UNDUE INFLUENCE

Description: Anti-product attack group founded in Washington, DC, in 1971 by Ralph Nader protégé Ph.D. microbiologist Michael Jacobson and two other scientists from Nader’s Center for the Study of Responsive Law. For 30 years CSPI has injected ideology, politics and fear-mongering into science to attack nearly every food product, every restaurant, and every cuisine on the market. Seeks power over the diet of all Americans through a "fat-tax" on hamburgers, french fries and soft drinks. Works to ban wine with million-dollar grants from notoriously prohibitionist trusts such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Unethically fills the public with dread over questionable claims of danger. Big Brother with a chef's knife, CSPI promotes punitive command-and-control regulation of all foods, works to block new products and remove existing ones from the market. Acts to repeal product disparagement laws so that lies can destroy legitimate products. Promotes favored vegetarian products while vilifying others (CSPI called one brand of mushroom cheeseburgers "sumo wrestler cuisine" for being too fatty), raising questions of undue influence. A broad community seriously doubts whether CSPI's output constitutes science or whether its acts are in the public interest.

Revenue and Expenses: Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2001

Michael F. Jacobson, executive director
Salary $171,867, benefits, $14,202
Ph.D. in microbiology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Began career with Ralph Nader's Center for the Study of Responsive Law
Founded CSPI in 1971 with two other Nader scientists, meteorologist James Sullivan and chemist Albert Fritsch, a Jesuit priest.

Profiles of other directors

• Kathleen F. O'Reilly, President. Attorney, member, Federal Communications Commission's Consumer/Disability Telecommunications Advisory Committee; vice-president, Philadelphia-based Cultural Environment Movement; board member, California-based TURN (The Utility Reform Network); former Executive Director of the Wisconsin Citizen Utilities Board; former executive director, Consumer Federation of America; on-air consumer/legal correspondent for NBC’s "Today Show," regular guest, "Good Morning America", "MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour." Residential ratepayer representative, Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions’ Network Reliability Steering Committee. Georgetown University Law Center graduate.
• Mark Ingram, Treasurer. President, Ingram CPA Review (offers courses to pass Certified Public Accountant exams).
• Anne Baxter, Director. Movie actress, 2 Academy Awards, best actress, 1962 ("The Miracle Worker"), best actress, 1967 ("The Graduate").
• David Hensler, Director. Attorney, Hogan and Hartson (Washington, D.C).
• Deborah Szekely, Director. President, Szekely Family Foundation (San Diego, California); board member, Partners for Livable Communities, Youth Service America, National Council of La Raza, Partners of the Americas Foundation, the Menninger Foundation, and Committee of 200 Foundation. 1984-1990, president & CEO, Inter-American Foundation, an independent government agency helping the poor in the Caribbean and Latin America; businesswoman, founded series of health spas, Rancho La Puerta (1940), The Golden Door (1958), Fitness Resorts (1972). Many other activities.
• Diane Maceachern, Director. Founder, Vanguard Communications (Washington, D.C. public relations and food propaganda mill); author, Save Our Planet: 750 Everyday Ways You Can Help Clean Up the Earth and Enough is Enough: The Hellraiser's Guide to Community Activism;  environmental commentator for "Talk Radio Countdown."
• Sushma Palmer, Director. Chairman, Center for Communications, Health and the Environment.
• William Corr, Director. Executive vice-president, National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids. Salary: $183,340, benefits $29,773.
• Tom Gegax, Director. Founder and chairman of Tires Plus, $200 million retail chain, sold to Firestone in 2000; seminar pitchman and guru of "The Enlightened Executive" program; author, Winning in the Game of Life: Self-Coaching Secrets for Success.

