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You can decide

Initiative 522 is on the ballot that you likely just got in the mail. I-522 gives you the right to know what’s in your food. Specifically, if there are genetically engineered organisms in the food you’re buying to consume. Then you can decide whether or not to buy that food. That’s something a lot of people in Washington want to know. At least 64 other countries either require the labeling of all genetically engineered foods or ban them outright.

I-522 does not say whether genetically engineered food is safe or not. It just gives you the right to know what’s in your food. It’s pointless arguing if genetically engineered foods are safe or not, because that’s not in the initiative. Besides, there aren’t a lot of scientific studies yet, and they have different findings depending on the study and how long the rats ate genetically engineered foods.

Vote to give us the right to know, Yes on I-522. Let’s not wait for conclusive studies like we did with smoking.

Harvey Caine

Spokane

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