Washington State to vote on mandatory GMO labelling

SEATTLE, WA (NEWS1130) – How much do you know about the food you eat?

There’s a vote happening in Washington State that could force companies to label all food products that are genetically modified. If the vote passes, Washington will be the first state in the US to make GMO labelling mandatory.

Lots of people in British Columbia are watching this vote closely.

“It’s very relevant even though it’s on the other side of the border, because consumers in Canada have the same concerns,” Dag Falck, organic program manager with Nature’s Path Organic Foods, tells News1130. “The momentum is gaining for this issue.”

Falck is part of a group that has been approaching municipalities in BC about declaring their cities and towns GE-Free Zones.

Several cities, including Richmond, have signed on but the decision is largely symbolic.

The Union of BC Municipalities passed a resolution calling for a ban on growing genetically modified crops in the province, but a firm decision would have to come from the provincial or the federal government.

Falck feels if Washington State passes GMO-labelling legislation, it would force Canadian politicians to pay attention.

“That will be very significant because it will signal to other states and Canada that consumers aren’t going to sit down and wait for this, they are going to speak up,” he tells us.

People in California voted down a similar law last year.