GMO Labeling In Colorado

I recently became aware that Colorado has the opportunity to require labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in foods. Currently signatures are needed to get Ballot Initiative #48 on the ballot for November 2014. The initiative, if gotten on the ballot and passed, would require that GMO foods be labeled with the words “Produced With Genetic Engineering” in Colorado. This requirement would go into effect in July 1, 2016, and if not followed, the food would be considered “misbranded.” Of course there are some exceptions to the labeling including:

• Food or drink for animals
• Chewing gum
• Alcoholic beverages
• A processed food that uses GMO-derived processing agents or enzymes, and contains no other GMO ingredients
• Restaurant food or other food that is intended for immediate consumption
• Food derived from animals that have not been genetically engineered themselves but may have been given feed or drugs that were genetically engineered
• Medically prescribed foods

You can view the actual language of the proposed changes here: https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Initiatives/titleBoard/filings/2013-2014/48Final.pdf.

I would encourage you to look into the matter and make an informed decision for yourself. I would be glad to see this ballot initiative for GMO labeling to come before the people of Colorado to vote on it. I have looked into some of the history surrounding GMO foods, and while the FDA claims there is no significant difference between GMO and conventional foods I think there are still many questions that remain. I also think that even if (and it is a big if) there is no significant difference; people should be able to decide for themselves whether or not to consume GMO foods. But how can you choose to not consume a GMO food if you do not know what is in the food? Currently the only ways to know you are avoiding GMO are to eat only certified organic or to personally know how all your food was produced. While this would not be a bad way to eat, it is not realistic for most people.

If you would like more information about GMOs there are several sources that you can look into. A great book that I would recommend is Seeds of Deception by Jeffrey Smith. It gives some of the background of how genetically modified organisms got into our foods with most of us not even knowing it. Here is a blog I wrote about the subject of GMO after reading that book. Jeffrey Smith has written other books on the subject as well, but I have not had the opportunity to read them.

If you would like to know more about or help the group behind collecting signatures to get the initiative on the ballot check out http://www.righttoknowcolorado.org.