Voters' Response to Labeling Genetically Engineered Foods: Oregon's Experience

Oregonians voted on Measure 27, a measure to label genetically engineered foods, in November 2002. A follow‐up survey of 801 voters was conducted to explore how consumers voted in an actual election on this issue, who voted for and against this measure, and why they voted the way they did. The results revealed that the measure did not pass for a variety of reasons. Those included concern with costs, questions about necessity of the labeling in view of safety assessments by the FDA, concern with how the measure was worded, and the impact the measure would have on farmers. The majority of respondents supporting the measure wanted to know what is in the food they are eating.