Natural & Organic Retailers Align To Support Colorado GMO Labeling Ballot Initiative

DENVER  – As the Right to Know Colorado Initiative #48 to require mandatory labeling of GMO foods sold in the state nears the halfway mark in its goal to collect 86,105 signatures to ensure the bill is on Colorado’s fall election ballot, major natural and organic retailers are aligning to support petition gatherers in stores across the state.

With 34 locations in Colorado, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, founded in 1955 in Golden, CO, by pioneering health advocates Margaret and Philip Isely, has been a lead supporter of the state’s mandatory GMO labeling bill. The natural and organic retailer currently hosts I-48 petition gatherers in all its Colorado stores. In addition to the campaign’s website, www.righttoknowcolorado.org, Natural Grocers offers comprehensive information about the Right to Know Colorado GMO labeling bill on its website.

Petition gatherers for the Right to Know Colorado GMO labeling ballot initiative will be collecting signatures at all Colorado Whole Foods, Natural Grocers and Alfalfa's Market locations.“The real news with Colorado Right to Know GMO Labeling Initiative I-48 is that is not like the others. It is a fair and balanced measure that requires the Colorado Department of Health to establish and enforce regulations to identify whether consumer products contain GMO ingredients,” said Alan Lewis, Natural Grocers’ Director of Government Affairs and Organic Integrity. “Within the regulatory environment of Colorado, this will be an inexpensive and low risk framework with minimal cost. Private lawsuits are specifically disallowed. In this regard, it reflects the desire of all Coloradans to promote the public good without unduly burdening each of us individuals.

“Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler strongly encourages all Colorado residents 18 and over to register to vote so they can have a voice in November's elections and to vote on the I-48 GMO labeling initiative” Lewis added.

Whole Foods Market Enlists Colorado Stores

Additionally, in early June, Whole Foods Market announced that Right to Know Colorado petition gatherers will be at its locations throughout Colorado. Currently, Colorado registered voters can sign the petition Monday through Friday from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm at all 20 Whole Foods Market Colorado locations. For store locations, click here.

In March 2013, Whole Foods Market set a deadline that all products in its U.S. and Canadian stores must be labeled to indicate if they contain GMOs by 2018. For more information on Whole Foods Market’s position on GMO labeling, visit co-CEO A.C. Gallo’s recent blog, “GMO Transparency: One Year Update.”

Independent Colorado natural and organic grocers Alfalfa’s Market and Lucky’s Market, both based in Boulder, are also permitting Initiative 48 petition gatherers at Alfalfa’s flagship Boulder store and Lucky’s Market Boulder and Longmont locations to help ensure that the Right to Know Colorado GMO labeling measure gets on the statewide fall election ballot.

In addition to the retail locations, Right to Know Colorado petition circulators are collecting signatures at leading farmers markets and major events throughout the state. For more information about signature gathering locations and to volunteer, visit www.righttoknowcolorado.org/volunteer.

To view the Colorado Right to Know Initiative 48 ballot title to label GMOs as approved by the Colorado Supreme Court, visit https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Initiatives/titleBoard/results/2013-2014/48Results.html.

About GMO Labeling

With no federal GMO labeling requirements in place in the U.S., it is estimated that more than 80% of conventional processed foods contain genetically engineered ingredients, primarily from GMO corn, soy, canola, cotton, sugar beets and other GMO crops. However, according to national GMO labeling advocacy organization Just Label It, more than 90% of U.S. consumers surveyed want mandatory labeling of GMO foods. While pro-biotech interests claim that GMOs are safe, a growing body of scientific research suggests there may be enough risks to justify the need for consumer transparency. More than 64 other countries require mandatory labeling of genetically engineered or GMO foods. Colorado joins more than two dozen other states, including Oregon, Arizona, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and elsewhere, in calling for GMO labeling legislation.

About Right to Know Colorado

Right to Know Colorado GMO is a grassroots campaign to achieve mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods or GMOs across the state. Right to Know Colorado is built on the foundation that we have the basic right to know what is in our food and what we are feeding our families. The campaign gives Coloradans the opportunity to make informed decisions about their diet, health, and general lifestyle. Food labels list and describe nearly every detailed component of the food product, from the caloric values and processing information, to the fat and protein content and the known allergens. Adding a simple label for GMO ingredients would fulfill Colorado consumers’ right to know, enabling them to make educated food purchases and dietary choices for themselves and their families. For more information visit www.righttoknowcolorado.org, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RighttoKnowColorado.

To contribute, visit https://righttoknowco.nationbuilder.com/donate, or contact Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural Marketing, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042.

Source: Compass Natural Marketing