GMO Labeling Law Loses in Washington

The GMO labeling ballot initiative was defeated in Tuesday’s voting. The initiative, I-522, would have made manufacturers label foods made from genetically engineered (GE) and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Washington state voting is done by mail, so votes will be counted until December 5, 2013. Yes on 522 is currently behind by almost 8 points and unlikely to make up the difference. And just like the fight for Prop 37 in California, early polls indicated strong support for the initiative, which declined after a media campaign blitz by corporations.

Other states that have labeling laws include Connecticut and Maine, but those laws will not go into effect until five other states have passed similar laws. Next year, which is an election year, more than 20 other states may have GMO labeling laws on the ballot. At this time in the U.S., about 70% of processed foods are made with GMO ingredients.

Opponents of I-522 spend more than $20 million, while supporters of the labeling law spent only $8 million. Those funding the fight against labeling included Cola-Cola, Dow AgroSciences, Bayer CropScience, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), Monsanto, Dupont, and Nestle. Organizations that support labeling include the Center for Food Safety and the Organic Consumers Association, along with individual donations from Washington residents.

The Center for Food Safety wrote an article last month about the Grocery Manufacturers Association possibly violating state campaign disclosure laws, concealing how they raised money and hiding their list of donors. Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a complaint against GMA in October 2013. After the complaint was filed, GMA released its donor list.