Center for Consumer Freedom

The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF ) is a resident of the United States of America, tax-exempt under U.S. law, non-profit organization, which as such is not obliged to provide information on their members and donors. On the basis of notices to the tax authorities and on the basis of publications by members and donors are some member companies, including Philip Morris and Coca -Cola, become known.

In the interests of its member companies, the CCF criticized, among other things, the work of health authorities, the animal rights organization PETA, Humane Society of the United States, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other organizations. The word construct Consumer Freedom is the right of consumers call, " to decide for themselves how they live, what they eat and drink as they can manage their finances and how they amuse themselves ."

Members and financing

The establishment of the formerly known as the Guest Choice Network organization came from the tobacco company Philip Morris International, which provided an initial capital of U.S. $ 600,000 available, which was increased by a further $ 300,000 in the following year. According to an internal communication of the company Philip Morris in 1996, the company was the only patron at that time. Is operated by the Center for Consumer Freedom from the PR company Berman and Company. In December 1996, Anheuser -Busch also included the company Alliance Gaming ( slot machines ), ( beer), Bruss Company ( meat products), Cargill Processed Meat Products, Davidoff (cigars ), Harrah's ( casinos ), Overhill Farms ( frozen products ), Philip Morris and Standard meat Company ( meat products) to the supporters of the organization. Passed the governing bodies of the organization and consist of representatives of many companies and representatives of the food industry, as well as Carl Vogt as representatives of the Fulbright & Jaworski law firm, James Spector Philip Morris and John Doyle of the American Beverage Institute. According to information from 2005, the presiding director Richard Berman, David Martosko is the official spokesperson for the organization.

In subsequent years, the organization won other donors, but was still substantially dependent on the financial support of the big companies. According to the tax notice for the second half of 1999 were revenues of USD 111 642, - for, of which $ 105,000 -, - were assigned to six donors not mentioned. Control messages of the years 2002 to 2005 can be viewed on the Internet. In the latest available release for the year 2005 revenues of $ 3.7 million and expenditures are reported of $ 3.8 million ( tax-exempt organizations must according to IRS tax form 990 some basic financial data indicate).

For 2005, gives the organization to more than 1,000 individual members and has - according to Berman - another 100 member companies from. Among the companies that have confirmed their support for CCF, include Coca -Cola, Wendy's, Tyson Foods and Pilgrim 's Pride. According to published documents In addition to the listed companies include Outback Steakhouse and Cargill to other financers of the CCF. Pepsi and Kraft Foods have distanced themselves from the methods of the CCF and not include claims to the contributors.

Activities

Most of the expenditure of the CCF is done for larger campaigns ( expenditures in 2005, according to IRS Form 990: 2.2 million USD ), such as posters on central squares and advertisements in major media outlets like the New York Times. Approximately $ 850,000 was spent in 2005 according to the instructions for the operation of web sites.

A substantial part of the publications of the CCF treated topics related to food, it is about argue that many food great food manufacturers are very healthy and that there was no health hazard even when the use of pesticides. The activities of some organizations to reduce the growing obesity in society, and the associated risks to health through better nutrition were unpatriotic and against freedom. Another part of the activities focuses on the critique of consumer organizations and health authorities (eg a campaign against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ) that regulate after presentation of the CCF health risks too much, and thus consistent with the statutory requirements for allowable maximum values ​​of according to the CCF substances hazardous to health freedom would hurt. Richard Berman, the head of standing behind the CCF PR agency Berman and Company, pointed out that consumer advocates influence consumer behavior in relation to, for example, fat, sugar and tobacco. Therefore, it is important to discredit the credibility of appropriate organization. In addition, CCF is also effective against animal rights organizations, in particular against PETA. According to the website operated by CCF " PETA kills animals" PETA would needlessly euthanize animals in their care.