Big Food puts up big $$$ to fight the GMO labeling initiative in Washington state

[marmar]

With just one week left until Washington state voters decide on I-522, the ballot initiative to label genetically modified organisms (GMOs), money for the opposition continues to pour in. According to the state’s Public Disclosure Commission, the No on 522 campaign received an influx of $4.2 million last week from just two sources: The Grocery Manufacturer’s Association (GMA) and Dupont Pioneer, the seed and agri-chemical company.

This brings the current “No on 522” campaign war chest total to $21.4 million, the most well-endowed single-issue campaign in state history.

Dupont’s latest contribution is $460,000, bringing its donor monies to $3.87 million, just a million shy of the $4.8 million from Monsanto. But the generosity of the seed and chemical world pales in comparison to that of GMA, which ponied up an additional $3.7 million last week. Its lump contribution now stands at $11 million to fight GMO labeling.

As I reported earlier this month here, the GMA was forced to disclose the source of its massive contribution. Under the threat of a lawsuit by the Washington state attorney general, the GMA formed a political action committee, Grocery Manufacturers Association Against I-522, with a list of contributors and amounts. According to the state’s Public Disclosure Commission, 34 GMA member companies have contributed. They are:

PepsiCo, Inc.: $2,352,965

In addition to Pepsi soft drinks, the line of products include: Doritos, Tropicana orange juice, Gatorade, Lays potato chips, Ruffles, Aquafina bottled water, Lipton tea, Starbucks ready-to-drink beverages, Naked juice, and Sabra hummus. ....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://civileats.com/2013/10/29/19149/#sthash.FPS97f40.dpuf