A hand recount of the vote on whether to require labels on GMO foods in Oregon began in 19 of the state’s 36 counties on Tuesday, said the Salem Statesman Journal. It said all counties are expected to complete their tallies by Dec 10. Unofficial results showed the statewide referendum failed by just over 800 votes out of 1.5 million cast. Whatever the outcome of the recount, “the results will be significant,” said the newspaper. If the initiative passes, Oregon will be the first state to approve GMO labeling by ballot. “If the measure fails, it will mark the fourth time massive spending by food corporations has defeated a voter labeling initiative,” said the Statesman Journal.
A petition signed by more than 700 chefs and urging a federal GMO labeling law was delivered to Congress. “It’s time for Congress to move us forward, not backward, when it comes to our right to know what’s in our food,” said the petition. Bills on both sides of the labeling issue are pending in the House and Senate. Iowa Sen Chuck Grassley told reporters no action was expected this year. “Then, it starts all over again next year,” said Grassley. He says he leans toward a bill sponsored by Rep Mike Pompeo of Kansas to pre-empt state labeling laws.