USA: Success for Colorado GMO Labeling Initiative

Right to Know Colorado reports the GMO labeling initiative, which helps Coloradans make informed decisions about the foods they choose for their families, will be on the ballot on 4 November 2014. The voter initiative requires the labeling of genetically modified foods, and will appear on the Colorado statewide ballot as Proposition 105. The Colorado Secretary of State’s office announced on 20 August 2014 that nearly 125,000 valid signatures were received, giving the Right to Know Colorado campaign 145% of the number of signatures required for placement on the ballot.

 
Reflecting a July 2013 New York Times poll showing that a great majority (93%) of Americans are in favor of mandatory GMO labeling, a recent independent survey in the state of Colorado shows that 75% of Colorado registered voters would vote yes to require labeling of foods made with genetically engineered ingredients sold in the state. Proposition 105 asks voters if foods modified or treated with genetically modified materials should be labeled "Produced With Genetic Engineering" starting 1 July 2016. The official ballot language can be viewes here.
 
With no federal GMO labeling requirements in place in the USA, it is estimated that more than 80% of conventional processed foods contain genetically engineered ingredients, primarily from GMO corn, soy, canola, cotton, sugar beets and other GMO crops. Colorado joins more than two dozen other states, including Oregon, Arizona, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and elsewhere, in calling for GMO labeling legislation. Mandatory GMO labeling laws were recently passed in Vermont, Maine and Connecticut. More information is available at www.righttoknowcolorado.org, or on Facebook.