THIS ONE looks easy, right?
Measure 92 would require companies to label any human foods made through genetic engineering. And since there are a ton of everyday products that use genetically modified organisms (the bulk of soy and corn production in the US involves GMOs), both proponents and opponents of the measure agreed that roughly 70 percent of your supermarket would suddenly sprout conspicuous labels reading “Produced with Genetic Engineering” or “Partially Produced with Genetic Engineering.”
Finally! A real sense of how many GMOs you’re consuming. A better ability to make an informed choice about what you put into your body, and when. …
And yet, after much debate, we’re coming down just on the “no” side of this issue.
The essential problem is dishonesty. Measure 92’s proponents argue it’s all about helping consumers make an informed choice. They insisted in our interview they have no problem with GMOs, and no other motives, ulterior or not, besides the spread of information.
But this campaign—like identical efforts that narrowly failed in California and Washington recently—is quite clearly a bid to get food companies to abandon GMOs, a backdoor attempt at altering our agricultural landscape.
See, the science we possess on GMOs indicates they’re almost certainly safe to eat. Indeed, the Yes on 92 representatives who attended our endorsement interview acknowledged purchasing and eating GMO products all the time. But there’s a clear motive for wanting “conspicuous” labeling on those foods, and it’s not to remind consumers that GMOs are harmless. Without sufficient context, a label is likely to sow doubt or apprehension in shoppers who assume it’s a warning, and that there’s a reason they should be warned. …
And if you really, really care about how your food’s produced, there are already labels for you. Any time you buy something labeled organic or “Non-GMO Project Verified” you can be sure you’re not contributing to those problematic issues.
