Proposition 37, a citizen’s initiative on the California ballot this November, would mandate clear labeling of genetically engineered (GE or GMO) ingredients on all food packages. This has turned California into a battleground pitting consumer and farmer advocates against multi-billion-dollar agribusiness corporations.
And it may be the most important opportunity we will get to stop Monsanto and the insane and dangerous momentum of genetically engineered foods. Why? Recent polling indicates almost 70% of citizens support informational labeling of GMO ingredients in their foods. In fact, if Prop 37 passes, many companies would rather remove genetically engineered ingredients from their products than admit they use them. That’s just smart business. After all, most Americans say they would avoid GMOs if labeled.
And companies are simply not going to create a separate label and product just for California, so passage of Prop 37 will mean healthier, non-GMO food choices for the whole nation.
If labeling and consumer education about the health risks of GMOs encourages U.S. food companies to stop using GMO ingredients—like they already have in Europe and Japan—Monsanto, Bayer, etc. will be dealt a major blow.
And that could change the world.
According to the Institute for Responsible Technology:
“Up till now, the U.S. government has bullied other nations into accepting useless and dangerous GMOs. But rejection of GM foods by U.S. consumers and food companies could change all that. Without U.S. pressure, the world might finally be ready to admit that the technology has failed to live up to its promises, is fraught with dangerous side effects, and needs to be withdrawn. This vote could be the fast-track to a healthier food supply for everyone.”
No wonder big food and agriculture corporations are fighting Proposition 37 with every dollar they’ve got! They stand to lose money and credibility, forever. However, money earned unethically at the expense of our health and the health of the environment cannot be allowed to continue.
How to Help Stop Monsanto
There is no question the grassroots anti-GMO movement is grossly outspent compared to agribusinesses like Monsanto, so donations—even of $5 or $10—are crucial right now as the November 6 vote approaches. This is very much a David vs. Goliath scenario, and every penny, every action, counts!
Donate to California Right to Know – Tax deductible
Donate to the Institute for Responsible Technology - Tax deductible (Mercola.com will match dollar for dollar!)
Donate to Organic Consumers Association – Tax deductible
But in addition to donations to help pay for ads and consumer education, Proposition 37 needs the help of everyone in the nation who supports the Right to Know what is in your food.
(Our children are not science experiments! Why we need GMO food labeling)
You might be surprised to find out that many “natural” and “organic” brands are in fact owned by multi-billion-dollar corporations that are contributing hundreds of thousands—or even millions—of dollars to defeat Proposition 37. These companies present themselves as small, family-run businesses and farms in order to gain your trust, but nothing could be further from the truth.
For example, Kashi is owned by Kellogg, and has contributed $612,000 to defeating Proposition 37. In 2011, The Cornucopia Institute published a study called Cereal Crimes, which revealed that the popular, “natural” Kashi GoLean cereal brand, unbeknownst to its customers, contains genetically engineered ingredients.
Another example is Silk soymilk, which carries the “Non-GMO Project Verified” seal on its products but is owned by the nation’s largest factory dairy, Dean Foods, which has contributed $253,000 to the effort to kill Prop 37. Dean Foods also owns the Horizon Organic brand. Both Silk and Horizon profess to oppose GMOs, while their parent company does everything possible to water down organic certification standards and make sure genetically engineered foods (like rBGH milk) are never labeled.
I don’t think we should let such hypocrisy stand, and neither does the Cornucopia Institute. “Talk is cheap,” says Charlotte Vallaeys, Director of Farm and Food Policy at The Cornucopia Institute:
“Consumers should not only know whether there are GMOs in their food, but also whether their hard-earned dollars are supporting companies that then turn around and invest those profits in the effort to sell-out their right to know. …We have a problem with the duplicity of corporations that hide under a ‘holier-than-thou’ marketing brand and then undermine the very values of the organic movement.”
