'This Is Only the Beginning': Oregon GMO Labeling Measure Heads to Recount

Advocates of labeling genetically modified foods are cheering that an Oregon measure that would require such labeling is headed to an automatic recount.

Measure 92, as Common Dreams reported earlier this month, would mandate that beginning January 2016, certain food items that were produced with or contain GMOs, also referred to as genetically engineered (GE) food, would be labeled as such.

Despite the Yes on 92 campaign being greatly outspent, the final tally showed Monday that the effort was defeated by only 0.06 percentage point, less than the threshold needed to trigger a recount.

The Oregonian reports that the recount will take place by December 12.

“Thanks to the tireless efforts of on the ground organizers, and despite an aggressive and expensive opposition campaign, GE food labeling is still alive in Oregon,” stated Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of Center for Food Safety, an organization that was a lead author of Measure 92. “The power and tenaciousness of the Food Movement has been on full display here in Oregon,” he added.

Sandeep Kaushik, a spokesperson for Yes on Measure 92, stated this week:  “Oregonians saw through the No side’s false and cynical scare tactics and stood up for transparency and accountability in our food system.”