The genesis of this cartoon stems from a vote in California last week. The state was trying to become the first in the nation to require the labeling of genetically modified foods. In case you're wondering, sixty countries around the world already require such labeling.
Six weeks before the election polling showed that 65 percent of Californians approved of the measure, but a consortium of agribusinesses, with Monsanto leading the way, rolled up their sleeves and dumped $46 million dollars worth of misleading ads on the public airwaves. At least $15 million dollars was raised from the likes of PepsiCo, Kraft, Safeway, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Con-Agra, Kellogg's, Smuckers, Unilever (which includes Ben & Jerry's.... sob!), and Dean Foods.
As a result, the measure failed.
Personally, I don't understand how such a thing has to even come to a vote. If someone's poisoning the well you don't ask for a show of hands before you start kicking some patootie. Consumers deserve at least the option of knowing what they're eating.