Monsanto, Pesticide Companies Contribute Another $5.5 Million to Kill GMO Labeling Initiative

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by the California Right to Know campaign:

Monsanto just gave an additional $2.89 million to defeat Proposition 37, which would require labeling of genetically engineered foods in California. Monsanto's total contribution against Proposition 37 now stands at $7.1 million, according to campaign finance disclosure records filed with the California Secretary of State.

Other major pesticide companies also just made major additional contributions to defeat Proposition 37, including DuPont ($874,800), Dow AgroSciences ($815,200), Bayer CropScience ($381,600), BASF Plant Science ($357,700) and Syngenta ($178,700).

"Monsanto wants to buy this election so they can keep hiding what's really in our food," said Gary Ruskin, campaign manager of the Yes on Proposition 37 campaign.  "They are on the losing side of history.  Californians want the right to know what's in our food, and we will win it."

The "Big 6" pesticide firms (Monsanto, DuPont, Bayer, Dow, BASF and Syngenta) have contributed $19 million of the $32 million that the No on 37 campaign has raised.

Of the ten largest contributors to the No on 37 campaign, only one (Nestle USA) is from a company based in California.  And even Nestle USA is a subsidiary of the giant Swiss food conglomerate Nestle S.A.

Following is a list of the top 10 contributors to the No on 37 campaign.

For more information about the California Right to Know campaign, see www.CaRightToKnow.org.

SOURCE California Right to Know Campaign