A Washington heavyweight among food industry trade groups, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, has lost two additional members who are long-time titans in the sector, Hershey and Cargill, reported Politico. At least eight major companies — the others are Campbell Soup, Nestlé, Dean Foods, Mars, Tyson Foods, and Unilever — “have now bailed on GMA,” and most have offered only vague explanations why, it said.
“Many of the companies that have left are viewed as more progressive and had unsuccessfully fought to push GMA into adopting more transparent and consumer-friendly policies like GMO labeling,” said Politico. A Hershey spokesman said the company routinely evaluates its trade group membership and decided not to renew its tie with GMA. Cargill did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A GMA spokesman told Politico that the group was evolving “to meet the needs of long-time and new member companies and consumers. … We are always sorry when member companies decide to leave, and hope to work with them on issues of mutual interest in the future.”