On Friday, I wrote about how food companies were like lying, cheating narcissists. Today, I have more details to prove this analogy may be even more accurate.
I was tipped off to a Monsanto UK campaign that was run in the late 1990s. It was an advertisement campaign that publicly stated Monsanto’s support of labeling GMO foods.
I was actually even able to find remnants of it on the Monsanto UK website. Here are a few screen captures of it.
First, stating their support…
Second, explaining clearly that they feel citizens have the right to know…
(Here is the full screen capture in case this page is removed — which I suspect it will be soon.)
That message sounds a lot like what I’ve been writing about recently. We just want to know what is in the food.
Just slap a label on it and we’ll move on.
But here’s the ringer.
In California, Monsanto USA has donated $4.2 million dollars to fight Proposition 37 which is a proposition that requires the labeling of GMO food.
Here’s the proof…
(Here is a full list of Proposition 37 donors.)
Here’s a little more detail from the San Jose Mercury News:
St. Louis-based Monsanto, a leading producer of genetically engineered seeds and chemicals such as the herbicide Roundup, has donated $4.2 million to efforts to defeat Proposition 37, a controversial measure on the November ballot that would require labeling for genetically engineered foods.
But in the late 1990s, Monsanto ran advertisements in Britain that supported food labeling, which is common in Europe.
The European Union first approved labels for genetically engineered food in 1997, and specific rules covering corn and soy came a year later. Monsanto’s ads in Europe apparently ran after the decision to label foods had been made. Labeling rules in the United Kingdom went into effect in early 1999.
“It ran in 1998-1999, was in the U.K. only and was supportive of efforts by retailers to position their products with their customers,” Monsanto spokesman Tom Helscher wrote in an email.
The company declined to comment further about why it chose to support labeling abroad but is spending millions to fight California’s effort.
I love how the PR rep had no further comment when asked about why it doesn’t support labeling in the U.S. What can you say? At least the guy is human. He knows when to admit — by not admitting — that he’s stuck.
How can Monsanto UK support GMO labeling at one point and Monsanto USA donate $4.2 million to try to squash an attempt in California?
This is classic narcissistic behavior. Tell anyone whatever they want to hear as long as you still look good.
Do you want to have guys like these have control over your food?
I hope not.
Be sure to share this with your friends — and if you have them in California tell them to get out and vote “yes” on Prop. 37.
Your Question of the day: How does this make you feel?
Live Awesome!
Kev
