Although more than 60 countries require disclosure of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on product labels—including all countries in the EU—the US currently does not. There is no US requirement to disclose the use of an ingredient with DNA that might have been altered in a “non-natural way,” which is the working definition on GMOs. However, in the absence of federal labeling standards, a number of states have proposed myriad GMO labeling schemes.
The November 2014, elections were a setback for supporters of GMO labeling, as ballot initiatives in two states fell short. Colorado saw a “no” vote triumph by a surprising 65% to 35% margin, while Oregon’s GMO labeling initiative also failed, although just barely.