OSPIRG Chief: Why I’m Voting for GMO Labeling

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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Guest MINDSETTER Dave Rosenfeld

We have a right to know what is in our food. As a consumer and a father of two, I am grateful for the information already available that allows us to make informed choices about the food we choose to buy for ourselves and our families. The same should be the case for genetically engineered food, which is what Measure 92 would do.

American food companies have been telling consumers in over 60 countries around the world, for over a decade, if their food is genetically engineered. If they can do it over there, they should do it here for Oregonians.

Genetically engineered food, also known as GMOs, is created by combining the DNA – in a laboratory – of different organisms that would not otherwise come together in nature. The vast majority of GMOs grown in the U.S. are designed for one purpose – to withstand large direct doses of weed killer, or herbicides.

It used to be that when you sprayed a plant directly with weed killer, that plant would die. Not anymore. And as a result, more weed killer than ever before is being sprayed into our water, our soil, and eventually into the food we eat.

Measure 92 adds a few extra to words to existing food labels to inform Oregon consumers if their food is genetically engineered. It’s that simple.

You have likely seen those No on 92 ads on TV and in your mailbox. They’re telling us that Measure 92 is poorly written, filled with exemptions, will raise food prices, be bad for farmers – and that GMOs are totally safe. None of it is true – and virtually all of it is paid for by out of state chemical companies, agribusinesses and food giants.

Food prices in Europe and other countries didn’t go up after GMO labeling began and farmers were not negatively impacted. 

Consumers Union, the policy arm of Consumer Reports magazine, recently commissioned a comprehensive study of the costs associated with labeling. They found that the actual costs of labeling genetically engineered food would be around $2.30 per Oregonian per year, or less than a penny a day. That’s one reason why Measure 92 is endorsed by Oregon organizations on the front lines fighting for Oregonians struggling to make ends meet, such as the Latino Health Coalition.

Back in May, voters in Jackson and Josephine County voted to ban the cultivation of genetically engineered crops. Their campaign was led by local family farmers who were concerned about the risks of GMOs. To be clear, we are not proposing to ban GMOs. But if farmers in Southern Oregon were so concerned about the risks of GMOs that they voted to ban it, then at the very least, shouldn’t Oregon label it?

That’s why Measure 92 is endorsed by Friends of Family Farmers, Our Family Farms Coalition, and numerous other farms and organizations representing farmers.

Their motivations are numerous. For some, like Ivan Miluski of FFF, it’s because most Oregon farmers don’t grow GMOs, and so a label helps distinguish their local offerings from those of out-of-state agribusinesses. For others, like pig farmer Steve Cohen of Talent, it’s because farmers are proud of their product and want consumers to know what’s in it.

Empowering consumers to decide for ourselves is especially important because the federal government doesn’t require genetically engineered food to be independently tested for safety before they hit the market. To the extent any testing is done, the government relies on the information provided by the very companies that manufacture GMOs, like Monsanto. That’s like letting the fox guard the henhouse.

Recently, the American Medical Association, in a revision to its previous stance, called for mandatory safety testing of genetically engineered food before it is sold to consumers. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that the federal government will heed the AMA’s call anytime soon. This is one reason why the Oregon Nurses Association and the American Public Health Association support Measure 92.

Finally, the next time you see an ad about “exemptions” please remember: If the food already has a label, then it is covered by Measure 92. Raw fruits and vegetables, infant formula, meat, fish, milk, eggs – you name it.

Remember, 99.9% of the ads you are seeing from the No on 92 campaign come from out-of-state companies – like Monsanto, Dow, DuPont, Coke and Pepsi. Their strategy is to confuse the issue. But there’s nothing confusing about the issue.

Fellow Oregonians, Measure 92 is a chance for us to uphold Oregon’s tradition of transparency and of self-determination. Let’s give ourselves the information, and let us decide for ourselves if we want to eat GMOs. Let’s stand together for the right to know what’s in our food. Let’s pass Measure 92.

This is a guest opinion piece by David Rosenfeld, the Executive Director of the Oregon State Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG). GoLocalPDX will be featuring both pro and con MINDSETTERS posts on the major ballot measures of this election season.

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• Why Oregonians Should Say No To GMO Labeling
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• Ben and Jerry’s and The Onion Release GMO Labeling Video for Oregon

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