how much did monsanto donate to prop 522

How much money did I-522 raise?

As of October 30, 2013, opponents of I-522 raised approximately $22 million, setting the record for the most money ever raised - in support or opposition - for a ballot measure in the state of Washington.

What was the GMA lawsuit?

On October 16, 2013, Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) initiated a lawsuit on behalf of the Washington Public Disclosure Commission against the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), an opponent of Initiative 522. GMA, according to Ferguson, was required to reveal whether or not the organization did a special assessment - asking members to donate for the specific cause - in raising $7.2 million for the No on 522 campaign. If so, they needed to register as a political committee and disclose donor names. The GMA refused to say if it did such a special assessment. Ferguson believed that the association was attempting to shield members from scrutiny for opposing the initiative. He said, "This is precisely the conduct our campaign disclosure laws are designed to prevent." He noted that the case could lead to a significant fine.

Who is Kai Robertson?

Kai Robertson, a business sustainability consultant, conducted an independent study and literature review on behalf of Just Label It, a national consumer advocacy organization. Robertson’s objectives were to determine whether there was a connection between changes to labels by food processors and food prices.

Is I-522 a good idea?

The Spokesman-Review said, "As is so often the case with initiatives, I-522 is a potentially good idea wrapped in very bad law-making. Labeling is already out there for consumers who want it and for producers who want to sell to them. It’s too early to stigmatize a new science like genetic engineering before we understand all its positives and negatives."

Is it safe to eat GMOs?

Major scientific studies have consistently ruled that genetically modified foods are safe for human consumption. Virtually all major studies have been funded or conducted by the companies promoting and selling such products, however. Opponents have called for independent studies on GMOs, as some smaller independent studies have indicated GMOs may not be safe under all or certain circumstances, such as pregnancy. Some countries have banned the sales of GMOs citing this lack of research done by independent institutions, rather than the companies themselves. GMO labeling is mandated in 64 countries, including the European Union nations, Australia, China, Japan, Brazil and India. Proponents of GMO labeling in the United States are focusing their campaigns not on the safety of GMOs, but on transparency in the food system. In the United States a large proportion of commodity crops are genetically engineered: 97% of the nation's sugar beets, 93% of the soybeans, 90% of the cotton and 90% of the feed corn, according to the 2013 figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In the summer of 2013, Maine and Connecticut both passed GMO labeling laws, however the laws will not take effect unless other states follow suit.