Grocery Manufacturers Association Statement Regarding I-522 Election Results in Washington State

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pamela G. Bailey, President and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), issued the following statement today in response to the I-522 election results in Washington State. 



"We are pleased that the voters of Washington State rejected I-522 by a significant margin.  I-522 was a complex and costly proposal that would have misled consumers, raised the price of groceries for Washington families and done nothing to improve food safety.



"The food and beverage industry is committed to providing consumers with a wide array of safe and affordable food and beverage choices.  Genetically modified food ingredients (GMOs) are safe, good for the environment, reduce the cost of food and help feed a growing global population of seven billion.



"Because a 50-state patchwork of GMO labeling laws would be confusing and costly to consumers, GMA will advocate for a federal solution that will protect consumers by ensuring that the FDA, the America's leading food safety authority, sets national standards for the safety and labeling of products made with GMO ingredients.  Our country's labeling laws have and should continue to be based on health, safety and nutritional content.



"We will continue to oppose individual state efforts to impose mandatory labeling of products made with GMO technology, as well as advocate for the safe and effective use of this important technology to increase the food supply while lowering cost.  And we will continue to engage in an informative dialogue with our consumers on the safety, prevalence and benefits of that technology."

For more information, visit www.FactsAboutGMOs.org



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Based in Washington, D.C., the Grocery Manufacturers Association is the voice of more than 300 leading food, beverage and consumer product companies that sustain and enhance the quality of life for hundreds of millions of people in the United States and around the globe.


Founded in 1908, GMA is an active, vocal advocate for its member companies and a trusted source of information about the industry and the products consumers rely on and enjoy every day.  The association and its member companies are committed to meeting the needs of consumers through product innovation, responsible business practices and effective public policy solutions developed through a genuine partnership with policymakers and other stakeholders.

In keeping with its founding principles, GMA helps its members produce safe products through a strong and ongoing commitment to scientific research, testing and evaluation and to providing consumers with the products, tools and information they need to achieve a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.  The food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry in the United States generates sales of $2.1 trillion annually, employs 14 million workers and contributes $1 trillion in added value to the economy every year.

SOURCE Grocery Manufacturers Association