EFFECT OF ECONOMIC SELF-INTEREST AND POLITICAL ORIENTATION ON COLORADO'S PROPOSITION 105.

Genetically modified foods (GM) have been included in the food chain in the United States for almost three decades. The nations of the European Union, as well as several other countries, have adopted a policy of mandatory labeling of GM ingredients in food, while the United States has followed a policy of voluntary disclosure. Colorado Proposition 105 called for the implementation of mandatory labeling of food with GM ingredients for sale in the state. This paper assesses the literature regarding national policies toward GM food labeling in the United States and other nations. It compares the favorable and negative arguments about GM labeling. The results of the 2014 referendum in Colorado are examined as to the economic selfinterest in the form of median household income and agricultural intensity affecting the outcome of the election. Additionally, the political orientation centered on health-related concerns, environmental concerns, and the rights of consumers to product information in relation to the Colorado Proposition 105 were tested. A multiple regression analysis strongly suggests the impact of these independent variables on the election outcome. The implications for policy changes regarding mandatory GM food labeling in the United States are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]