GM Food Labels in Oregon Headed for NovemberBallot

GM Food Labels in Oregon Headed for NovemberBallot

PORTLAND, Ore.--More than 90,000 signatures wereturned in to the Oregon Secretary of State's office on July 5 supporting aninitiative to get a genetically modified (GM) food law passed. The hoped-for lawwould require GM food to carry a label reading "geneticallyengineered." Food additives and packaging having a GM origin would also berequired to have a label announcing such. The initiative was instigated byOregon Concerned Citizens for Safe Food.

"The initiative itself is a consumer choice issue,"said Donna Harris, one of the chief petitioners and member of Oregon ConcernedCitizens for Safe Food. "As a consumer, I should have the right to know ifmy food has been genetically altered and how."

The Grocery Manufacturers of America is opposed to theinitiative, stating the Oregon Department of Agriculture would be forced topolice the world's food supply and be responsible for tracking food from thefarm to the dinner table. Other opponents feel trade with Oregon would recede,as companies sought to do business with states having fewer GM labelrestrictions.

Whether the signatures were approved and the initiative placedon the ballot was not available at press time.

Harris, however, expressed confidence in the bill's passage."We expect to be on the ballot for November 5th and we believe we will winby about 76 percent," she said.