Labeling foods is needed, I-522 fulfills that need

Labeling genetically engineered foods tells us more than just what has been done to the food; it tells us what has been done to our land and our water. Farmers who grow crops from genetically engineered seeds are required to sign a contract agreeing to use farm chemicals produced by the same companies that sell the genetically engineered seeds. Weeds are becoming resistant to those chemicals, requiring heavier applications of the chemicals. These chemicals are taking a toll on our soil and contaminating our water supply. I support YES on I-522, the labeling initiative, so that I can know what foods are produced by methods that are detrimental to the environment, so I can choose to avoid them.

News Flash! Last week, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a complaint charging that the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) violated the state’s Public Disclosure Act, a citizen sponsored measure enacted 40 years ago to let the public know who gives, and how much, to campaigns. The GMA had set up a special fund through which companies could donate money to oppose I-522, without their identities being known. Thanks to Ferguson’s charge, on Friday those companies were made public.

You may have noticed on the literature opposing labeling, that the GMA is the top contributor to the NO campaign, followed by Monsanto, DuPont Pioneer, Dow AgroSciences, and Bayer CropScience. Within the GMA, we now know that Pepsico, Coca-Cola, and Nestle have each contributed over a million dollars to stifle our right to know, followed by many other companies you’ll recognize -- Hershey, General Mills, Kellogg, Orowheat, SaraLee, Land O’Lakes, Del Monte, Campbell Soup, Hormel, and Ocean Spray for starters.

And the GMA hasn’t begun to spend all the money that’s been contributed. So you can expect to see a lot more being spent between now and Nov. 5 in an effort to prevent labeling of genetically engineered food in Washington, because they know that if it passes in Washington, there’s no stopping it.

Please join me in voting YES on I-522, to label genetically engineered food.

Christie Bruntlett

Cheney