The Yes on Measure 92 campaign admitted defeat of the Oregon referendum to put special labels on food made with genetically modified organisms. In a statement on its Web site, the campaign said it “is ending its efforts today.” The initiative lost by 837 votes out of 1.5 million ballots, according to unofficial results of an automatic recount, two dozen more than the certified Nov 4 results. Yes on 92 was rebuffed when it went to court this week to force elections officials to count 4,600 disqualified ballots, enough to potentially change the outcome of the vote.
“The labeling movement will continue to grow. We draw strength from the fact that we came so achingly close to winning this vote,” said the Yes on 92 statement. “While Measure 92 will not emerge victorious in this election, our growing movement to label genetically engineered foods is neither defeated nor discouraged.”
It was the closest vote yet in the campaign for GMO labeling but also the fourth defeat in three years. Vermont enacted a labeling law in May that takes effect in July 2016 if it survives a court challenge. Some $100 million was spent on the statewide referendums since 2012. Both sides say the forum will shift to Congress in 2015.
“(T)he narrow margin in Oregon makes me more sure than ever that we will see mandatory labeling soon,” writes Rebecca Spector, the West Coast director of GMO skeptic Center for Food Safety, at Civil Eats. “More people than ever are raising questions about how their food is grown and produced. There’s no turning back now.”