Dive Brief:
- Companies that are members of the Organic Trade Association have been under pressure recently as about 60 groups representing millions of consumers have demanded the companies end their OTA membership, according to a news release.
- The groups are protesting OTA's role in pushing through national mandatory GMO labeling legislation after the groups had worked for years to pass state laws.
- The groups' letter claims that without the OTA's help, the new national standard would not have become law.
Dive Insight:
It's unclear whether manufacturers would actually respond to a petition like this. Being a member of the OTA may offer certain benefits that they aren't willing to give up, even if it means going against popular opinion.
However, the sheer number of groups involved in this is significant. With that many voices united, manufacturers may go along with the request to avoid upsetting their customer base.
OTA represents a wide range of companies and products, including those beyond food and beverage. If any manufacturers do heed these groups' warnings, it could be that they represent non food or beverage products.