On Nov. 5, the voters in Washington state will decide whether or not to require food manufacturers to let consumers know if the products they sell contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
In 2012, GMO’s comprised 88 percent of the corn and 94 percent of the soybeans produced in the United States. About 60-70 percent of processed foods contain GMO derived ingredients.
Before GMOs, herbicides used to be sprayed around food. Now they can be sprayed on food. Before GMO’s, insecticides used to be sprayed on food. Now they’re produced in food.
Roundup sprayed on food and used on many GMO crops has been found to get in the food. Over time, it may create inflammation which may damage cellular systems throughout the body according to one study.
The GMO producers have been advised to use the word “enhanced” rather than “genetically modified,” “high quality,” rather than “transgenic,” “natural” rather than “chemical,” and refer to “crop protection” rather than “pesticides.”
Nov. 5 is a chance to “know your GMO” by voting to support GMO labeling. Vote yes on I-522.
– Lara Michaels
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