FDA Pressures Oregon: 
Big Food Processors Pour in Money to Defeat GMO Labeling Initiative 

FISHLINK SUBLEGALS v.6, n.15, 11oct02

www.sublegals.net

6:15/08. FDA GETS INVOLVED IN OREGON'S MEASURE 27; BIG FOOD PROCESSORS POUR IN MONEY TO DEFEAT INITIATIVE TO LABEL GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has interjected itself into the debate on Oregon's Measure 27, a ballot initiative that will be voted on 5 November to decide whether the State will require the labeling of foods that have been genetically modified or contain genetically modified ingredients (see Sublegals, 6:05/03; 6:03/09; 5:26/02). For more information, go to: www.just-food.com. The genetically altered food debate is of concern for fishing organizations, since there is currently an application by Aqua Bounty before the FDA seeking approval of a genetically modified, or "transgenic," Atlantic salmon for use in commercial aquaculture operations. Over 30 other fish species are also under consideration for genetic alteration for commercial applications (see Sublegals, 6:10/03; 6:08/01; 5:09/02; 5:01/05; 4:16/13; 4:11/10; 3:23/14; 3:19/03; 3:07/15; 3:05/15; 2:16/11).

Although the FDA has no authority over state consumer protection laws, that did not deter FDA Deputy Commission Lester Crawford from sending a letter to Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, claiming Measure 27 "would impermissibly interfere with manufacturers' ability to market their products on a nationwide basis." According to a USA Today article, Lester goes on to say, "In this letter, we are not promising to take action, but we are letting the people of Oregon know, as best we can, what our views are about the ordinance." The letter raises questions about the FDA, which is supposed to oversee the safety of the nation's food and medicine supply, and its objectivity in considering the Aqua Bounty application and others like it, if the agency is also promoting GMOs (see Sublegals, 6:10/05). For a copy of the FDA letter, go to: http://www.thecampaign.org/alert-fda.htm. Deputy Commissioner Lester can be contacted at: deputy.commissioner@fda.gov. In response to Lester's letter, Steven Druker, Executive Director of the Alliance for Bio-Integrity, sent a letter to the Governor outlining the misinformation in the FDA correspondence. A copy of the Druker letter is at: http://www.voteyeson27.com/druker_letter.htm.

If passed, Measure 27 would make Oregon the first U.S. state to require labeling of genetically modified (GMO) foods. However, the European Union (EU), Japan and Australia already require products with GMO ingredients to be labeled as such. The EU is currently tightening up its labeling legislation with the effect that, from 17 October, any foods with more than one percent GMO content must carry GMO labeling. The Grocery Manufacturers Association has been actively opposing labeling legislation, including Measure 27 in Oregon and California's AB 791 (see Sublegals, 6:10/01; 6:06/01), claiming that labeling will be too costly. Prices, however, have not gone up in Australia or in other countries where labeling is required. H.J. Heinz is a member of the Grocery Manufacturers Association. It sells its ketchup in Australia with labeling stating that there are GMO ingredients in the product with no extra cost and little effort involved. A copy of that label is at: http://www.thecampaign.org/heinzgelabel.htm. The Grocery Manufacturers Association were among those who have continuously opposed consumer information on food products, including PCFFA's attempts to get better labeling of fish, beginning with 1981 legislation it sponsored in the California Legislature.

"Global food manufacturers, chemical and biotechnology companies have poured in $4.6 million to defeat" Measure 27, according to an article by Steve Law that appeared in the Salem Journal Statesman. " Finance reports.......show the Measure 27 campaign could set a new record for initiative spending in Oregon, with nearly all the money coming from outside the state to oppose the measure......and the list of opponents reads like a who's who of the American grocery aisle: Nestle, General Mills, Proctor & Gamble, Pepsico, Kellogg and Hershey, to name a few. The biggest contributions, though, came from a group of six chemical and biotechnology companies who collectively gave $3.7 million to Croplife International, based in Brussels, Belgium. Monsanto topped the list, contributing nearly $1.5 million." The total contributions to date spent by the opposition to Measure 27 totals $4,591,164. Of this, only $5,500 came from Oregon - or about one tenth of one percent of the total spent by the opposition. The Oregon Food PAC gave $5,000 and the Oregon Food Issues Council gave $500. There were no contributions from individuals. Proponents of the measure have only raised about $50,000. The opposition campaign is being run by Winner & Mandabach, a Southern California public relations firm that contracts with Conkling, Fiskum, McCormick to handle the local legwork.

The corporate funding, to date, making up the Crop Life International donation to the opposition campaign to Measure 27 are as follows: Monsanto - $1,480,000; DuPont - $634,286; Syngenta - $528,571; Dow Agro Sciences - $396,429; BASF - $158,571; Bayer Crop Science - $105,714; and Aventis - $396,429. Monsanto, the giant chemical company and a major producer of genetically modified seeds, was also an opponent of the California legislation aimed at placing a moratorium on the introduction of transgenic fish in California waters and requiring the identification of GMO fish at the retail level. For more information, go to: www.voteyeson27.com.