Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Railroad Park groups object to homeless feeding plan Since You Asked: Barnett Bridge is supposed to be rusty Rogue River council considers marijuana tax Emergency services Deer-killing disease won't taint meat for hunters Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Medford man pleads guilty to Ashland burglary, murder Fired employee allegedly fought with Crater Lake rangers Former hunting guide cited for allegedly poaching deer Fire consumes long-standing Butte Falls home Politics and Elections Dotterrer-Bates Senate race goes negative? Election officials fine Richardson for late reporting of rent-free home Phoenix Council race draws a full house Sheriff a no-show at Chamber candidate forum Southern Oregon's Dennis Richardson woos liberal Portland Education SOU's first governing board appointed Showing their peers how it's done McLoughlin middle-schoolers do their part for Weed An open door Ashland High drops homecoming king and queen Environment Deer-killing disease won't taint meat for hunters Marijuana growers are threat to salmon, biologists conclude Green home helps keep life simple Treatment plant scrutinized for algae growth in Rogue River Wild chinook making early splash in Bear Creek State news Nation - World Obituaries Charlotte Louise White (Crenshaw) Death Notices Dolores J. Dysart J.T. Hamilton Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Tornado claims pivotal victory Panthers upset Tornado for first win South edges North in cross-town showdown Lakers' Bryant quickly pushes his pace Nadal dominates in return at China Open Varsity 541 College Sports Michigan apologizes for mistakes with QB injury Ducks have chance at payback versus 'Cats Michigan coach under fire over player's health Finding a balance Hail Mary before the half does in the Beavers Pro Sports Lakers' Bryant quickly pushes his pace Nadal dominates in return at China Open Royals steal wild-card thriller from A’s Ex-Duck James agrees to terms with Dolphins NFL season isn’t playing out as expected Community Sports Business Latest Stories Umpqua surpasses U.S. Bank in local deposits SBDC series continues with marketing talk Butte Falls is source for new line of glass-bottled water Mt. Ashland sets forth plan for season Medford's Pixel Productions moves to new quarters Real Estate News Medford's Pixel Productions moves to new quarters Tenants begin moving into One West Main Purchasers praise Harry & David's turnaround Historic building owners get lessons in restoration Pleasant weather, stable interest rates spurred summer home sales People In Business Transportation Agriculture Purchasers praise Harry & David's turnaround 1-800-Flowers.com buying Harry & David for $142.5 million Opinion Latest Our View: 'Negative' is in the eye of the beholder Who's waging war on women now? Letters to the Editor, Oct. 1 Michael Gerson: Introspection time for evangelicals Granlund cartoon: Rick Santorum is ready Editorials Our View: 'Negative' is in the eye of the beholder Letters to the Editor, Sept. 29 Our View: Winters continues to be invisible Our View: Holder leaves mixed civil rights legacy Other Views: Carbon tax, the Cover Oregon of tax reform Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 1 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 30 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 28 Election Letters, Sept. 27 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 26 Guest Opinions Is Ashland taking over Jackson County elections? Birds sound the alarm on climate change Manor residents give in many ways Transparency is essential in O&C debate Hazardous fuel treatments vital to protection from severe wildfires Lifestyle Latest stories The Fermentista’s Kitchen A slaw by any other name would be ... cabbage salad Community blog: You gotta see it to believe it The Watercolors are Coming Blog: HAIKU MONDAY: On Rogue Bay, Omega 3 Fatties and Oh $#!% Moments Food The Fermentista’s Kitchen A slaw by any other name would be ... cabbage salad Restaurant Inspections Community blog: Keep salmon succulent by smoking, poaching New festival will celebrate smoked salmon Home and Garden Fall is a good time to plant certain perennials Start now for a bowl of winter sunshine Counting the reasons to keep your eating local Medford gardens to be showcased Saturday Trees aren't always the best companions for plants Health Community blog: Why Texting is Not Talking Community blog: Finding Fun, Not Fear, In Our Senior Years Community blog: Menopause: What's it Good For? Part 2 For the brain, there’s no such thing as over the hill Local health clinics land federal grants to hire medical, dental staff Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs First Church of Nazarene plans cleanup Religion briefs Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Still stifling laughter 40 years after 'Young Frankenstein' New Arrivals Wedding New Arrivals Barbecue will support treatment for stricken skateboarder Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Rogue Valley Symphony opens its 2014-15 season Southern Oregon Pride Festival celebrates diversity Spoons Blues duo releases 'Over the Moon' Music in the Mountains returns to Prospect Theater Randall Theatre presents 'Blithe Spirit' A tribute to a great lyricist 'Mrs. Mannerly' is a matter of manners There's no accounting for poor manners Friends of Jim Giancarlo remember Ashland theater icon Music Rogue Valley Symphony opens its 2014-15 season Blues duo releases 'Over the Moon' Music in the Mountains returns to Prospect The Brothers Reed Sol Seed plays Lounge South Community Events Southern Oregon Pride Festival celebrates diversity Greater Medford Multicultural Fair Volunteers needed for Downtown Art + Sound Medford's Third Fridays Downtown Art + Sound Festival Dining Spoons 'Get Giddy' at Porters Jacksonville's Thai House is everything good Thai should be Ami Sushi serves up Asian dishes Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: 'Negative' is in the eye of the beholder ... Rogue River council considers marijuana tax ... Deer-killing