Leading Newspapers Across Oregon Agree: Vote NO on Measure 92
“…there will be a cost of some sort for [Measure 92’s] additional labeling requirement, which will be borne by all consumers.”
“The essential problem is dishonesty.”
“Measure 92 would mislead many consumers and place a disproportionate burden on those least able to pay the additional costs. For that reason, it is a good idea to vote no on 92.”
“Oregon voters should reject this unnecessary and unfair ballot measure.”
“If you accept that people need good information, this measure gives consumers inaccurate, incomplete information… This is not a measure Oregonians should support. ”
“Voters who truly value transparency and consumer choice will reject [Measure 92].”
“Label us unconvinced.”
“We, as a nation, need to enact rules that are applied fairly and don’t make it more difficult for our family farmers to stay in business. It is unfair to hold Oregon’s food products to a standard that no other state must meet.”
“Supporters build their case on the appealing belief that they should be able to find out what they’re eating. We doubt they would get that …”
“…labeling of GMO and non-GMO foods should be a voluntary endeavor undertaken by enterprising food companies.”
“But the labels for processed foods (like a can of soup) wouldn’t tell what part of the product has GMOs, or how much. … We worry that all labeling would do is confuse and frighten people.”
“Measure 92 brings another level of bureaucracy to farming.”
“Product labeling is a national and global issue, and that is where the requirements should be established. It is unrealistic to impose a patchwork of state-by-state requirements on food manufacturers.”
Oregon’s most respected daily newspapers looked carefully at Measure 92 and agree that voters should reject this poorly written food labeling proposal.
Click below to read more about why newspapers from every corner of our state are urging a NO vote on Measure 92.
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Measure 92: A Costly and Misleading Labeling Proposal
Measure 92 on the November 2014 Oregon statewide ballot would create a complex and misleading Oregon-only food labeling system that no other state requires. Its poorly written labeling requirements and arbitrary exemptions would hurt thousands of family farmers and small businesses, provide inaccurate and unreliable information for Oregon consumers about the foods we buy, and increase food prices for Oregon families, especially hurting those who can least afford it.
AAAS Board of Directors: Legally Mandating GM Food Labels Could “Mislead and Falsely Alarm Consumers”
The American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest general scientific organization and publishers of Science Magazine, has re-stated their opposition to the type of misleading food labeling scheme proposed by Measure 92. The AAAS Board of Directors has repeatedly stated such labels would be misleading to consumers. Further, the AAAS statement contradicts the false claims and scare tactics of Measure 92’s proponents, stating that genetically modified foods “are the most extensively tested crops ever added to our food supply.”
Further the AAAS Board states that labeling initiatives such as Measure 92 are “not being driven by any credible scientific evidence” but instead “are being advanced by “the persistent perception that such foods are somehow ‘unnatural,’” as well as efforts to gain competitive advantages within the marketplace, and the false belief that GM crops are untested.”
Read more
Independent Citizens’ Panel Opposes Measure 92
The independent Oregon Citizens’ Initiative Review Panel studied Measure 92 and concluded that it would increase costs for Oregon farmers, food producers and consumers and it would not inform consumers which ingredients in food products are GMOs or what percentage of the product contains GMO ingredients.
A majority of panel members voted NO on Measure 92, stating that under Measure 92’s requirements “thousands of food products would have to be labeled as ‘genetically engineered’ — even if they’re not. Thousands of other food products would be exempt from being labeled — even when they do contain or are produced with GMOs.”
A majority of the voter panel also agreed that “Existing food labels already give consumers a more reliable way to choose foods without GE ingredients.”
Get The Facts
Learn why Measure 92 would hurt thousands of Oregon family farmers and small store owners, cost Oregon taxpayers millions of dollars, increase grocery bills for Oregon families by hundreds of dollars each year – and would provide inaccurate and unreliable information to consumers about the foods we buy.
Join our coalition
A growing coalition representing thousands of Oregon farmers, small businesses, taxpayers and consumers has joined together to oppose Measure 92. You can help defeat this costly and misleading measure by joining our coalition today. Please help us work together to get the facts out to Oregon voters about Measure 92.