Oregon GMO initiative—only 900 votes apart!!

[susan rudnicki]

Here is the latest on the effort to label food with GMO ingredients that was up for initiative vote in Oregon this month–

Wow. What an amazing turn of events in Oregon!

On the eve of Election Day, Measure 92—Oregon’s ballot initiative to label genetically engineered foods—was trailing. But thanks to the support and hard work of all of you, that gap has narrowed to less than 900 votes, triggering an automatic recount, and making it likely the closest statewide election in Oregon history!

Though opponents were vocal in calling the vote in their favor just a day after the election, supporters on the measure remained positive and vigilant, and worked tirelessly in Oregon—and around the country—to make sure every vote was counted.

The incredibly narrow race comes despite a $20 million, deceptive campaign from the opposition led by big food and chemical companies. Monsanto donated nearly $5 million, DuPont Pioneer $4.5 million, Dow AgroSciences over a $1.1 million, with Pepsi and Coke, who use sugar and corn genetically engineered to be resistant to herbicides in their products, combining for over $3.5 million. The previous record for spending on an Oregon ballot initiative was $12 million for both sides combined.

Center for Food Safety, a lead author of Measure 92, supported the Oregon campaign extensively, at the legal, advocacy, and grassroots level and as a member of the Steering Committee. CFS’s political arm, Center for Food Safety Action Fund, raised over $1 million to support Measure 92 and helped mobilize thousands of volunteers in Oregon and across the country.

Oregon is on the brink of becoming the fourth U.S. state to require GE labeling. Connecticut and Maine each passed GE labeling laws this past spring, but both bills include a trigger clause requiring several other states to also pass labeling bills before the new laws can be implemented. Vermont was the first state to pass a no-strings-attached labeling law, set to go into effect in 2016.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of organizers, and despite an aggressive and expensive opposition campaign, GE food labeling is still alive in Oregon. Regardless of what happens next, this is only the beginning. The power and tenaciousness of the Food Movement has been on full display in Oregon.

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