Grants to Center for Science in the Public Interest:

Foundation Name: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Abstract: For technical assistance, training, and communications to support state and local alcohol policy development
Amount: $749,999       Year Authorized: 2001
Duration: 3-year grant

Foundation Name: The John Merck Fund
Abstract: For Integrity in Science Campaign, which will eliminate threats to sound science and its publicly beneficial applications when academic research is excessively influenced by industry's financial support
Amount: $50,000       Year Authorized: 2000 

Foundation Name: Park Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For extra costs associated with new advertising campaign, development of web site, and production of more printed materials than originally envisioned, Campus for Alcohol Culture Change Project
Amount: $20,739       Year Authorized: 2000  

Foundation Name: Park Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For Campus Alcohol Culture Change Project
Amount: $46,000       Year Authorized: 2000 

Foundation Name: Park Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For media campaign to combat binge drinking at Campbell University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Amount: $76,165       Year Authorized: 2000 

Foundation Name: Park Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For Nutrition Education and Advocacy Campaign
Amount: $125,000       Year Authorized: 2000 

Foundation Name: Helena Rubinstein Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For public education and research on health effects of antibiotic resistance
Amount: $25,000       Year Authorized: 2002 

Foundation Name: Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation, Inc.
 Amount: $15,000       Year Authorized: 2000 

Foundation Name: The Rockefeller Foundation
Abstract: Toward costs of project to broaden public debate on genetic engineering in agriculture and to encourage improved regulations in biotechnology
Amount: $200,000       Year Authorized: 2000 

Foundation Name: Park Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For media campaign to combat binge drinking at Campbell University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Amount: $100,000       Year Authorized: 1999 

Foundation Name: Park Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For media campaign to combat binge drinking at Campbell University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Amount: $66,035       Year Authorized: 1999 

Foundation Name: The Joyce Foundation
Abstract: For antibiotics-resistance project
Amount: $140,000       Year Authorized: 2000
Duration: 1.50-year grant  

Foundation Name: The New York Community Trust
Abstract: To reform policies regarding scientific conflicts of interest concerning the environment and health
Amount: $50,000       Year Authorized: 2000 

Foundation Name: Wallace Genetic Foundation, Inc.
Amount: $30,000       Year Authorized: 1999 

Foundation Name: Deer Creek Foundation
Abstract: For Foodspeak, free-speech campaign to oppose food disparagement laws
Amount: $65,000       Year Authorized: 1999

Foundation Name: Park Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For continued support for study to evaluate food additives and provide information to the general public
Amount: $95,000       Year Authorized: 1998  

Foundation Name: Park Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For media campaign to combat binge drinking at Campbell University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Amount: $100,000       Year Authorized: 1998 

Foundation Name: Park Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For media campaign to combat binge drinking at Campbell University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Amount: $100,000       Year Authorized: 1998  

Foundation Name: Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation, Inc.
Amount: $15,000       Year Authorized: 1998  

Foundation Name: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Abstract: For technical assistance, training, and communications to support state and local alcohol policy development
Amount: $196,894       Year Authorized: 1999 

Foundation Name: Helena Rubinstein Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For education initiative on dangers of antibiotic resistance
Amount: $15,000       Year Authorized: 1999 

Foundation Name: Public Welfare Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For FoodSpeak Project, coalition of civil liberty, health, environmental, public interest, media and law groups dedicated ensuring freedom of expression concerning food and food safety
Amount: $50,000       Year Authorized: 1999 

Foundation Name: Park Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For Media Campaign to Combat Binge Drinking at CU and UNC-Chapel Hill
Amount: $127,655       Year Authorized: 1997 

Foundation Name: Park Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: To evaluate safety of common food additives
Amount: $90,000       Year Authorized: 1997 

Foundation Name: Park Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For research and advocacy project to reduce drinking at CU and UNC-Chapel Hill
Amount: $16,747       Year Authorized: 1997

Foundation Name: Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation, Inc.
Amount: $15,000       Year Authorized: 1997 

Foundation Name: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Abstract: For technical assistance and training to support community alcohol policy development
Amount: $185,032       Year Authorized: 1997

Foundation Name: The Boston Foundation, Inc.
 Amount: $10,000       Year Authorized: 1998 

