Count the Sambazon team among those organic beverage entrepreneurs — including Mama Chia’s Janie Hoffman and Honest Tea’s Seth Goldman — who are publicly supporting Proposition 37, which would force companies using Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) to label their products as such.
The company announced today that it had donated $10,000 to the California Right to Know campaign, which is organizing support for the ballot measure.
Many of the largest food and beverage companies, including Coca-Cola Co., Inc., PepsiCo, General Mills, and others are attempting to defeat Prop. 37.
Statement from Sambazon CEO Ryan Black is in the press release, below:
Sambazon Partners with California Right to Know Campaign to Encourage Consumers to Vote Yes on Proposition 37
Amazon Superfoods Company Stakes Claim in Fight Against GMOs
San Clemente, Calif. (Oct. 2, 2012) – Sambazon, the pioneer of organic Amazon superfoods, today announced its support of Proposition 37, the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act, which, if passed, will mandate that labels of all food and beverages sold in the state of California disclose if the product contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Sambazon is endorsing the initiative with a $10,000 donation to the California Right to Know campaign fund, California’s official Prop 37 organization and headquarters, and the company has committed to help educate and inspire consumers to join the non-GMO movement and vote “yes” on Prop 37 on Nov. 6.
“We have a right to know what’s in our food, plain and simple,” said Ryan Black, CEO and founder of Sambazon. “Multi-national food organizations and chemical companies are pumping over $30 million into defeating GMO labeling initiatives. This is an affront to transparency and runs counter to peoples’ desire to know what is actually in their food. Polls show more than 90 percent of Americans support the labeling of genetically modified food. We are committed to getting the word out about an issue that’s integral to us at Sambazon and the vast majority of consumers.”
In an effort to energize people to take action in the Food Label Transparency Movement, Sambazon will also launch social media and grassroots efforts through a campaign called “Knowledge is Bliss.”
“Our support of California Prop 37 and the national Just Label It campaign flows from our belief that arming consumers with information to make educated choices about what they feed themselves and their families is fundamental,” continued Black. “Industrialized food corporations may prefer that we dwell in ignorance, but we believe knowledge and transparency is the best path forward. This is not a novel notion, as 40 plus countries already require labeling of genetically modified food. It’s time for us to take a stand in the United States and California Prop 37 is the front line of the battle for transparency, so that’s where we stand ready to fight for our right to know.”
Sambazon offers a diverse portfolio of delicious and sustainable fresh juices, smoothies, sorbets and frozen smoothie packs to energize the soul and help people everywhere attain Alegria – or “soulful contentment.” All Sambazon products are vegan, gluten free, USDA certified organic, Ecocert Fair Trade and Non-GMO Project verified. Sambazon is widely available in natural health food stores, grocers and juice bars throughout North America. For more information and delicious recipe ideas visit www.sambazon.com.
About Sambazon
Founded in 2000, Sambazon is the pioneer of organic Amazon Superfoods, providing fresh juices, smoothies, energy drinks and frozen products made from delicious blends of wild-harvested Brazilian fruits and plants like açaí, acerola and guarana. Sambazon is committed to sharing superfood wellness with the world in a way that consciously benefits people and planet. Its Non-GMO Project Verified, USDA Organic and their Fair Trade partnership helps to protect the Amazon rainforest and benefits more than 10,000 family farmers, while bringing consumers the next level in superfood nutrition. Today, Sambazon is widely available in natural health food stores, grocers and juice bars throughout North America. To energize your body and soul, visit www.sambazon.com.
About California Right to Know
The Yes on 37 California Right to Know Campaign is supported by 2,000 endorsing organizations across the state who are working to give California consumers the right to know, through simple labeling, about genetically engineered ingredients in their food. For more information, to get involved in the campaign, or to donate, visit www.carighttoknow.org.
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