(Reuters) — Voters in Colorado and Oregon rejected a measure to require labelling of foods made with genetically modified ingredients.
The outcome at the polls came after corporate food and agriculture interests poured more than US$36 million into anti-labelling campaigns in the two states.
The same group of companies, which include the biotech seed and chemical companies Monsanto and DuPont, helped defeat similar measures in California and Washington state in 2012 and 2013.
The Colorado labelling measure captured only 32 percent voter approval, versus 68 percent opposed, according to preliminary results.
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Opponents raised more than $16 million on efforts to kill the measure, compared with $895,000 raised by those pushing for passage, according to the secretary of state’s office and campaign finance filings.
The results were closer in Oregon, where labelling opponents put together more than $20 million for campaigning, compared with $8 million raised by supporters.
The Oregonian newspaper reported that the labelling initiative lost by 1.2 percent.
Several other states are eying GMO labelling measures. Labelling proponents say GMOs can be harmful for humans and the environment. However, opponents say GMOs have been proven safe and that mandatory labelling would be costly and confusing for consumers.
Connecticut and Maine have passed GMO labelling laws, but both states require other states to pass labelling bills before the laws take effect.
Vermont has passed a mandatory labelling law with no other requirements.
It is set to take effect in 2016, but labelling opponents have sued to try to block the law.
