Washington State Voters Reject GM Food Labeling

7 Nov 2013 --- Washington state has rejected an initiative to mandate the labeling of genetically-modified food items, bringing to an end an expensive campaign that pitted several out-of-state players against each other and drew criticism for failing to make clear the merits behind such a measure.

Initiative 522 was thrown out after 54.8 percent of the state's voters opposed the labeling while 45.2 percent voted in favor. The opposition raised $22 million, setting a record for fundraising by one side in the state, with the biggest donations coming from Washington, D.C.-based Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), and corporations that produce genetically-modified foods such as St. Louis, Mo.-based Monsanto Company, Johnston, Iowa-based DuPont Pioneer and Germany’s Bayer CropScience Ltd.

Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO of the GMA, issued the following statement today in response to the I-522 election results in Washington State: "We are pleased that the voters of Washington State rejected I-522 by a significant margin. I-522 was a complex and costly proposal that would have misled consumers, raised the price of groceries for Washington families and done nothing to improve food safety.”

"The food and beverage industry is committed to providing consumers with a wide array of safe and affordable food and beverage choices.  Genetically modified food ingredients (GMOs) are safe, good for the environment, reduce the cost of food and help feed a growing global population of seven billion.”

"Because a 50-state patchwork of GMO labeling laws would be confusing and costly to consumers, GMA will advocate for a federal solution that will protect consumers by ensuring that the FDA, America's leading food safety authority, sets national standards for the safety and labeling of products made with GMO ingredients. Our country’s labeling laws have been and should continue to be based on health, safety and nutritional content.”

"We will continue to oppose individual state efforts to impose mandatory labeling of products made with GMO technology, as well as advocate for the safe and effective use of this important technology to increase the food supply while lowering cost. And we will continue to engage in an informative dialogue with our consumers on the safety, prevalence and benefits of that technology."