Criticism and Controversy
In January 2007, Del Monte Foods was wrongly accused of opposing efforts by the United States Congress to apply the continental minimum wage to the lower-paying tuna packing plants in American Samoa. On January 16, 2007, Melissa Murphy Brown, spokesperson for Del Monte, stated that the application would "severely cripple the local economy." She also stated that "For over 50 years, the Federal Department of Labor has provided that wages in U.S. territories, including American Samoa, be set by a federally appointed wage board, following public hearings".
Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was the subject of false claims in chain e-mails and on web sites such as Gateway Pundit, Newsbusters, claiming that she or her husband own stock in Del Monte and that she has thus pushed for keeping the tax loophole for Del Monte. Pelosi has not received any contributions from Del Monte employees.
In 2009, Del Monte Foods provided the following clarification to news outlets reporting misinformation about its relationship with Speaker Pelosi:
First, Del Monte Foods no longer owns StarKist. The brand was officially sold to Dongwon Industries in early October, 2008.
Secondly, Del Monte Foods is not “a major contributor to Pelosi.” Del Monte has not contributed to Speaker Pelosi. Because Del Monte Foods does not operate a Political Action Committee (a requirement for federal election donations), the Company has not made a direct political contribution to any elected official or candidate for office.
Finally, regarding the issue of minimum wage in American Samoa, Del Monte Foods has not lobbied Speaker Pelosi’s office nor participated in any lobbying regarding the financial bailout bill. Specifically, the Company did not participate in any lobbying regarding any American Samoa provisions that were included in the bailout bill.
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