Foundation Name: S. H. Cowell Foundation
Abstract: For alcoholism programs
Amount: $50,000       Year Authorized: 1997  

Foundation Name: Helena Rubinstein Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For research projects on antibiotic resistance and olestra
Amount: $20,000       Year Authorized: 1999 

Foundation Name: Park Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For research and public education related to food additives
Amount: $25,000       Year Authorized: 1996 

Foundation Name: The Gordon Fund
Amount: $10,000       Year Authorized: 1996 

Foundation Name: Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation, Inc.
Amount: $15,000       Year Authorized: 1996  

Foundation Name: S. H. Cowell Foundation
Amount: $10,000       Year Authorized: 1996

Foundation Name: Helena Rubinstein Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For public education on health effects of olestra fat substitute
Amount: $20,000       Year Authorized: 1998  

Foundation Name: Helena Rubinstein Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: For general support and toward work on olestra, new fat substitute
Amount: $20,000       Year Authorized: 1997 

Foundation Name: Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation, Inc.
 Amount: $15,000       Year Authorized: 1995 

Foundation Name: S. H. Cowell Foundation
Abstract: For Alcohol Policies project
Amount: $100,000       Year Authorized: 1995
Duration: 2-year grant  

Foundation Name: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Abstract: To develop community resource guide to address off-campus binge drinking
Amount: $78,000       Year Authorized: 1996  

Foundation Name: S. H. Cowell Foundation
Abstract: For general support of Alcohol Project
Amount: $50,000       Year Authorized: 1994 

Foundation Name: Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation, Inc.
 Amount: $15,000       Year Authorized: 1994 

Foundation Name: S. H. Cowell Foundation
 Amount: $40,000       Year Authorized: 1993 

Foundation Name: Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation, Inc.
 Amount: $15,000       Year Authorized: 1993 

Foundation Name: Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation, Inc.
 Amount: $15,000       Year Authorized: 1991 

Foundation Name: Wallace Genetic Foundation, Inc.
Amount: $10,000       Year Authorized: 1991 

Foundation Name: The Pew Charitable Trusts
Abstract: For Americans for Safe Food project to bring together environmental, consumer and farm groups to promote adoption of sustainable agricultural programs at state level
Amount: $80,000       Year Authorized: 1991
Duration: 2-year grant 

Foundation Name: The George Gund Foundation
Abstract: For Americans for Safe Food project, supporting state-wide initiatives in sustainable agriculture and organic food standards
Amount: $15,000       Year Authorized: 1991 

Foundation Name: Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation, Inc.
 Amount: $15,000       Year Authorized: 1990

Foundation Name: J. Roderick MacArthur Foundation
Abstract: For Study of Media Censorship project of Center for the Study of Commercialism to document and expose censorship in the media because of attempts by corporate advertisers to censor speech hostile to their commercial interests
Amount: $14,020       Year Authorized: 1991 

Foundation Name: Wallace Genetic Foundation, Inc.
 Amount: $15,000       Year Authorized: 1990 

Foundation Name: C.S. Fund
Abstract: For Americans for Safe Food Project, which works to ensure availability of chemical-free food supply
Amount: $15,000       Year Authorized: 1991  

Foundation Name: Ruth Mott Fund
Abstract: For national health promotion program with minority organizations to reduce death and disease rates due to drugs, alcohol, and smoking
Amount: $12,500       Year Authorized: 1989  

Foundation Name: Ruth Mott Fund
Abstract: For start-up funding for Minority Health Project
Amount: $10,000       Year Authorized: 1989

Foundation Name: S. H. Cowell Foundation
Abstract: For National Resource Center on Alcohol Taxation
Amount: $75,000       Year Authorized: 1989
Duration: 2-year grant  

Foundation Name: C.S. Fund
Abstract: For second year of two-year grant to Americans for Safe Food project, which works to ensure availability of chemical-free food supply
Amount: $30,000       Year Authorized: 1990

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