OPINION: Yes on 522 - labeling genetically engineered foods

Yes on 522

By Elizabeth Larter 

This November, Washington will decide whether to label genetically engineered foods in the grocery store by voting on initiative 522.

A Yes vote on initiative 522 is the only way we can know what we feed our families.

Companies label ingredients, nutrition facts, the country of origin, whether fish was farm raised or wild caught, whether vanilla extract is pure or artificial, and now even whether meat was tenderized mechanically. We should also know whether or not our food has been genetically engineered.  

 Opponents of labeling are funded by five  out-of-state corporations. Their average contributions to the No side are over $400,000. This contrasts greatly with the Yes on I-522’s numbers.  Yes on Initiative 522 is funded by over 6,000 individual donors with an average donation of $25. The people of Washington support I-522 and Big Ag and Big Food are trying to keep you from knowing what’s in your food.

As the election nears, the opposition, with their deep, corporate pockets, will put up  misleading ads trying to keep shoppers  in the dark about their foods. Our opposition will claim that farmers don’t support Yes on 522. That’s a lie. Hundreds of farmers support Yes on 522. Our opposition will claim that this will cost you at the grocery store. Also not true. Food manufacturers are constantly updating their packaging and don’t increase costs. This just adds a couple of words to the front of the package. It won’t increase cost. Lastly, our opposition will claim that this bill is confusing and arbitrary. False. This bill was written to conform to common labeling laws. Initiative 522 would label foods in the grocery store, just like we already label these foods with nutritional content and ingredients. Yes on 522 is supported by farmers, ranchers, small businesses, moms and dads, and Washingtonians across the state. You can read our full list of endorsements at yes on522.com/endorsements/.

Come November, you’ll have a choice. To vote for more transparency in your groceries or to oppose more information. We hope that you’ll join us and support labeling genetically engineered foods. It’s our right to know what’s in the groceries we are buying and feeding our families. Vote Yes on 522 this November!