Oregon voters narrowly reject GMO labeling measure - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2014-12-12

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 Since You Asked: Pointed in the direction of Albuquerque Get Up & Go: Dec. 12 Clothes, toys would brighten holidays for family of seven Emergency services Most residents speak against gas pipeline Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Two arrested in connection with Monday gunfire Deadly storm: Winds brought heavy across region Criminal charges won't be filed in pedestrian death From social media: the Rogue Valley storm Politics and Elections Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means East Medford's the charm Education A lesson in giving Hedrick student council works to clean up the language Table Rock solid: Elementary school praised for keeping attendance up Eagle Point superintendent invited to White House Eagle Point secures perimeter of Table Rock Elementary with new fence Environment Most residents speak against gas pipeline Coalition asks for defense of GMO ban Home Help: Make your new house feel like home Bighorn sheep reintroduced along Klamath River Jackson County judge dismisses one Mt. View Paving case State News GMO labeling proponents concede defeat Tribes can decide whether to legalize pot Lawyer says football player had altercation Congress keeps Coast Guard helicopter flying U of O, grad teachers reach deal Nation - World Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Cory Davis Donna Marie Pitblado Lyle Walther Death Notices Carolyn Sue Corzine Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Panthers roll to dual victories Comets open season with tourney victory Tally heats up, leads Phoenix win Harden scores 44 to lead Rockets over Kings Upon review, no replay for disputed Oklahoma game Varsity 541 College Sports Gordon seeks one more long run to win Heisman Linfield unites for fallen teammate Duck star big winner at annual awards show Mariota's Moment Here's insight into new Beaver coach Pro Sports Cardinals end Rams' shutout streak, 12-6 Day, Tringale fire 55 to take Shootout lead Old-style swaps dominate winter meetings Warriors keep on rolling Wiggins, Wolves stun Blazers 90-82 Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape RESULTS/STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Business Latest Stories Blog: It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like... K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks State lags on grocery inspections Blog: Bear Creek Plaza next up on the market Silvio Calabi: The world loves a Wrangler Real Estate News More sales, but no change in residential housing median price Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban People In Business People in Business, Dec. 3 People in Business, Nov. 18 Transportation Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Agriculture K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Lawsuit seeks to overturn Jackson County's GMO ban or net $4.2 million for farms Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Opinion Latest Our View: Cheers and jeers Letters to the Editor, Dec. 12 Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Granlund cartoon: Flu shots less effective this year Jim Brock: We can move beyond torture Editorials Our View: Cheers and jeers Our View: Sentencing reform pays dividends Our View: Find middle ground on timber policy Our View: Making sense of Medford crime numbers Our View: Land takeover a sincere but empty gesture Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 12 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 11 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 10 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 9 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 8 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Guest Opinion: It's time Oregon put a price on carbon Guest Opinion: Are we the preferred path to global devastation? Lifestyle Latest stories Looking Up: It's Geminid meteor time! Get Out: Friday, December 12 Tree hunt amid the king of conifers Health Watch: Curb your kitchen cravings this holiday season Play local, pay local Food Community blog: Choose presents cooks can cherish, not regift Roasted vegetables are rich, flavorful Food for Thought: Meal-planning hacks to help you dine fast and healthy Kitchen Call: Hints for gluten-free holidays Community blog: Merry Christmas 10 Barrel! (Big Brewery vs Small Independent Brewer) Home and Garden Rogue Valley Christmas light displays Remodeling your attic: Know the details before you start Dear Monty: When a lawyer’s fee is four times higher than the quote Home Help: Make your new house feel like home Troubleshoot common water boiler problems Health Health Watch: Curb your kitchen cravings this holiday season Community blog: Unsubscribe.com Community blog: Redefining Family Dr. Murray Feingold: Say it like you mean it Community blog: Guiltless Holidays Better for our Health Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Religion news: Seattle-based mega-church dissolves Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Time running out for O&C funds Hire 'em and pray for snow Madi-Stiles A New