Advocacy group clears first hurdle in genetically engineered food labeling initiative

I-522, an initiative to label genetically engineered foods, has been submitted to Washington's secretary of state

By Kathryn Martin, Contributing Editor and Shane O'Halloran

January 8, 2013

Label It Wa, a Washington state-based genetically modified (GM) food labeling advocacy group, submitted its petition to WA’s secretary of state on Jan. 3. I-522, “The People’s Right to Know Genetically Engineered Foods Act,” accumulated over 350,000 signatures. In WA, 241,153 valid signatures are required to submit an initiative to the state. The state legislature has the option to adopt I-552 during its next scheduled session. If the legislature chooses not to, I-522 would appear on the Nov. 2013 ballot and be decided by popular vote. Read I-522 here.

Shane O’Halloran joined Food Engineering in November of 2012 as Digital/Online Editor. He graduated from Oberlin College in 2010, and worked as a copy editor and contributor to BleacherReport.com and ShesGameSports.com. He has also written feature articles on a freelance basis for publications in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. His areas of expertise include social media campaigns and website management. Shane produces daily news updates for www.foodengineeringmag.com and Food Engineering’s social media sites. In addition, Shane writes news articles for FE’s TechFlash e-newsletter and Food Engineering’s People and Industry section.