disease won't taint meat for hunters ... Our View: 'Negative' is in the eye of the beholder ... Rogue River council considers marijuana tax ... Deer-killing disease won't taint meat for hunters ... OREGON BALLOT Groups launch campaigns on GMO labeling in Oregon As with county GMO ban, opposition likely to be well-financed by out-of-state money By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press Posted Sep. 28, 2014 @ 6:40 pm By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press Posted Sep. 28, 2014 @ 6:40 pm » Social News   PORTLAND — In a TV ad paid for by advocates of labeling genetically modified foods in Oregon, voters are told 64 countries have such requirements and labels didn't lead to an increase in their food costs. Opponents of GMO labeling have released an ad that says the opposite: Labels would be costly for food producers and consumers and would not show which ingredients in a product are modified. With a decision on the Nov. 4 ballot measure just five weeks away, the two opposing camps combined have reported contributions of nearly $3 million and expenditures of more than $2 million, including advertising. It's a sign of what's still to come. This is round three in the GMO labeling match in recent years. Similar measures in California and in Washington state failed narrowly after millions of dollars were spent, mostly by labeling opponents. If adopted, the initiative by Oregon GMO Right to Know would require manufacturers, retailers and suppliers to label raw and packaged foods produced entirely or partially by genetic engineering. The measure would not apply to animal feed or food served in restaurants. It would be effective January 2016. The United States does not require labeling of genetically engineered foods. Three states — Vermont, Maine and Connecticut — have passed labeling laws, although they don't take effect immediately. A similar measure also recently qualified for the ballot in Colorado. Labeling supporters say there aren't enough studies on the impacts of GMOs, so consumers have a right to know if they are eating them. Gov. John Kitzhaber, who is running for re-election, recently came out in support of the measure, as did Consumers Union, the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports. Critics say mandatory labels would mislead consumers into thinking that engineered ingredients are unsafe, which scientists have not proven. As in previous cases, the anti-labeling campaign is chiefly financed by out-of-state food corporations and biotech companies that grow engineered crops; endorsers include large state farming groups. Though it's not reflected in the early filings, opponents are expected to raise a lot more money than proponents. The anti-labeling campaign in Oregon has thus far reported just over $1 million in cash and in-kind contributions and has reported spending about half a million, according to filings with the Oregon Secretary of State's office. The pro-labeling campaign shows $1.9 million in contributions and expenditures of $1.6 million. These donations and expenditures are from a month ago because the campaigns have 30 days to make reports. In both California and Washington state, biotech and other giant food companies vastly outspent opponents — a factor most experts agree helped defeat those measures. In both cases, the measures were defeated by about 2 percentage points. The anti-labeling campaign spent about $45.6 million in California, compared to $8.7 million by labeling supporters. In Washington state, where the ballot contest went on record as the costliest in state history, opponents spent $33.3 million, compared to $9.8 million collected by the pro-labeling groups. In Oregon, the labeling issue isn't new. In 2002, voters soundly defeated a GMO labeling measure. But the attention to GMO's has grown since then, as has opposition to genetically engineered crops in Oregon. Earlier this year, voters in Jackson and Josephine counties approved bans on GMO crops. The vote came on the heels of the discovery of a patch of GMO wheat in Eastern Oregon. That discovery led to Japan and South Korea suspending imports of the crop over GMO concerns, temporarily closing a $700 million market and causing outcry and concern among farmers. Labeling proponents say that could help turn the tide in Oregon. Ads released by both sides feature Oregon farmers, a tell-tale sign of their importance to the measure's fate. Supporters say labels would help family farmers by "letting people know the difference between the traditional food we grow and food genetically engineered in a lab." Opponents say labels would hurt farmers, because "the last thing we need is a bunch of complex, costly regulations that don't exist in any other states." Labeling proponents also say they've learned from pro-labeling campaigns in California and Washington. "We've tightened the language in Measure 92 so the opposition can't make the same misleading claims they did in both those states," including making clear that labeling applies only to food meant for human consumption and increasing protections for farmers, campaign spokesman Kevin Glenn said. The campaign is also focusing more on knocking on doors and registering new voters, Glenn said. The approach seems to be working: The coalition has received donations from nearly 3,000 Oregon donors. Its extensive list of endorsements includes nearly 100 farms and farming organizations, as well as dozens of restaurants, grocers, chefs and other groups. Opponents call the measure badly written. It would not, for example, require labels for meat and dairy products from animals fed genetically engineered feed. They also say consumers who wish to avoid GMOs already have the choice to buy organic foods. "This measure provides inaccurate and misleading information, and doesn't tell consumers what's in the food," said Dana Bieber, spokeswoman for the Vote NO on 92 Coalition. By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Gosia Wozniacka The Associated Press Posted Sep. 28, 2014 @ 6:40 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501