Proposition 37 would require any genetically modified food that is sold to be labeled GMO so consumers know what they are eating. Frankenfood supporters have lined up in a solidified approach: Records now published showcase just how much money is being thrown to defeating this initiative.
According to the California Right to Know Campaign publication in the Sacramento BEE, Monsanto has given $4.2 million to defeat Prop 37. It's not just them, other influential names with big dollars are throwing cash at ensuring loss of Prop 37 as well, including Dupont, Pepsi, Nestle, Coke, and Ocean Spray. All the big players. Chances are you either had a Pepsi or Coke in the past week.. wonder why they don't want the masses, those asses, to know what GMO is in their carbonated sludge?
Here are the numbers, as published by the Right to Know Campaign:
A costly campaign.. Interesting.
NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR CITY STATE/ZIP AMOUNT MONSANTO COMPANY SAINT LOUIS MO / 63167 $4,208,000.00 E.I. DUPONT DE NEMOURS & CO. WASHINGTON DC / 20004 $1,273,600.00 DOW AGROSCIENCES LLC INDIANAPOLIS IN / 46268 $1,184,800.00 PEPSICO, INC. PURCHASE NY / 10577 $1,126,079.94 NESTLE USA, INC. GLENDALE CA / 91203 $607,928.61 COCA-COLA NORTH AMERICA ATLANTA GA / 30313 $603,191.45 BAYER CROPSCIENCE RESEARCH TRIANGLE PA NC / 27709 $554,400.00 CONAGRA FOODS OMAHA NE / 68102 $520,101.54 BASF PLANT SCIENCE RESEARCH TRIANGLE PA NC / 27709 $519,200.00 KELLOGG COMPANY BATTLE CREEK MI / 49016 $516,952.06 HERSHEY COMPANY HERSHEY PA / 17033 $283,753.06 HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION AUSTIN MN / 55912 $260,243.61 SYNGENTA CORPORATION WASHINGTON DC / 20006 $260,000.00 OCEAN SPRAY CRANBERRIES, INC. LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO MA / 02349 $199,506.32 PINNACLE FOODS GROUP LLC PARSIPPANY NJ / 07054 $191,107.80 DEAN FOODS COMPANY DALLAS TX / 75204 $182,381.90 MCCORMICK & COMPANY, INC. SPARKS MD / 21152 $178,252.37 RICH PRODUCTS CORPORATION BUFFALO NY / 14213 $160,123.18 CARGILL, INC. WAYZATA MN / 55391 $143,575.49 MORTON SALT CHICAGO IL / 60606 $14,879.01 INVENTURE FOODS, INC. PHOENIX AZ / 85054 $10,846.39 HOUSE-AUTRY MILLS, INC. FOUR OAKS NC / 27524 $1,077.27 Total $13,000,000.00
But polling on the campaign is just as interesting as the big money from big corporations being thrown at it. According to recent numbers, the pro-labeling side has a 3 to 1 advantage over keeping GMO secret. Obviously that is a reason for the huge influx of cash over the past few weeks. Other confusion and misleading advertising seems to be existent on both sides of the debate, with pro-labeling forces arguing that there will be no increase in the cost of a product.
And if the money is THIS BIG in the summer, imagine the high stakes game of poker that will be played come October.
The November elections are going to be exciting for political observers. But food fans will closely watch the Proposition Frankenfood 37 vote: Will big agri win or will the modified foods be labeled? Only weeks until we find out.