Big Food Lobby Discloses List of Donors in GE Food Labeling Initiative 522

After the Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed suit against the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) last week for violating state election disclosure requirements, the lobby group published a list of their major donors on Friday, according to Cornucopia Institute.

Ferguson alleged the GMA illegally collected and spent more than $7 million in opposition to Initiative 522, while hiding the identity of its contributors. The I-522 citizen’s initiative would mandate clear labeling of genetically engineered foods, seeds and seed products in Washington, giving consumers the right to know what’s in the food they buy and feed their families.

The Oct. 18 disclosure by GMA, totaling more than $7 million, includes the following companies:

• Pinnacle Foods Group LLC:  $120,846
• The J. M. Smucker Company: $241,091
• Rich Products Corporation: $24,049
• General Mills, Inc.: $598,819
• PepsiCo, Inc.: $1,620,899
• Bunge North America, Inc.: $94,993
• Bumble Bee Foods, LLC: $36,073
• Bush Brothers & Company A: $16,233
• Moody Dunbar, Inc.: $1,804
• Dean Foods Company: $120,245
• Kellogg Company: $221,852
• Nestlé USA, Inc.: $1,052,743
• ConAgra Foods: $285,281
• Bimbo Bakeries USA: $94,693
• Welch Foods, Inc.: $28,859
• Knouse Foods Cooperative, Inc.: $14,429
• Bruce Foods Corporation: $3,006
• Abbott Nutrition: $127,459
• Campbell Soup Company: $265,140
• Del Monte Foods Company: $86,576
• Sunny Delight Beverages Company: $21,043
• Shearer’s Foods, Inc.: $25,251
• Mondelez Global LLC: $144,895
• Land O’Lakes, Inc.: $99,803
• The Coca-Cola Company: $1,047,332
• The Hillshire Brands Company: $97,398
• The Hershey Company: $248,305
• Hormel Foods Corporation: $52,908
• Clement Pappas & Company, Inc.: $21,043
• McCormick & Company, Inc.: $102,208
• Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.: $55,313
• FlowersFoods, Inc.: $141,288
• Cargill, Inc.: $98,601
• The Clorox Company: $12,024

Total:  $7,222,500