To make it easier for shoppers to identify and support organic brands whose corporate owners support Proposition 37, and boycott brands owned by companies that financially contributed to opposing the “Right to Know” campaign, The Cornucopia Institute has developed a shopping guide for consumers which you can see in the infographic below.
But merely boycotting these products is not enough. Shopping never is. To be truly powerful and effective, we need to let these companies know that associating themselves with Monsanto and GMOs will be devastating for business.
We need to publicly shame these companies into reevaluating their position on GMOs. We need to sign petitions, email and call these companies, and, in particular, publicly post on their Facebook walls, tweet and retweet about their efforts to undermine our right to choose safe, healthy food. You will find a list of companies fighting GMO labeling and their Facebook and Twitter links at the end of this article.
“Hiding the truth about our food is pervasive, unethical, and only done for money,” says Michael Potter, CEO of Eden Foods, an organic food manufacturer that financially contributed to support Proposition 37. “Let this [Prop. 37] be the beginning of an end to it.”
Together we can help pass Prop 37 this November!
Together we can turn the tide on Monsanto and GMOs forever.
“Armchair activism” like emailing, facebooking and tweeting in protest of GMOs is a great way to blow off steam and to channel your anger at the factory food system in a productive way. It’s something you can do even if you lead a busy life with no time to otherwise volunteer.
Please join the thousands of us who are tweeting and posting in support of Prop 37 and GMO labeling. Let these companies know what you think about their fight against Proposition 37 and our right to know what is in our food.
Let people know that brands like Kashi and Silk aren’t so green, wholesome and healthy after all.
If you Tweet, please use hashtags like #yeson37 #prop37 #nogmo #righttoknow #labelgmo and #gmo to get further reach.
Which one of these companies feels like the worst betrayal to you?
Which companies are you going to take the most joy out of protesting on Facebook or Twitter?
Kellogg (contains GMO corn and soy)
Kashi (contains GMO corn and soy)
Bear Naked
Morningstar Farms (contains GMO soy)
Cascadian Farm
Muir Glen
Larabar
- https://www.facebook.com/Larabar
- https://twitter.com/larabar
- http://www.larabar.com/connect/feedback
R.W. Knudsen
- https://www.facebook.com/rwknudsen
- https://twitter.com/RWKnudsen
- https://www.rwknudsenfamily.com/contact
Santa Cruz Organics
- https://www.facebook.com/santacruzorganic
- https://twitter.com/santacruzjuice
- https://www.santacruzorganic.com/contact
Horizon
Silk
- http://www.facebook.com/SilkUS
- http://twitter.com/LoveMySilk
- http://silksoymilk.com/content/contact-us
Honest Tea
Odwalla
Simply Orange
Izze
Naked
French Meadow
Alexia(contains GMO canola and potatoes)
Lightlife
Related Posts on GMOs
- Why We Need to Label Genetically Modified Foods
- The Inconvenient Truth About Canola Oil
- Soy is Not a Health Food
Photo: Lifeinmotionphotography.com
Shared with Seasonal Celebration, Sunday School, Gallery of Favorites, Mix it Up Monday, The Morris Tribe, Monday Mania, Better Mom Mondays, Homestead Barn Hop, Made by You Monday, Fat Tuesdays, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Titus 2sday, Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays, Tutorial Tuesdays, Living Green Link Up, Hearth & Soul Hop, Titus 2 Tuesday, Tuesday Time Out, Domestically Divine Tuesdays, Teach Me Tuesdays, Tasteful Tuesdays, The Gathering Spot, Tiny Tuesday Tip, Tasty Tuesdays, Whole Food Wednesdays, Real Food Wednesdays, Home is Where the Heart Is, Wicked Awesome Wednesdays, Healthy 2day Wednesday, Homemaking Link-up, Women Living Well Wednesdays, Allergy Free Wednesdays, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Adorned from Above, Natural Living Linkup, It’s a Keeper!, Creative Juice, The Mommy Club, Keep it Real, Your Green Resource, Simple Lives Thursday, Fight Back Fridays, Fill Those Jars Friday, Freaky Friday, Fresh Bites Friday, Gluten Free Fridays, LHITS DIY Linkup, Saturday Show and Tell, Weekend Whatever, Weekend Gourmet, and the Weekend Bloggy Linkup.
