books requiring labeling of genetically modified foods.

Most of the measure's largest opponents did not respond to questions about the size of their donations. Monsanto, DuPont, PepsiCo and Syngenta declined comment and referred questions to a group formed to stop the proposal, No on Prop 37; Nestle forwarded the request to the Grocery Manufacturers Association industry group.

German chemicals giant BASF, which also opposes Prop 37, did explain why it is opposing the initiative.

"We support requirements for accurate and informative product labels that communicate information that is relevant to health, safety and nutrition," the company said in a statement. "However, we do not believe this is the case with Proposition 37. In our opinion, and public statements of those supporting Prop 37 make clear that, the intention of the ballot initiative is not to inform consumers, but rather to discriminate against agricultural biotechnology.... Biotech is vital to increasing abundance of food in a manner that is safe for humans and the environment."

People and organizations do not need to donate money to support one side or another, so there may be individuals and small businesses unaffiliated with these larger corporations opposing the proposition. The same is true for those who say they are in favor of the measure. For example, although Whole Foods and the United Farm Workers are listed as endorsing the proposition, neither appears in MapLight's list of Prop 37 contributors.

Image: morgueFile user calgrin

[jdaryyl]

Thats just contrast coming out of those aircraft... Back to sleep, back to sleep... take your vaccine and be a good boy now... back to sleep, back to sleep...

[jdaryyl]

GMO's = Eugenics

[KathleenTammaro]

In an age when farmers are feeding arsenic to chickens, I am amazed that people oppose Prop 37. For those who do, I invite you to eat a conventional tortilla chip. The GMO corn that was used to make the chip was doused in the herbicide Roundup. The GMO soy, corn, canola, or cottonseed oil that it was fried in was also soaked in Roundup and the oil was extracted using the toxin hexane. Would you spray a corn chip with Raid and then feed it to your family? Never, but I bet that you don't think twice about feeding them a corn chip. I have studied the GMO issue very carefully. In fact, I eat 100% organic now to avoid insecticides, herbicides, GMOs, and hexane-extracted oils. In addition to GMO labeling, I sincerely hope that it will soon be mandated that food manufacturers must list everything toxic that is sprayed on crops or fed to animals. If you feed chickens arsenic, that is an ingredient. It should be listed. If you saturate your soy with Roundup, that's an ingredient. List it. People value their health and they want to know what is in their food. Prop 37 should pass.

[nor-one]

BASF, BAYER it's good to see the "boys from Brazil" are still around! I see that DuPont is also represented, always the good american partner. IG Farben is alive and well, living now in the US. Looks like BAYER has found a good use for it's patent on "Zyklon B". These nazi killers will never change! They care nothing for people, only money and power.

[SUZAMBA]

And it is we the people who will pay the higher price, as if prices aren't high enough now. The right to know comes with a higher price and most people these days can't even afford to buy food because of the cost. And like everything else, the price will continue to climb. They get you where it hurts.

[lami987]

There is no reason for the higher price. To add "Contain GMO Products" on an existing label would require a price increase is ridiculous. Thats why food prices are going up because those food companies and producers charge consumers more for every little thing they do. If consumers do not express their opinions now that price increase would just keep on increasing. Besides respectable food companies and producers respect wishes of their customers, a lot of consumers don't appreciate foods they don't know to be shoved down their throats.

[jdaryyl]

Exacly LAMI987, they just need to put a note on what they have that has GMO's. Not hard to do and they have 18 months to do it! The problem for the Monsanto's is fiscal, people like me will steer clear and that hurts them financially. Pretty simple concept...

[Tracemins1]

More lies from the BioCHEMICAL companies. To quote BASF in the article above "Biotech is vital to increasing abundance of food in a manner that is safe for humans and the environment."

A recent study showed has been over a 400 MILLION lb Net increase in pesticide use due to gmos. University of Washington.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/us-usa-study-pesticides-idUSBRE89100X20121002

This ruins the environment, and is not safe for humans as well. For this reason alone we should make labeling of gmo's mandatory.

Please don't listen to the large (toxic) chemical companies. They will stare right at you and lie to your face so that they can sell more GMO seeds and toxic chemicals to put on their gmo foods.

Vote YES to label GMO's! = ) People deserve a choice.
Trace D. Farley

[skeezix06]

Need to know and as far as they're concerned we don't need to know? This country is so screwed up it's unbelievable at times.

[hsinco-2009]

I want to know when I am buying food with GMO products in them.

I live in Colorado and have just come to understand that most ears of corn sold here are GMO products. I have quit buying it now.

[VA_Jill]

These companies don't care what they put in us as long as they make the big bucks.

[nonpolitico]

No surprise there! For NOW citizens will ACTUALLY GET TO CHOOSE!!!
No wonder the m/f want the US citizen in ignorance!
Citizens for TruthIn food could always hold a banquet in Washington for all the Officials and all the pro GM lobbyists. Set a great spread (of ALL GM food of course), and ask all the pro GM people to TUCK IN!!
We could record on camera those who leave the table without eating. Would enable us to KNOW the truth once and for all" And GOR-GOR had THAT right in his above post!