GoodFuels

Need 4 FoodB4Fuel Disclosure

“Full disclosure” is a term often used by bloggers or other commentators – sometimes even by regular media – to note when they are talking about a subject in which they have a vested interest.

If you look at this site, for example, you will find on the side bar a link to our contributors. They include myself, my husband and partner Chuck, and two staff members of the Renewable Fuels Association – the sponsors of this blog. That is full disclosure. It tells you who we are and what we do. Yes, we have an agenda. It is to tell the good news about ethanol that often gets overlooked in all the negative hype that is being regurgitated by the media these days.

It seems like there is a need for full disclosure on a blog called “Foodb4fuel.com.” This “Recent News/Blog” link off the main “Foodb4fuel” website offers NO disclosure about its contributors, who are identified only as “foodb4fuel” or “kernel.”

Even the main website offers no information about who is behind the effort, although there are clues. Under the “Take Action” link, they offer a way to “compose and edit a letter to Administrator Johnson of the EPA and send cc faxes to your US Senators and Governor.” They’ll even start the letter for you and let you edit it!

They ask you to choose a category that “best represents your perspective.” Those choices include: consumer, poultry producer, cattle rancher, restauranteur (their incorrect spelling, not mine), environmentalist, concerned Texan, protein industry employee (what is that?), and supermarket employee.

According to informed sources, the website and blog are creations of the Glover Park Group, the PR firm hired by the Grocery Manufacturers Association for the express purpose of smearing ethanol. It would be nice if that were transparent.