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Monsanto also made the blue strawberry. It is only sold in exclusive markets. The reports of danger are hidden from the press. One woman developed salivary gland cancer and a man in NYC died of allergies from it. Who do these people think they are?
I got a response from Lara Bar:
Larabar is a part of the General Mills family of brands. General Mills believes labeling requirements should be set nationally, not state-by-state. Allowing the 50 states to determine labeling requirements would only increase food costs for American consumers. (Imagine being required to produce and distribute 50 different packages with 50 different labels for each of the 50 different states). General Mills has long opposed state-by-state labeling and – like most companies across the industry and organizations such as the Grocery Manufacturers Association – opposes Proposition 37. Larabar is not involved in the Prop 37 campaign. We have provided no funding and have no plans to do so – despite the graphic you reference. But our parent company is opposed, as are most companies that produce and distribute products nationally.
Larabar is and will remain non-GMO. Larabar will continue to source all of its ingredients from non-GMO suppliers. This is important to the promise of the Larabar brand and Larabar consumers.
These companies are taking the stance that they are opposed to state-by-state legislation but at the same time they are not addressing the GMO labeling requirement requested by California citizens.
My response: I see your point about the cost of state to state labeling but we know it always starts in California. If it is passed in one state then it will get national attention. Your company is opposing the state to state labeling but it appears the protest is against labeling GMO products truthfully. Why not let it pass and label all products truthfully nation-wide? This is what the consumers want – I don’t want it happening only in California either. It would be great if all non-GMO products were labeled as such and the use of “Natural” could not be used on GMO products. I wouldn’t have research every item I eat for GMO status. I just ate one of your bars today out of a hunger attack as a celiac. What’s in my food determines how I feel – good or bad. It’s not a fad – it’s a fact.
They are all hiding behind this “national” stance. we know that they would fight it on a national level too. I wrote on Larabar’s, Muir Glen’s, and Food Should Taste Good’s Facebook pages. I feel that even if these particular companies might claim to be against GMO’s, any money you put toward them by purchasing their products goes into the pockets of General Mills and the others, which then come to contribute to opposing labeling. I’m planning on making my own larabars from now on. who wants to spend $2 for a General Mills bar, anyway?
I agree. Just label the food! I sent your response to Lara Bar and told them goodbye from me too.
Wow, thanks for saying so.
Wow! You ladies ROCK! We will get Prop37 passed!
Great information. I am in Ca. at my mom’s now. I just told her about this, so that she can vote for it. Thanks for putting the information out. Thank you so much for sharing with Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party last week. This weeks Link Party is opened at http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/08/free-bee-sweet-hat-pattern-crocheted.html
Hope to see you there.
Debi Bolocofsky
Adorned From Above
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
Thanks for sharing, I just posted this to facebook. This proposition would be a great first step toward making it easier for people to make healthier, informed decisions about our food.
I found your post on Fill Those Jars Friday. I wrote about this too here: http://wp.me/p2u4PM-7x. Thank you so much for all the links. I have put a few posts on Muir Glen’s facebook page telling them how I felt. I was so displeased when I first saw the long list of companies to avoid on OCA and Cornucopia. Some of the companies I was shocked to find on there. It doesn’t say on any of their packages who really owns them. I am afraid to shop anymore and to avoid all of those companies and still buy organic or natural brands is astronomical in price. We are all better off making all our own foods. Don’t forget Back to Nature is owned by Kraft Foods. Great post!
Interesting stuff. It seems to be that if the “organic” / “natural” brand is under a giant corporation, like Coca Cola or Smuckers, then their goal is to make money and not necessarily make sure the consumer gets what is best for them &/or what they think they are buying. Found you @ Adorned from Above.
