<http://truth-out.org/news/item/11014-monsanto-dupont-spend-millions-to-defeat-california-genetically-engineered-food-labeling-initiative>

Monsanto, DuPont Spend Millions to Defeat California Genetically 
Engineered Food Labeling Initiative

Tuesday, 21 August 2012 09:40

By Mike Ludwig, Truthout | Report

With biotech giant Monsanto leading the way, big agribusiness firms 
and food manufacturers have vastly outspent organic food and 
alternative health firms in an effort to defeat California's 
Proposition 37 ballot initiative that would require special labels on 
foods made with genetically engineered (GE) organisms.

Monsanto's contribution of $4.2 million to the No on 37 campaign is 
more than double the $2 million that the supporters of Proposition 37 
have raised in total so far. In all, big agriculture firms, food 
manufacturers and pro-biotech industry groups have raised $25 million 
to defeat Proposition 37, according to the nonpartisan group Voter's 
Edge California. 

Chemical giant Dupont, which ranks second to Monsanto in worldwide GE 
seed sales, has contributed $4 million to defeat the labeling 
proposition. Pepsico, Coca-Cola, Nestle and the chemical and GE seed 
manufacturers Bayer and BASF have all contributed $1 million or more.

"These are the same companies that told us that DDT and agent orange 
are safe," said Stacy Malkan, spokesperson for the Yes on 37 For Your 
Right to Know if Your Food Has Been Genetically Engineered campaign 
committee.

The big food and agriculture companies are squaring off against 
organic food and health firms such as Nature's Path ($250,000), Dr. 
Bronner's Magic Soaps ($290,000) and Organic Valley ($50,000). 
Mercola.com, an alternative health resource web site, tops the list 
with $800,000 in contributions to the Yes on 37 campaign.

Despite the vast funding disparity, recent polls suggest that a 
majority of Californian's want to know if their food contains GE 
ingredients and support Proposition 37. But that won't keep the 
corporate food coalition from trying to sway voters in the coming 
months.

Malkan said the Proposition 37's big business opponents are expected 
to use their vast resources to bombard Californians with "deceptive" 
TV ads prior to the vote in November.

"I think it's about huge chemical companies trying to hide what they 
are doing to our food," Malkan said.

A spokesperson for the No on 37 Stop the Deceptive Food Labeling 
Scheme campaign did not respond to an inquiry from Truthout prior to 
publication. On its web site, the group claims that Proposition 37 
would increase bureaucracy at the expense of taxpayers and increase 
food costs for consumers as food companies and farmers update their 
packaging and deal with lawsuits.

The stakes are high. Now that the vast majority of corn and soybeans 
grown in the United States are genetically engineered in some way, 
labeling could have a big impact on what consumers see in the grocery 
story. California boasts the largest population of consumers in the 
US, and a victory for GE food labeling there could pave the way for 
regulatory changes nationwide.

If foods containing GE ingredients are labeled, consumers may be more 
likely to buy organic and non-GE foods despite the biotechnology 
industry's repeated claims that GE foods are as safe as conventional 
foods.

GE food opponents, however, say that some studies have shown that GE 
foods pose health risks.

Most GE crops are genetically altered to withstand or produce 
pesticides and herbicides. Organics advocates and agricultural 
reformers say that GE mono-crop farming is unsustainable and has 
unfavorable environmental impacts, such as creating herbicide 
resistant "superweeds."

The biotech industry, however, claims GE crop technology, such as 
drought-resistant corn, is necessary to feed the world's growing 
population.


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