Neil Young says "Goodbye" to Starbucks and urges fans to follow suit after an alleged role of the coffee shop chain against Vermont over its requirements to label genetically modified ingredients in food.
Young published a post in his web site last Nov.9 titled "Goodbye Starbucks" saying that the Seattle-based company has "sue Vermont, and stop accurate food labelling."
His petition already got 321,124 signatures as of Sunday evening, and plans to collect 500,000.
Young also name-dropped the Grocery Manufacturers Association, a group of over 300 food, beverage and consumer product companies, saying that the group is conniving with the popular coffee shop chain.
"Hiding behind the shadowy 'Grocery Manufacturers Association,' Starbucks is supporting a lawsuit that's aiming to block a landmark law that requires genetically-modified ingredients be labeled," Young wrote.
"Amazingly, it claims that the law is an assault on corporations' right to free speech."
Starbucks denied the allegations saying that it is not against Vermont regarding the GMO issue.
In a statement on its website, Starbucks said a petition Young directed his followers to is baseless and untruthful.
"Starbucks is not a part of any lawsuit pertaining to GMO labeling nor have we provided funding for any campaign. And Starbucks is not aligned with Monsanto to stop food labeling or block Vermont State law.
GMA, on the other hand replied to Young's allegations on June 13 deeming the Vermont's labelling law as unconstitutional.
"Vermont's mandatory GMO labeling law - Act 120 - is a costly and misguided measure that will set the nation on a path toward a 50-state patchwork of GMO labeling policies that do nothing to advance the health and safety of consumers," reads GMA's post.
"Act 120 exceeds the state's authority under the United States Constitution and in light of this, GMA has filed a complaint in federal district court in Vermont seeking to enjoin this senseless mandate."
The legendary rock singer remains firm to stand by Vermont in this epic GMO battle, "It's a classic David and Goliath fight," Young writes. "There's much more at stake here than just whether GMO foods will be labeled in a single U.S. state. Vermont is the very first state in the U.S. to require labeling. Dozens of other states have said that they will follow this path - in order to encourage this, we need to ensure that Vermont's law stands strong."
