Feed the Truth is a left-of-center grant making and political advocacy organization that focuses on issues related to the food industry. 1 It was founded by Daniel Lubetzky, the billionaire founder of health-focused snack-food brand Kind Healthy Snacks. 1
History
On February 15, 2017, billionaire Daniel Lubetzky, the founder of Kind Healthy Snacks, founded Feed the Truth and pledged $25 million to the organization, though he claims that he is not personally involved in managing the organization. Lubetzky appointed advisors to Feed the Truth drawn from the public-health sector such as Debra Eschmeyer, the former executive director of Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative, and Michael Jacobson, 2 co-founder, former executive, and current senior scientist of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, 3 a “pro-regulation” advocacy organization 4 that has sought to implement burdensome new food regulations, corporate policies and prohibitions. 5
Activity
Feed the Truth makes grants to various organizations including the UCLA Foundation, Tufts University, and Healthy Food America. 6 It also publishes reports about issues in the food industry such as how the food and agriculture industry influences politics through lobbying. 7
Feed the Truth sponsored a petition that demanded companies server their ties to the U.S Chamber of Commerce, accusing it of voter suppression. 8 Feed the Truth also led sessions on issues relating to women for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 9
Feed the Truth is one of the approximately 250 members of the Declaration for American Democracy, 10 a coalition of left-of-center activist groups that advocates for rolling back election integrity laws, restrictions on campaign speech, and automatic voter registration. 11
People
Daniel Lubetzky is the founder of Feed the Truth, making an initial contribution of $5 million to the organization and pledging an additional $20 million over ten years. He launched the organization on February 15, 2017. 12
Lubetzky is the founder and majority owner of the snack bar company Kind Healthy Snacks and has a net worth of $2.1B. Prior to founding Kind in 2004, Lubetzky established PeaceWorks, a marketing, distribution, and consulting company that specialized in selling items produced by groups in conflict in 1994. He graduated from Trinity University of San Antonio with a bachelor’s degree in economics and international relations. He also graduated from Stanford Law School. 13
References
- “Kind Bar Founder Launches Feed The Truth Health Organization.” Food Republic. Last modified February 16, 2017. https://www.foodrepublic.com/2017/02/16/kind-bar-founder-launches-public-health-organization/.
- [1] “Kind Bar Founder Launches Feed The Truth Health Organization.” Food Republic. Last modified February 16, 2017. https://www.foodrepublic.com/2017/02/16/kind-bar-founder-launches-public-health-organization/.
- “Michael Jacobson, PhD.” Center for Science in the Public Interest. Last modified March 23, 2022. https://www.cspinet.org/biography/michael-jacobson-0.
- Sullum, Jacob. “Loco Over Four Loko.” Reason.com. Last modified February 19, 2020. https://reason.com/2011/02/15/loco-over-four-loko/.
- “Our Victories.” Center for Science in the Public Interest. Last modified October 13, 2022. https://www.cspinet.org/about/victories.
- “Feed the Truth.” Cause IQ. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/feed-the-truth,814944037/.
- Doering, Christopher. “NRA Among Largest Food Donors to Campaigns and Lobbyists, Study Finds.” Restaurant Dive. Last modified February 25, 2021. https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/nra-among-largest-food-donors-to-campaigns-and-lobbyists-study-finds/595735/
- “Sign the Petition to Corporations: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Funds Voter Suppression. Time to Cut Ties.” Action Network. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-the-petition-to-corporations-us-chamber-of-commerce-funds-voter-suppression-time-to-cut-ties.
- “Women Are Key for Sustainable Food Systems and Eliminating Hunger and Malnutrition.” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.fao.org/gender/news/detail/en/c/1318879/.
- “Declaration for American Democracy.” Declaration for American Democracy. Last modified October 20, 2022. https://dfadcoalition.org/.
- “About.” Declaration for American Democracy. Last modified September 20, 2021. https://dfadcoalition.org/about/.
- “KIND Snacks Founder & CEO Creates New Organization to Promote Public Health Over Special Interests.” PR Newswire. Last modified February 15, 2017. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kind-snacks-founder–ceo-creates-new-organization-to-promote-public-health-over-special-interests-300407636.html.
- “Daniel Lubetzky.” World Economic Forum. Accessed February 5, 2023. https://www.weforum.org/people/daniel-lubetzky.