Tree Fruit Association Urges Voters To Say No To GMO Labeling Bill

Voters in Washington State will take to the polls on Nov. 5 to decide on a bill that would require the labeling of all genetically engineered raw agricultural products and processed foods made with ingredients of genetically engineered raw agricultural products.

Washington Growers Clearing House Association released a statement urging growers to vote “no” on the initiative.

“Initiative 522 falls well short of its stated goals. The initiative states ‘The purpose of this chapter is to ensure people are fully informed about whether the food they purchase and eat was produced through genetic engineering.’ If that is the case why then does the initiative grant labeling exemptions to numerous foods, and food ingredients? Why does it allow food to be derived from an animal that has been injected with food or drug produced with or through genetic engineering?” said Kirk Mayer, manager of Washington Growers Clearing House Association. “The initiative is discriminatory in that is sets up a zero tolerance for some foods beginning July 1, 2019, and exempts other foods from the GE labeling requirements. Food labeling requirements should be uniform and national, not a patchwork of different state rules. This initiative will cost Washington farmers and taxpayers and not benefit consumers.”