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In my role as a vice president of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), I learned a lot about what drives the price of food.
While the price of corn affects chicken much more than Cheetos, commodity costs — along with energy, transportation and labor—are among the biggest variables in the price of producing food. But it turns out that the price you pay for food is driven by much more complex factors than just the cost of making it. Everything from competition among retailers to competition among brands to shopper demographics influences the price on the package.
What I also learned is that adding a few words to a label has no impact on the price of making or selling food.
…Food companies tell consumers lots about their food, ranging from the amount of fat in their potpies to whether their orange juice is made from concentrate. Giving consumers the right to choose whether to buy products containing GE ingredients doesn't mean that most or even many consumers will buy organic or non-GE foods. But it will give American consumers the right to make choices for their families — just like consumers in 64 other nations.
Scott Faber, Former
Vice President at the Grocery
Manufacturers Association
Note: About Yes on 522: Yes on 522 provides Washington shoppers with more information about what’s in the food they buy so that they can make the best decisions for their families. More than 350,000 signatures were collected to get I-522 on the November 2013 ballot—second highest number of signatures gathered for an Initiative to the Legislature in state history. www.yeson522.com
Editor’s Note:This article first appeared on www.hometowndebate.com 10/11/13. If you would like to respond to this story go to hometowndebate.com
