Kraft & Other US Food Giants Launch Propaganda
Campaign to Promote GE Foods
Tue, Jun 15, 1999, 11:44 AM

RE: Front Group for Food Giants Launches Public Relations Propaganda
Campaign on GE Foods

GMA kicks off $1M job to laud biotech foods

By Phil Rabin

WASHINGTON, DC: Global food and pharmaceutical giants are planning a major
PR campaign to champion the merits of biotechnology, in a bid to preempt the
kind of anti-genetic modification backlash seen in Europe.

Biotech produced foods have come in for scathing criticism in Europe in
recent months, with consumer activists and environmentalists claiming they
may pose health threats or threats to nature.

To prevent a repeat on this side of the Atlantic, the Grocery Manufacturers

of America - representing 132 firms, including global giants such as Heinz,

Kraft and Procter & Gamble - is planning an educational campaign on the
merits of foods developed from biotechnology, including corn, tomatoes,
potatoes and canola.

PRWeek has learned that three firms are in the finals for the GMA project -

BSMG, Fleishman-Hillard and Porter Novelli. The year-long effort is thought

to be worth $1 million.

GMA's preemptive effort may begin later this month or next month, and will
be
designed to educate a number of audiences about food biotechnology,
including
retailers, policy makers, farmers and consumers. He said the goal will be
to
provide "balanced information" to consumers.

GMA plans to "act before a potential crisis" hits, said Gene Grabowski, the

organization's VP for communications. He added that concerns overseas stem
from people's lack of faith in technology, which results in activists
fighting to block the biotech-developed foods.

"In the US, approximately 60 million acres of biotechnologyderived crops
already have been planted, and that number is growing," Grabowski added.

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Reprinted from PR WeekJune 14, 1999