The Kraft Boycott began as part of National Farm— er's Union campaign to obtain collective bargain— ing rights for Ontario Dairy Farmers. It is now a symbol of huge corpor- ations' control of the quality of food we eat and an example of another Am- erican Company buying out and controlling another Canadian industry. Kraft is 100% American contro— lled.

‘In July 1971, National Farmers Union attempted to meet with large Dairy ProcesSors in Ontario to discuss the matter of neg- otiating a milk price. Borden and Carnation both agreed to meet with us — Kraft refused. With the government doing nothing to help rectify the sit- uation, the National Far— mers Union started the Kraft Boycott in August, 1971. '

The aim of the Kraft Boycott is two-fold; first, to show peeple there is not any recognition of farmer's rights to barg- ain with those to whom they sell their products; secondly, to show consum« ers they are at the mercy of the food corporation.

Kraft dominates North American cheese market. From a near monopoly position it controls the price paid to the producer

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' Kraft Boycott

and the price paid by the consumer. -

In 1970 Kraft profits were 82 million dollars and they spent 68 million dollars on advertising.

A little over a year ago Kraft was fined $5,000 for false advertising and the judge stated that Kraft "treated Canadians like imbeciles".

Quotes from Ralph Nader's

study group report on the Food and Drug Administra— tion in U.S.—

The Chemical Feast:

Page 85..."one Food and Drug Administration offic— ial believes that Kraft has been responsible for a major decline in the quality of cheese made in the U.S.A. but the agency can do nothing about it

in spite of various cheese standards."

Page 129..."three of the most important loopholes in the (American) law were the "distinctive name" provision, the failure to require an indication of tquality on labels and the failure to require thei‘ food products clearly id- entify their contents on labels. The distinctive name provision in the 1906 Act meant that if a man— ufacturer was clever enou- gh to think up a distinct- ive designation for his product, it would not

haVe to meet standards for similar products under law. One such item was Kraft's Miracle Whip, which appeared to be a salad dressing but did not have

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to meet dressing standards because it was designated as a "whip". Kraft and Borden use the distinctive name clause of the law to escape requirements for process cheese. These ch— eeses gave Kraft and Bor— den a way of using up un- salable cheeses. The low quality, hard and mold cheese that the public will not buy can be conditioned, ground up, heated and com- bined with salt, water and an emulsifying agent then poured into packages ready for sale. Velveeta and Borden's Chateau were sim— ilar to process cheeses and avoided standardiza— tion...”

Here on Prince Edward Island it was this past spring before we really started any serious action. In June there was an in— formational picket held at Towers store with mem- bers of N.F.U., labour union members and members of the student body part— icipating. Again in Sept— ember another picketing action was held at K—Mart and at Ellis Brothers. Both were considered succ—

essful and well received. Many people stated they were already boycotting Kraft products and many people expressed concern with the fact that their food costs were soaring; ’yet, they realized it was not the farmer who was receiving the increased profit. Many pieces of literature were distribu— ted at both actions.

The Kraft Boycott is now placing emphasis on rural—urban alliance which“ can lead to a deeper under- standing of the problem faced by both urban and rural people.

We are planning another informational picket in the near futur but as yet have not decided no a def— inate date or location.

We will be holding a meet—

ing at Research Station on

Monday, September 30,1974

at 8:30 p.m.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

1) Do not buy Kraft Prod- ucts.

2) Ask your parents and friends not to buy Kraft Products.

3) Get further information

' on Kraft and the alter—

natives to Kraft prod— ucts. There are alter— natives available.

4) Ask your grocer to try to obtain alternatives to Kraft products if. he does not already have them on his shel— ves.

5) Tell your grocery store manager you are boycott— ing Kraft products.

6) Help us in our inform— ational picketing act- ions

For further information contact: Lorna Mayne, Kensington . R.R.#6 Dianne MacDonald 105 Euston Ch'town.

Kraft Boycott Box 701 Kingston, Ontario.