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Backers of a November ballot measure seeking to label genetically modified organisms are continuing to rake in contributions, in what could become the most expensive measure fight in Oregon history. Oregon GMO Right to Know, the campaign pushing the measure, has already collected more than $1.3 million in donations.
The checks it picked up this week include $40,000 from Berkeley-based organic pasta maker Annie's Homegrown, and $5,000 from Wisconsin cookie company Back to Nature Foods.
But that donation from Back to Nature Foods signals a larger mutation happening in GMO battles across the nation: Organic food companies are supporting GMO labeling against the wishes of their corporate investors.
Back to Nature Foods Company is partly owned by food giant Kraft—a fierce opponent of GMO labeling.
Bloomberg Businessweek examined this rift in a recent story on ice cream company Ben & Jerry's—and its parent company, Unilever. Ben & Jerry's has backed GMO labeling in Vermont, while Unilever has sued to block the state's new law.
The Businessweek story explains:
Businessweek profiled the biggest GMO labeling foe—Monsanto—earlier this summer. WW examined Oregon's upcoming ballot fight in April.
WWeek 2015