LOVE IT! With the exception of Muir Glen I already don’t buy from any of these groups. Muir Glen is now on my do not buy list. Most of my stuff is homemade anyway. Great info graphic too — pinned this twice! People need to KNOW!
Thanks for sharing this information. I didn’t realize that some of the “healthy” companies support or use GMO’s.
Great post! I’m so disappointed at seeing Cascadian Farms and Muir Glen on the list. I will definitely be revising my shopping habits. Pinning this and sharing with my facebook readers. Thanks!
I know! It’s very disheartening! But unfortunately, corporate food puts profits first before people or planet. This is very much a “vote with your dollars AND your ballot” issue.
Thanks for pinning and facebooking! Together we can get Prop37 and GMO labeling passed!
Thanks Dawn, I took some time to advocate and post on facebook pages. Monsanto make my blood boil and at some point…this HAS TO STOP!! Other countries have done it, and we can too! Great info, I will be boycotting many of these products…
You rock! Together we can stop Monsanto!
FYI, I am featuring your and Real Food Forager’s posts on this this week on AFW!!
Awesome! Thanks!
Yes, this is the belief with most of us in this crtouny. We truly think and feel that there is some group in the government looking out for us little people, keeping us safe from harmful things in the environment, the products that we use, food, and even what our homes and businesses are made of. We have quickly learned that that is not the truth! I had heard of the precautionary principle, but it’s been such a long time that I forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder.I think that it is too much work for the government and that is why things just get into the system. We, thinking that there have been years of study governing things before it is unleashed on us, dive in and get busy eating and using these foods and products thinking that they are safe. It is a situation that is out of control, for the most part. How do we deal with it? It will not go away anytime soon, and by the time it does, too many of us and our children will be sick, dying or dead.
WOW! I just hoped over from Nature’s Nuture. I just finished a post about food and food production. Many people are unaware that the new 2012 Farm Bill includes provisions for GMO cultivation. Monsanto needs to be stopped!!!
It’s so important that GMO foods be labelled so you have a choice. We have a lot less genetically modified food here in the UK because of very strict regulations, but some companies really do find their ways round the rules! Excellent post – lots of really helpful links too!
This is so scary to me – I had no idea that some of these companies (Larabar, Horizon Organic, Odwalla, Naked) were involved! It really makes you distrust everyone.
What an eye-opener! There are several companies on your list I am going to be contacting. I think you are exactly right – this may be our one chance to weaken Monsanto’s hold on our food supply. When is our government going to wake up and realize that the majority of Americans are against GMO’s?
About 20 years ago I became more aware of the food we eat. My daughter was just a little one then. We do our best to eat clean and healthy. All of the information you posted about is very good. I am off to voice my opinion to some of these companies. Thanks so much.
Thank you for the issues you have made me aware of especially this one. I have written to two companies that I use as they promote their products as healthy and natural – this is an eye opener. Lara Bars and Muir Glen. Why are they hiding that they use GMO ingredients? Profits over health of their consumers? I’m not an experiment – I take my health and diet seriously.
Thanks for standing up! Every voice is so important. Just to be clear, Muir Glen does have certified organic ingredients and does not use GMOs at this time. If it is certified organic is has to be GMO free. Nevertheless, their parent companies are spending millions of dollars to weaken organic standards and stop the labeling of GMOs in California. They’ve already lobbied successfully to put genetically engineered DHA in organic baby formula, and to operate “organic” factory farms and feedlots. Now they are pulling out the big money against Citizen Proposition 37 to label GMOs in CA. This greenwashing must stop!!
does prop 37 also address the indirect gmo foods. most soy is used for feeding animals afterall…
No, animal feed is not consider an “ingredient.” Prop 37 only applies to GMO ingredients in packaged foods. This would include GMO sugar, corn, soy, canola, cottonseed oil, potatoes, DHA in infant formula (including organic formula!), and rBGH dairy—which are in 80-90% of all conventional grocery items.
Keep up the good work!! Thank you for getting the info out there.