Bringing science into 522 debate

The Washington State Academy of Science released a "white paper" evaluating the implications of passing I-522. The report, commissioned by state lawmakers with no funding from either campaign, provides definitions and outlines what we know, and don't know, about how the new law would affect food cost and safety. "GM plants and animals are 'substantially equivalent' to their non-GM counterparts," says the report. Nothing new there. But the report also notes that our knowledge of the long-term safety of GMOs is limited ("Continued surveillance of food safety, including long-term health effects, is warranted for both GM and non-GM containing foods.") and that potential increases in food prices could affect both GMO and non-GMO foods. “The greatest costs are not in the labeling itself," says the report, "but in the segregation and demonstration of GM-free status, costs that would affect the price of both GM and non-GM containing foods."In the midst of loud, questionable claims by both sides in the GMO debate, a little science may go a long way. The full report is available here. — E.M.