Grocery Manufacturers of America

The Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) is a food lobby group. It has existed since at least 1946.[1] GMA "was the largest contributor of honoraria to US Senators in 1976".[2] It was referred to as "the (American) food industry's power broker" in 1979, when its membership roll included 134 large corporations.[2] In 1985, the Grocery Manufacturers of America was an incorporated association in Delaware.[3] The GMA is (or has) a Political Action Committee.[4]

History

In 1979, the GMA opposed product sell-by regulations created by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health right into the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Judge Herbert P. Wilkins declared for five justices in favour of the regulator.[5]

In 1979, the GMA aimed to stop the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) "from restricting television commercials of sugared products aimed at children".[2]

In 2005, paper producer Kimberly-Clark Corporation bragged about the appointment of CEO Thomas J. Falk to the Board of Directors of the GMA. At the time, "42 CEOs representing the nation's leading food, beverage and consumer product companies and sales agencies" were on the board.[6]

In July 2005, the GMA changed its name to the Grocery Manufacturers Association.[7]

In January 2007, the GMA merged with the Food Products Association.[8]

The GMA supported Senator Pat Roberts when he introduced a biotech labeling and GMO foods bill on February 19, 2016. The bill (now Public Law 114-214) established a standardized voluntary labeling plan that would block the state of Vermont from enacting its mandatory genetic engineering labeling law on July 1. In addition it seeks to promote "consumer acceptance of agricultural biotechnology".[9]

The Consumer Brands Association was formed in 2020 "to adopt a proactive agenda".[10]

By 2021, the Grocery Manufacturers of America Inc still had a listing at Bloomberg News. It was said that it "operates as a non-profit organization".[11]

References

1. "Charles Glen King Papers". National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
2. Monte, Tom (1979). "Grocery Manufacturers of America: The food industry's power broker". Nutrition Action. 5 (8): 3–7.
3. "Grocery Manufacturers of America, Inc., a Delawarecorporation, Plaintiff-appellee Cross-appellant, v. Joseph Gerace, Commissioner, New York Department Of Agriculture and Markets, and the New Yorkdepartment of Agriculture and Markets,defendants-appellants Cross-appellees,john R. Block, as Secretary of Agriculture of the Unitedstates and the Department of Agriculture of the Unitedstates, Margaret M. Heckler, as Secretary of Health Andhuman Services of the United States, and the Department Ofhealth and Human Services of the United States, Additionaldefendants on Counterclaim-appellees, 755 F.2d 993 (2d Cir. 1985)".
4. "PAC Profile: Consumer Brands Assn".
5. Wilkins (1979). "GROCERY MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA, INC. & others vs. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH & another". Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. 379 Mass. 70.
6. "Kimberly-Clark CEO Thomas J. Falk Elected to the Board of the Grocery Manufacturers of America". KCWW. Kimberly-Clark. 25 January 2005.
7. "GMA Changes Name, Releases Logistics Benchmark Study". Progressive Grocer. 13 July 2005.
8. "ABOUT THE CONSUMER BRANDS ASSOCIATION Powering every day - Our History". Consumer Brands Association. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
9. "Sen. Pat Roberts proposes GMO labeling bill, as July 1 deadline to label products in Vermont looms".
10. "ABOUT THE CONSUMER BRANDS ASSOCIATION Powering every day - Our History". Consumer Brands Association. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
11. "Grocery Manufacturers of America Inc - Company Profile and News". Retrieved 4 February 2021.