Update: The GMA released the list of donors. While we still disagree with the GMA's tactics in having not disclosed the list until now, and would urge all GMA members to carefully consider whether they wish to be associated with an organization that engages in behavior that would upset their customers if they knew, it is in the spirit of this campaign to update the company list to reflect only those who contributed money. The name of the campaign will be changed from "Boycott Grocery Manufacturer Association (GMA) Members" to "Boycott donors to the 'No on 522' campaign."
Please also join the 'Yes on 522' Buycott campaign in order to support companies who have donated to the 'yes' effort, here:
http://buycott.com/campaign/663/yes-on-522Source:
http://heraldnet.com/article/20131017/BLOG13/131019839/Grocers-group-fighting-I-522-reveals-donors-Bunge North America, Inc. is also listed as a donor, but was not found within Buycott's list of companies.
---
Following backlash to companies that contributed to defeat California's Proposition 37, the Grocery Manufacturer's Association (GMA) is now allegedly 'shielding' individual member companies this time around by pooling contribution money to defeat Washington State's Initiative 522 (I-522) to label genetically modified / genetically engineered foods, also known as GMO's or GE foods. According to the source cited below, the sum is over 7 million dollars.
This boycott responds to this alleged deception and 'safety in numbers' tactic, simply, by boycotting all GMA members. If the GMA wishes to use non-participating members to shield those that are participating, then they are exposing non-participating members to endure any backlash as well. We don't think it's fair to use non-participating members as shields, and we think they won't either. These members are encouraged to either renounce membership and/or pressure the GMA to expose, specifically, which members are participating in this effort to deny consumers the right to know what is in their food.
Alternatively, perhaps rather than willfully placing non-participating members at risk, the GMA is counting on there being simply too many brands for the average consumer to try and boycott - so they are denying your right to know about the companies that want to deny your right to know about your food and trying to use their sheer size to overpower your ability as a consumer to do anything about it. That's not fair either, is it?
Further, the non-participating companies are not entirely innocent, either. The fact remains that the GMA is donating to defeat an initiative that seeks to bring more information, and therefore more power, to the consumer. It is our belief that every member company joined of their own free will, remains a member at their own free will, and has access to at least the same information that we do about the GMA's activities. In this respect, every member company is equally participating in supporting an organization that is actively working against consumer interests. As consumers, it is our right to act of our own free will to deny them the money with which to engage in such practices.
We urge you to join this campaign, as well as to visit the GMA's membership list to see which stores and other suppliers (who may not make individual products) are on the list:
http://www.gmaonline.org/forms/MemberDirectory/viewMemberDirectoryAllPlease also join the Yes on 522 Buycott campaign, supporting companies that have donated in support of the effort, here:
http://buycott.com/campaign/663/yes-on-522Please visit and get involved in the YesOn522 campaign. This boycott is not officially affiliated with the campaign, however, the outcome of I-522 can have effects for all consumers in the United States.
http://yeson522.com/Source article:
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2013/10/17/corporate-secrets-how-the-anti-522-campaign-was...This campaign lists 'General' members of the GMA, defined here:
http://www.gmaonline.org/membership/gma-membership-types/. Some companies could not be found within Buycott's list. These are:
- Acosta Sales & Marketing Company
- Advantage Sales and Marketing
- AmeriQual Foods
- Andros UK Limited
- BeaconUnited
- Beverage House, Inc.
- Big Island Candies, Inc.
- Bunge North America, Inc.
- Burdette Beckmann, Inc.
- C.B. Powell Ltd.
- Chiquita/Fresh Express, Inc.
- Consorcio CĂtricos Dominicanos, S.A.
- Creative Foodworks, Inc.
- CROSSMARK
- D.D. Williamson & Co., Inc.
- DelGrosso Foods, Inc.
- Durrset Amigos, Ltd.
- El Encanto Inc.
- Faribault Foods, Inc.
- Ferrero USA, Inc.
- Florida Products
- Foster Clark Products Ltd.
- Golden Specialty Foods, Inc.
- Goya Foods Great Lakes
- Grandma Brown's Beans, Inc.
- Harlow-HRK Sales & Marketing, Inc.
- Hoopeston Foods, Inc.
- JOH
- Jyoti Natural Foods
- Kagome, Inc.
- Kerry Ingredients & Flavours
- Lang Pharma Nutrition, Inc.
- LDS Church -- Welfare Services
- Mosaic Sales Solutions
- The Mushroom Company
- Owens-Illinois, Inc.
- Oy Transmeri Ab
- Paradise Tomato Kitchens, Inc.
- Peravia Industrial S.A.
- Pfizer Nutrition
- River Run Foods
- Ruiz Foods, Inc.
- Saticoy Foods Corporation
- SellEthics Marketing Group, Inc.
- Solae LLC
- Southern Classic Food Group
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice
- Thomas, Large & Singer Inc.
- Tip Top Canning Company
- Two Chefs on a Roll, Inc.
- Unilever (Alberto Culver)
- Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company