AWB’s board of directors, representing more than 8,000 small, medium and large businesses, voted unanimously last week to oppose I-522, which will appear on the November ballot.
The proposal would create a costly burden for family farmers, food producers, grocers and retailers to create separate systems to grow, process, transport and sell food and beverages sold in Washington.
Last year, voters in California rejected a nearly identical proposal, Proposition 37, which would have increased food costs for the average family by $400 per year.
“I-522 would not make our food any safer, but it would make food more expensive,” said Gary Chandler, AWB’s vice president for government affairs. “This initiative would confuse consumers for no good reason and put our state at a competitive disadvantage.”
Humans have modified wild plants and animals into modern crops and livestock for thousands of years. Foods produced using biotechnology, the latest advance in this timeless practice, are among the most reviewed, studied and scrutinized products in the world. Leading medical and scientific organizations, including the American Medical Association, agree that genetically engineered foods are no different than conventional foods.
Alex McGregor, president of the family-owned McGregor Company, a Colfax-based agricultural supply firm, said bioengineering is a crucial part of feeding a growing and hungry world population. Modern plant science produces an ever-increasing food supply while conserving water and preserving soil.
New labels required under I-522 would create a false impression that thousands of food products have suddenly become different or unhealthy, McGregor said, even when extensive testing has demonstrated their safety.
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Association of Washington Business opposes Initiative 522 - Port Orchard Independent
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