Alliance for Better Foods

The Alliance for Better Foods (ABF) was created to promote public acceptance and to oppose labelling of genetically modified foods. It is run by the Washington office of BSMG Worldwide, a full service PR firm whose clients include Monsanto, the Chemical Manufacturers Association, Procter & Gamble, Philip Morris, and numerous other large food, chemical and pharmaceutical corporations.

On its website the group states that it "supports biotechnology as a safe way to provide for a more abundant, nutritious and higher quality food supply. The Alliance encourages fact-based discussion about development in plant biotechnology."

Affiliations
On its website the alliance cryptically states that its "membership represents diverse agriculture and food-related groups, including farmers, processors, distributors, retailers, scientists, food technologists and professionals in other fields dedicated to improving nutrition, protecting the environment and fighting world hunger."

However, in 1999 the group was more open about its supporters with its website stating that its primary public sponsor was the Grocery Manufacturers of America, accompanied by trade associations representing virtually every segment of the food industry (except the organic foods sector):


 * Agricultural Retailers Association
 * American Agri-Women
 * American Bakers Association
 * American College of Nutrition
 * American Dietetic Association
 * American Farm Bureau Federation
 * American Feed Industry Association
 * American Frozen Food Institute
 * American Meat Institute
 * American Peanut Council
 * American School Food Service Association
 * American Soybean Association
 * Biscuit & Cracker Manufacturers' Association
 * California Farm Bureau Federation Association
 * Citizens Against Government Waste
 * Corn Refiners Association, Inc.
 * Food Distributors International
 * Food Marketing Institute
 * Frozen Potato Products Institute
 * Grocery Manufacturers of America
 * Institute of Shortening and Edible Oil
 * International Dairy Foods Association
 * International Food Additives Council
 * International Pharmaceutical Excipients Council of the Americas
 * Monterey County Farm Bureau
 * National Association of Manufacturers
 * National Chicken Council
 * National Corn Growers Association
 * National Cotton Council
 * National Grain & Feed Association
 * National Pasta Association
 * National Restaurant Association
 * National Soft Drink Association
 * Pet Food Institute
 * Produce Marketing Association
 * Snack Food Association
 * The Sugar Association, Inc.
 * U.S. Chamber of Commerce
 * U.S. Rice Producers Association
 * USA Rice Federation
 * United Soybean Board
 * United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association
 * United States Council for International Business
 * Western Growers Association

Contact information
Alliance for Better Foods 700 13th Street, NW Suite 800 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202-783-4573 Fax: 202-783-4574 Web: http://www.betterfoods.org

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Front groups
 * Industry-funded organizations

External articles

 * Holly Bailey, "Brave New Farm: The Battle Over Genetically-Altered Food, Money In Politics Alert, November 15, 1999.