Top Donors Fighting GMO Labeling Revealed: Pepsi, Coke, Nestlé

Attorney General Bob Ferguson has gotten his wish: A list of donors to a political action committee created to fight Initiative 522, which, if passed, would require the labeling of foods containing genetically modified products.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association established its PAC on Thursday, the day after Ferguson filed suit against the association for failing to release its donor list. The donations to the PAC, which total $7.2 million, include: General Mills, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Bumble Bee Foods, Kellogg, Nestle, Bimbo Bakeries, Del Monte Foods, Campbell Soup, Land O’Lakes, Hormel and The Clorox Company.

PepsiCo was the biggest donor, giving $1.6 million. Nestle and Coca-Cola contributed about $1.5 million each.

Contributions to No on 522 total $17.1 million, of which $13.5 million has been spent, according to filings submitted to the state Public Disclosure Commission. The Grocery Manufacturers Association has $5 million to the campaign. Monsanto, the multinational chemical and agricultural company, has donated $4.6 million.

Although the attorney general's office no longer needs to force the association to comply, they will seek penalties and attorneys' fees.

On the political committee registration form, the association wrote that the ballot measure had to do with “dealing with food labeling in Washington state.”

Copy of email confirming political committee registration.