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Posted October 6, 2014
Colorado voters have rejected a measure requiring the labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMO) as a food ingredient, according to a Yahoo News article by Carey Gilliam available here. NPR also published an article available here, Wall Street Journal here, and Reuters here.
A similar measure in Oregon is also headed for defeat.
Corporate food and agriculture groups have invested more than $36 million into anti-labeling campaigns between the two states. Previous measures from 2012 in California and Washington were defeated by this tactic.
Colorado voters rejected the labeling initiative, with 66 percent voting against, and 34 percent in favor, according to NPR.
In Oregon, fewer 51 percent were against the measure. Oregon also invested more money into political advertisements than Colorado.
Polling prior to the GMO labeling vote in Colorado, a Suffolk University poll found that only 29 percent of registered voters favored the measure, while 49 percent were opposed. A Denver Post pollrevealed that 59 percent were opposed to GMO labeling in Colorado, while 34 percent in favor.
Labeling foods as “genetically engineered” is more likely to discourage certain consumers from purchasing the product. Food companies are also worried about the precedent it would set. If states require information identifying GMO ingredients, it could result in other label requirements, such as identifying a product’s greenhouse-gas footprint, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Connecticut and Maine have passed GMO labeling laws, but the law in both states is not in effect until other states pass labeling bills. Vermont passed a mandatory labeling law that will go into effect in 2016, but opponents have sued to block the law, according to Reuters.
For more information on the GMO labeling, the National Agricultural Law Center is hosting a webinar and information is available on the website here.
For more information on food labeling, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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