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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 (No heading) Jackson County declares drought disaster Jason Atkinson in line for Fish and Wildlife Commission post City board topples elevated housing plan Drunk driver gets 13 months for hitting pedestrian Crime, Courts and Emergency Services (No heading) Drunk driver gets 13 months for hitting pedestrian Jackson County honors fallen police Feds allege Georgia, Maryland residents defrauded Oregon taxpayers of more than $2 million Three men charged in Prospect area burglaries Politics and Elections Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Medford School Board, Position 6: Curt Ankerberg vs. Janet Lightheart Education South Medford, Ashland high schools earn national honors Medford garage sale will put books in African kids' hands Medford schools restore parent-teacher conferences Latino parents: More bilingual staff needed in Medford schools Medford schools still filling admin roles Environment Jackson County declares drought disaster Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Crater Lake may soon have China connection State waives college placement tests for students who hit high marks Stopping fire in its tracks State News Oregon House: Bikers who can't get a green light may turn on red Incoming president tours University of Oregon campus West Linn police officer leads state in DUII arrests Oil industry challenges rules meant to stop train explosions Crooked River Ranch residents stumped by bare shoe tree Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Verla Jean Rametes Death Notices Doris Oka Chang Patrick Joseph Mulcahy Dr. Stephen Gallier Dippel Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories Tornado trips up Thurston in SWC tilt Warriors rise Beavers tie school home run record in rout Horford's late follow gives Hawks win Kluber strikes out 18, Indians top Cardinals Varsity 541 College Sports Beavers tie school home run record in rout A Wise freshman leads the Ducks Baldovino, Concordia upset No. 1 Oklahoma City Northwestern’s Wu chosen for NCAA field Oregon State AD De Carolis to step down Pro Sports Warriors rise Horford's late follow gives Hawks win Kluber strikes out 18, Indians top Cardinals Rogues to host summer baseball camps MLB pumps up ball security after Brady flap Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Business Latest Stories Blog: Cash deals for homes inches toward normal levels Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson reports $75 million loss in 1st quarter Cars We Remember: Noted musician unravels 55-year Nash Rambler mystery Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house People In Business People in Business Transportation Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house Opinion Latest Our View: City should let SkyPark project move ahead George Will: In childhood, risk is inherent Letters to the Editor, May 14 Dana Milbank: Power to the populists Granlund cartoon: Christianity declining in US Editorials Our View: City should let SkyPark project move ahead Our View: E-cigarette bill is half right, half wrong Our View: Abundant water no excuse for waste Our View: Mental health funding should be a priority Other Views: Court ruling means PERS reform is dead Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 14 Letters to the Editor, May 13 Letters to the Editor, May 12 Letters to the Editor, May 11 Letters to the Editor, May 10 Columns George Will: In childhood, risk is inherent Dana Milbank: Power to the populists Kathleen Parker: Defining deity down: Changing others' religion Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Kathleen Parker: Geller has the right, but commits speech abuse Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children’s Center Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Lifestyle Latest stories Marketta Gregory: God doesn’t need our polished marketing Expo derby planned to raise money for disabilities projects Trout gillnetting to help Diamond Lake stocking plans Quick, easy, versatile Page H. Onorato: Cookbook offers old friend in the kitchen today Food Quick, easy, versatile Page H. 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CON Measure 92 misleads rather than enlightens Comment By Porter Lombard and Steve Strauss MailTribune.com By Porter Lombard and Steve Strauss Posted Oct. 19, 2014 at 12:01 AM By Porter Lombard and Steve Strauss Posted Oct. 19, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News Many proponents for Measure 92 have been providing a misleading view of the science and law behind the proposal to label crops made from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Labels can inform or mislead. Our market place is literally drowning in labels, most which have little meaning except to promote the sales of some products over others. What consumers want is labels that are reliable and meaningful, not more labels that do not accurately inform about health and environment. Misleading labels confuse, often prompting consumers to make choices that are unwise for their health or for the environment, or to make needlessly expensive food choices. We have a labeling law. The Food and Drug Administration requires foods that are "materially" different in nutrition or safety, positive or negative, to be labeled as such — today. The focus is on the product, not the method. This "product not the process" approach has been agreed to by numerous high level scientific and government agencies around the world, including our own National Academy of Sciences, the Ecological Society of America and the American Medical Association. A measure to label all products of the GMO process as if they were universally harmful goes against this internationally agreed scientific principle. GMO crops are getting more diverse every year. Some of the major crops have enabled huge reductions of pesticide use; others offer improved drought tolerance and healthfulness of derived oils; still others include staples such as potato and corn with reduced natural toxins, and there are many in the science or development pipelines that are enriched in crucial nutrients or have reduced allergens. Herbicide-tolerant crops are often criticized, but they have provided large environmental benefits by promoting low-tillage farming. Tillage is perhaps the largest single environmental harm humans do to this planet, mainly by accelerating soil erosion and climate change. What is needed are smarter ways to manage these crops for long-term benefit, which the Environmental Protection Agency has now started to require of companies and farmers. The Mail Tribune suggested that the food labeling measure is a reasonable step even though they admit there is no adverse health effects from consuming GMO food based on many hundreds of studies, many of them with no connection to companies that produce them. But we disagree with the Mail Tribune's view in support of labeling GMOs of fresh and processed products as they will unfairly stigmatize them, and make it even more difficult for public sector and company breeders to use GMO methods for locally important health and production goals. Mandatory GMO labels typically reduce rather than increase consumer choice as we have seen in Europe. Labels that might stigmatize brands are often avoided by companies, thus lower-priced foods with GMO ingredients are often removed from the marketplace entirely. The separate harvest, storage, shipping and monitoring systems required by stringent labeling laws like the Oregon ballot measure would impose large costs upon the food system that consumers would ultimately pay. The brunt of this increase in food cost is of course most strongly felt by the poor. Is that an ethical action that Oregonians want to take? We have a choice in the market now in form of widely available organic food, which must be grown without GMO varieties. Voluntary GMO-free labeling is increasing daily, as well. The marketplace is offering a choice for those who are wary. It does not seem that a costly government program is needed for those with concerns over GMOs. We fully support efforts to educate Oregonians about their food and its safety and health. However, this punitive labeling measure would further confuse, reduce choice, slow innovation and add to food costs. It will mislead rather than inform Oregonians.  Porter Lombard is professor emeritus of horticulture and viticulture at Oregon State University. Steve Strauss is a distinguished professor at OSU, former director of the OSU program on outreach in biotechnology and a member of the governor's task force on GMO crops. By Porter Lombard and Steve Strauss MailTribune.com By Porter Lombard and Steve Strauss Posted Oct. 19, 2014 at 12:01 AM » 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 Propel Marketing 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. 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