Company Spending $640,000 to Block Consumers’ Right to Know If GMOs Are In Food Also Censors Consumers Talking About GMOs on Social Media

November 3, 2014

WASHINGTON D.C - November 3, 2014 - Green America’s GMO Inside campaign is calling out the J.M. Smucker Company (Smucker’s) for removing anti-GMO posts and posts critiquing the company’s funding of opposition to GMO labeling ballot initiatives in Oregon and Colorado. 

Over the past week, Smucker’s systematically has removed posts and comments from its Facebook page that are critical of the company’s stance on GMOs. 

The new censorship policy is an extension of the company’s ardent efforts to keep consumers in the dark about GMOs in food products.  According to the Cornucopia Institute, Smucker’s has spent $640,000 this year to oppose Measure 92 in Oregon and Proposition 105 in Colorado.  The company spent $349,977 to oppose Initiative 522 in Washington State last year.

“Not only does Smucker’s want to prevent consumers from knowing what’s in their foods, they also don’t want visitors to their Facebook page to know about their opposition to labeling,” said John Roulac, co-chair of the GMO Inside campaign and CEO of Nutiva. “Trying to silence consumer outrage is going to backfire on Smucker’s and turn customers away from them."

Alisa Gravitz, co-chair of GMO Inside and president and CEO of Green America, said: “Instead of blocking consumers’ right to know and censoring their Facebook page, Smucker’s should be making plans to label their foods that have GMOs and work to remove GMOs from their foods, since this is what American consumers increasingly want.  Smucker’s can't afford to alienate more than half of their customers.”

GMO Inside learned of Smucker’s removal of posts critical of the company’s stance on GMOs from consumers whose posts were removed.  GMO Inside staff and allies then made several posts and comments to the Smucker’s Facebook page regarding GMOs over the past several days, all of which were removed within the same day.

Smucker’s is allowing other posts on its Facebook page that voice criticisms of the company, and appears to only be deleting posts that are critical of the company’s position on GMOs.

ABOUT GMO INSIDE

GMO Inside is a campaign dedicated to A) helping all Americans know which foods have GMOs inside, and B) removing GMOs from our food supply. We believe that everyone has a right to know what’s in their food and to choose foods that are proven safe for people, their families, and the environment. GMO Inside provides the information for a growing community of people from all walks of life, to make informed decisions around genetically engineered foods. Join the campaign at www.gmoinside.org, and take part in the GMO Inside community on Facebook and Twitter. GMO Inside coalition partners include Nutiva, Food Democracy Now!, Institute for Responsible Technology, LabelGMOs.org, and Vani Hari, creator of FoodBabe.com.

 
ABOUT GREEN AMERICA

Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America (formerly Co-op America) provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses, investors, and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems. http://www.greenamerica.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:   Will Harwood, (703) 276-3255 or wharwood@hastingsgroup.com.