Washington state has embraced transparency with food labels for years. We've labeled Washington-grown chickens, fruits, and vegetables, as well as wild and farm-raised fish. These are ingredient and processing disclosures, so people can decide to eat it and know their purchases economically supports what they prefer. None of these ever increased food prices.

I-522 is no different. We get to know if our food has water, salt, or flour in it, and we get to know if our oil is hydrogenated. We are told whether our orange juice is from concentrate or if our fish is farmed. I-522 permits us to know if our food was produced with genetic engineering.

Don't let the NoOn522 fear and deception campaign fool you. Shattering the funding record against a peoples' initiative by 39 percent, five chemical companies and the Grocery Manufactures' Association are trying to buy the election with $17.2 million in out-of-state money, and with that association earning an injunction by Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson for laundering campaign donations. They will buy and twist anything for a no vote.

The "no" side insists organic is the answer. Representing a few percent of food and not always available, organic is a restrictive solution. It creates a class barrier, blocking people on fixed incomes from a choice that isn't genetically engineered. Such people can't afford 30 percent to 40 percent premiums and don't have yards to grow organics or ways to mill grain to make breads and cereals.Labeling lets everyone afford the 20 percent to 30 percentof conventional nongenetically engineered foods out there but unidentifiable today.

One part of the initiative states that it is intended "to ensure people are fully informed about whether the food they purchase and eat was produced through genetic engineering so they may choose for themselves whether to purchase and eat such food." Contrary to popular myth, I-522 is for people food, notpet or animal feed. The initiative is unambiguous and the context clearly aligns with the Title 69 Food Processing definition of food as for a person.

I-522 is well-written and regulates all food with ingredient labels today, including every ingredient required to be on a food label—no exceptions. Despite NoOn522 deception, I-522requires all animals and animal by-products, including milk or cheese, to be labeled ifit comes from a genetically engineered animal; there just aren't any today.The "no" campaign's exaggerated exemptions are clarifications that existing federal food labeling exemptions apply for alcohol, restaurant food, hospital food, and processing aids like the enzyme in cheese, none of which are labeled today.

I-522 didn't increase burdens by overruling these national standards, many put in place when initiative opponent Ken Eikenberry was the state attorney general without his objection.

I-522 is lightweight and practical keeping tax burden low.No required applications, certifications, inspections, or tests are involved. That's why the Washington state Office of Financial Management independently estimates the cost to implement it at $3.4 million over the course of six years—only 8 cents per resident per year.

I-522 also protects producers from frivolous lawsuits. Complaints are first filed with the state. If no wrongdoing was found, a suit could be filed, but—with no bounty and only a potential award of reasonable attorney fees if the court overruled the state—it's high risk for litigants. State compliance investigations likely would end the matter without lawsuits.

Don't get confused. I-522 is simple, farmer friendly, and about your right to know if your food is produced with genetic engineering. Vote yes.