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

[source: http://ecowatch.com/2013/10/21/lobby-discloses-donors-ge-labeling-initiative-522/]