Colorado GMO Labeling Initiative Makes November Ballot

A GMO labeling initiative will be on the ballot in Colorado Nov. 4. The voter initiative requires the labeling of genetically modified or GMO foods, and will appear on the statewide ballot as Proposition 105.

The Colorado Secretary of State’s office announced on Aug. 20 that nearly 125,000 valid signatures were received, giving the Right to Know Colorado campaign 145 percent of the number of signatures required for placement on the ballot. Right to Know Colorado submitted a total of 171,370 signatures by the Aug. 4 deadline, with a 73 percent validity rate.

“This historic achievement is only possible because of the thousands of hours volunteers contributed to this effort,” said Larry Cooper, Right to Know Colorado chair. “We had more than 500 people collect signatures throughout the state with signatures from every county in the state. The people of Colorado made this happen.”

Reflecting a July 2013 New York Times poll showing that a majority (93 percent) of Americans are in favor of mandatory GMO labeling, a recent independent survey in the state of Colorado shows that 75 percent of Colorado registered voters would vote yes to require labeling of foods made with genetically engineered ingredients sold in the state.

Proposition 105 asks voters if foods modified or treated with genetically modified materials should be labeled “Produced With Genetic Engineering” starting July 1, 2016. 

“If GMOs are safe, as companies say, then why not label them on food?” said Cooper. “Coloradans should not be left in the dark about what they are feeding their families.”