Song Rogers-Horn Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Meet the real Jacob Marley Bob Haworth plays EdenVale Winery Gypsy Soul performs WinterSpring benefit This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Theater Meet the real Jacob Marley This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning TMTO presents 'A Christmas Carol: The Musical' Theater review: 'Fiddler' charms audience in magical Camelot performance Music Bob Haworth plays EdenVale Winery Gypsy Soul performs WinterSpring benefit Andy McKee plays Rogue Theatre SOU presents all-percussion concert Shae Johnson releases 'Can You Feel the Music' Community Events Rogue Valley Christmas light displays It's a Hamazon holiday at the Playwright Public House 4 Things to do this Week Soroptimist holiday home tour features four houses this weekend Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Dining Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Brunch at Loft Brasserie The Bohemian Club Thanksgiving comes early at Taprock 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: Cheers and jeers       ...       Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote       ...       Most residents speak against gas pipeline       ...       Our View: Cheers and jeers       ...       Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote       ...       Most residents speak against gas pipeline       ...           Oregon voters narrowly reject GMO labeling measure By Gosia Wozniacka Associated Press MailTribune.com By Gosia Wozniacka Associated Press Posted Nov. 5, 2014 @ 4:21 pm Updated Nov 5, 2014 at 4:32 PM By Gosia Wozniacka Associated Press Posted Nov. 5, 2014 @ 4:21 pm Updated Nov 5, 2014 at 4:32 PM »  Social News PORTLAND — Oregon voters have narrowly rejected the labeling of genetically modified foods following the most expensive ballot-measure campaign in state history. Residents voted 49.5 to 50.5 against the measure, which would have required manufacturers, retailers and suppliers to label raw or packaged foods produced entirely or partially by genetic engineering. As of Wednesday morning, the difference was about 13,000 votes. Colorado voters on Tuesday also rejected mandatory labels on genetically modified foods, known as GMOs. Opponents of the measures in both states included some of the world's largest food producers and biotech companies, including Monsanto, which lauded the defeat of Oregon's Measure 92. "We're pleased that Oregon's farmers, food producers, retailers and especially consumers will not be subject to this costly measure and will not be unnecessarily economically impacted by the burden these labels would create," company spokeswoman Charla Lord said. Opponents raised about $20 million in Oregon, while the campaign to pass Measure 92 surpassed $7.5 million in donations. Over the past two years, voters in California and Washington state turned down similar measures. In both cases, the measures were defeated by a slim margin, about 2 percentage points. Advocates of GMO labeling said they felt like they made some progress. "This is a social movement that's gaining power, as people become more aware of how their food is produced," said George Kimbrell, a senior attorney at the Center for Food Safety. "So there's great success there regardless of the outcome of the measure." The measure was popular in the cities: 62 percent of voters in Portland's Multnomah County supported it, along with 57 percent in Lane, which includes Eugene, and 55 percent in Jackson, home to Medford. A majority of voters in eight of Oregon's 36 counties favored the mandate. But the measure was overwhelmingly opposed in much of rural Oregon. "Voters... understood that Measure 92 would have burdened our state's family farmers and food producers with costly new compliance regulations and red tape," said Pat McCormick, spokesman for the No on 92 Coalition. The coalition put out several TV ads claiming farmers would be negatively affected if the measure passed. The measure would have required packaging that included the words "Produced With Genetic Engineering" or "Partially Produced With Genetic Engineering." Though the labels were not a warning, opponents said they feared the words would spook consumers. Oregon voters also defeated a labeling measure in 2002, when GMO labeling was less on the public radar. Back then, the measure lost by a landslide, 70 to 30 percent. The Vermont Legislature approved a labeling bill that's set to take effect in 2016. More than 60 other countries have GMO labeling laws, including the entire European Union. Earlier this year, voters in Jackson and Josephing counties approved bans on genetically engineered crops, providing evidence that the issue has gained traction outside liberal Portland. Though genetically engineered crops are common and no mainstream science has shown they are unsafe, opponents contend GMOs are still experimental and promote the use of pesticides. They say more testing is needed and people have a right to know what's in their food. By Gosia Wozniacka Associated Press MailTribune.com By Gosia Wozniacka Associated Press Posted Nov. 5, 2014 @ 4:21 pm Updated Nov 5, 2014 at 4:32 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