The biggest single donor to the "NO" vote is biotech giant Monsantohttp://www.monsanto.com/pages/default.aspx>, having poured more than $6.3 million into the state campaigns. Pepsihttp://www.pepsico.com/> has donated $2 million and General Millshttp://www.generalmills.com/> has donated more than $1.5 million. Other heavyweight opponents include Krafthttp://www.kraftfoodsgroup.com/home/index.aspx>, Dow AgroScienceshttp://www.dowagro.com/>, J.M. Smuckerhttp://www.jmsmucker.com/>, Land O' Lakeshttp://www.landolakes.com/> and ConAgrahttp://www.conagrafoods.com/>.
All told, opponents of the consumers' right-to-know what is in their food have already raised more than $15.1 million, while supporters of the state initiatives have gathered nearly $3.3 million.
"We doubt if loyal customers of Naked Juicehttp://www.nakedjuice.com/> (PepsiCo), Dagoba chocolatehttp://www.dagobachocolate.com/> (Hershey's) RW Knutsonhttp://www.rwknudsenfamily.com/> or Santa Cruzhttp://www.santacruzorganic.com/> juices (Smuckers) realize that their corporate parents are taking the profits from their patronage and stabbing them in the back by investing to defeat GMO labeling on food packages," the Cornucopia's Kastel lamented.
"Consumers are increasingly interested in 'voting with their forks,' and many want to support companies that share their values," notes Jason Cole, a researcher for Cornucopia who compiled the data for the infographic. "We hope the information we are providing on corporate involvement with the upcoming votes on food labeling will help consumers make informed choices in grocery store aisles."
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Supporters of Measure 92, the GMO food labeling initiative in Oregon, have raised $2.96 million with opponents of the initiative collecting $5.41 million according to state records.
In Colorado, supporters of Proposition 105, the GMO food labeling initiative, have raised $320,000 while opponents of the initiative have collected $9.7 million.
Data for the campaign contributions was gathered from appropriate state regulatory agencies.
The Cornucopia Institute's board of directors has formally endorsed the Oregon state initiative (they have yet to meet and take action regarding the Colorado initiative).
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