"Monsanto Bets $5 Million in Fight Over Gene-Altered Food"

"Monsanto Co. and DuPont Co., among the biggest makers of bioengineered crop seeds, are persuading Washington state voters to change their minds about a proposal to require labels on genetically modified food."



"The companies are backing an anti-labeling campaign with $18.1 million -- twice that of advocates for a ballot measure next month. The labeling proposal had a 45 percentage-point lead among registered voters five weeks ago that has narrowed to 4 points since opponents began advertising, the independent Elway Poll showed Oct. 21.

'This is a David and Goliath fight,' said Trudy Bialic, a spokeswoman for PCC Natural Markets based in Seattle. Store shelves are lined with tags -- 'Non-GMO Project verified product' -- on products from canola oil to granola bars, to reassure those who fear or distrust genetically modified organisms. 'There’s no way we can compete with the resources of Monsanto, Dow and DuPont.'"

Alison Vekshin reports for Bloomberg October 25, 2013.

SEE ALSO:

"Food Corporations Donate $17.2 Million To Fight GMO Labeling in Washington State" (TreeHugger)

"I-522: New Poll Shows Big Swing in Voters’ View Of GMO Labeling" (Olympian)

"In Washington’s GMO Labeling Campaigns, Most Money From Out of State" (Spokesman-Review)

"Grocery Manufacturers Disclose Big Donors To Anti-Gmo Labeling Campaign in Washington" (Oregonian)

Source: Bloomberg, 10/25/2013