Starbucks gets caught up in Vermont GMO tussle

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Starbucks Corp. has been caught up in a fight over genetically modified organism (GMO) labeling in Vermont.

In May, Vermont passed a law requiring GMO labeling in the state. A trade organization that Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) belongs to, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), sued to prevent the law from taking effect.

Now Starbucks has been drawn into the fray because singer Neil Young and others are calling for a boycott of Starbucks because of its membership in the GMA.

But Starbucks told Reuters that it's not participating in the lawsuit in Vermont and it only belongs to the GMA to give it a "voice" in industry debates.

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2014/11/starbucks-gets-caught-up-in-vermont-gmo-tussle.html?ana=e_sea_rdup&s=newsletter&ed=2014-11-18&u=ColXVN5SPzQtLHFP87ho2w07857290&t=1416336356

[GreatGazoo]

1. Let's also hear from Neil Young on this

"Monsanto might not care what we think -- but as a public-facing company, Starbucks does," Young wrote. "If we can generate enough attention, we can push Starbucks to withdraw its support for the lawsuit, and then pressure other companies to do the same."

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/neil-young-boycotts-starbucks-over-gmo-lawsuit-20141115

This battle, Snack Foods vs State of Vermont, is going to be high profile. This is just the start. Others in the industry are already making moves which show they are betting that the whole discussion is going to work against companies that use GMO. The law is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2016 but the lawsuit will go to court long before that.