Months ago we learned that the American Academy of Pediatrics was in a sponsorship relationship with Monsanto, a chemical company and makers of DDT, PCBs, Agent Orange, glyphosate & GMOs. In fact, Monsanto has been deemed the 3rd most hated company in the United States by the Harris Poll this year measuring “reputation quotient” which basically means how people feel about them. Baffled by this relationship our founder, Leah Segedie contacted the AAP through a close friend and colleague, and was put in touch with their Public Affairs team.
“I was completely shocked that the American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization that moms put their trust in at some of the most vulnerable times in their lives was associating with a company that didn’t elicit trust at all. I knew this association was potentially damaging to the AAP and that Monsanto was getting far more out of it than pediatricians ever would. And it puzzled me that this type of unholy alliance would have ever been allowed, so I contacted them and was very honest and candid about what Monsanto represents to moms. And after a couple of months they got back to me right before ShiftCon Social Media Conference so I could announce to the entire eco-wellness blogging community that weekend,” said Leah.
Monsanto has seemed to have a bad year. The World Health Organization categorized glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup which is sprayed on over 78% of genetically engineered crops and 200 additional crops, a probable carcinogen. And months following that announcement, the California Environmental Protection Agency announced their intention of placing glyphosate on their carcinogen list which means it comes with a Prop. 65 warning on the label. From all of these setbacks, it seems Monsanto has lost control of the political spin. But in our nation’s capital, another battleground has formed. The House has just passed H.R. 1599 dubbed as the “Deny Americans the Right to Know Act” or the DARK Act, which prevents genetically engineered ingredients from ever being labeled by any state in the United States. With Vermont’s labeling laws going into effect next year, this could pose a big problem for mandatory labeling. The U.S. Senate is now considering taking up this issue and no one knows what will happen.
But Monsanto has not been the only company that has seen controversy this year. The vaccination debate has raged in communities all over the United States after a Measles outbreak in Orange County, California. California also passed legislation forcing children attending public schools to be vaccinated, which has sparked outrage in certain wellness communities and has made AAP very sensitive to anything that would damage their reputation with mothers. “I feel like they are struggling with their image right now and want to show moms they are trustworthy. And they are willing to prove themselves by shedding relationships that may not be helping them. And at the very least, shedding relationships where it’s uneven. Monsanto was definitely getting far more out of that one than they were. I don’t think they struggled with it at all. It may have felt like dumping a bad boyfriend that never calls.”
And that wasn’t the only company she expressed concern about, Coca Cola was also a sponsor she had some major reservations about. Coca Cola has given The American Academy of Pediatrics over $3 million dollars over the past 6 years. “Standing next to sugary soda at a time when childhood obesity and Type 2 Diabetes rates were going through the roof seemed oxymoronic at the very least. And during that first meeting, they expressed to me that Coke was gone. That told me right away they were concerned about image and were taking these concerns by mothers VERY seriously.”
The AAP kept in touch with Leah Segedie over those months ensuring her that her concerns were being addressed and they were meeting about them behind closed doors. And just before she was about to host the 2nd annual ShiftCon Social Media Conference, she got a phone call from their Public Affairs Team to tell her the good news–the American Academy of Pediatrics is severing ties with Monsanto at the end of the year. “They made sure to tell me right before the conference so I could announce it on the stage to all the eco-wellness and mom bloggers there. I’m overjoyed they made this decision and am very excited to continue this relationship with them. I think we are all turning a corner…pediatricians, moms, food companies and social media. As long as we put our priorities on the health of our children and communities, things are going to keep getting better.”
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The American Academy of Pediatrics cutting ties with Monsanto reflects a great step forward in the fight against the most dangerous corporation in the world today. Thank God there are a few positive steps forward by progressive organizations that count!
I just received email from Organic consumers assoc. about this This is awesome that you have persuaded them to do this. Hats off to mamavation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS!
-Tom O’Toole
Leah Segedie, you rock! From one vigilant mother to another, thank you for having the courage, personal integrity, and follow through to inspire transformation within AAP! Keep up the amazing work! Please help us take on forced vaccinations. Forced vaccinations for children that are already sick form GMOs, glyphosate, hidden MSG, and HFCS is a crime! These children are in no shape to have live attenuated viruses injected like measles, mumps, and rubella into their bodies with adjuvants like polysorbate-80 and sorbitol, designed to break down the blood-brain-barrier. These viruses do not need to be in our children’s brains. When they reach the brain, they have the potential to trigger a cascade of brain encephaly, seizures, and learning disabilities. Let’s keep up the pressure and encourage AAP to adopt a more conservative approach to vaccine schedules.
Why were Monsanto and any medical association ever partnered IN THE FIRS PLACE? Why was Monsanto partnered with a group claiming the responsibility of the health and well-being of our children, the American Academy of Pediatrics?
What other relationships does the American Academy of Pediatrics have with other companies that we now need to flesh out given that they lacked the discretion or were paid to join Monsanto?
The premise of the partnership with Monsanto, and now the 3 months it will take to sever ties that should not have existed in the first place, this is DISTURBING.
Matthew, the contract probably runs out at the end of the year. If it’s not completed, then AAP will probably have to pay back Monsanto several years worth of “sponsorship” money.
Monsanto and its glyphosate are responsible for the hike in autism, but in every case the child was vaccinated by these fine pediatricians who pander vaccines though they never work and 7 million children are autistic because these doctors hate children. And therefore we will start harming doctors who vaccinate, harming them to death, the only solution to pedophiles. Get serious doctors cause autism and it will cost them their lives.
As for Monsanto and the Drug companies we can become healthy and bankrupt these evil ass holes, but to make our point the war on science has begun and if you do the math we win they loose. WE spend the money and we can kill doctors who vaccinate. The ties to the drug companies is where doctors must draw the line, especially Merck and its
54 year old black shark CEO, who may find a bounty on is head.
Screw with kids you grand pedophiles and we will hang to death, after castrating you. This is not a joke.
I’m not a Mom but I want to congratulate you for ensuring better health for children through your efforts convincing the American Academy of Pediatrics to sever ties with Monsanto! Good work!
Thank you so much for your advocacy and for shedding light on the AAP’s unethical practices with Monsanto. Keep up the good work. I will subscribe shortly. Best, Tara
This news makes me so happy! I think some of our trusted resources just need to know that moms are paying attention when they form these type of relationships and they will do the right thing… dump the bad boyfriend!