![\"I522gelabel\"](\"http:\/\/ecowatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/I522gelabel-150x150.jpg\")
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A group fighting the Nov. 5 ballot measure that would mandate labeling of genetically engineered<\/a> (GE) foods in Washington has broken the record<\/a> for the most money raised by an initiative campaign in that state.<\/p>\n With a $540,000 donation from Monsanto on Monday, the No on 522 Committee has raised nearly $22.9 million to defeat I-522<\/a>, a citizens’ initiative that would require foods containing GE ingredients to carry a label, according to campaign records<\/a>.<\/p>\n The No on 522 committee is largely financed by five biotechnology giants and a food industry group. About half of the money came from the large food processing companies that were donating anonymously through<\/a> the Grocery Manufacturers Association until a lawsuit<\/a> by the state attorney general forced the lobby group to release their names.<\/p>\n Biotech and agrichemical firms including Monsanto, Bayer CropScience and Dupont are largely responsible for the rest of the war chest. Monsanto, the second-highest contributor, has donated $5.37 million. The No on 522 campaign has spent $13.5 million, according to state records. <\/p>\n Money appears to be making a big difference<\/a>. In September, before both sides began spending on TV ads, GE labeling supporters held a 45-point lead, according to an Elway Poll. Just weeks after ads began to roll out across the state, an Oct. 21 poll<\/a> showed that just 46 percent of voters supported the initiative and 42 percent were opposed.<\/p>\n Yes on 522, the campaign for GE labeling, has already been outspent by the opposition, with $6.8 million raised and $5.4 million spent. The campaign has received large chunks of its funding from natural products companies, organics firms and alternative health companies. The biggest supporter<\/a> of I-522 is Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps<\/a> of Escondido, CA, which has contributed $950,000. Other supporters<\/a> include, Nutiva<\/a>, Nature’s Path<\/a>, Clif Bar<\/a>, Organic Valley<\/a>, Brad’s Raw Foods<\/a>, and Mercola.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Supporters of the labeling initiative in Washington state fear a reprise of a similar measure<\/a> in California in 2012, where Monsanto contributed $8.1 million to a successful effort to defeat California’s Proposition 37. Monsanto was the No on 37 campaign’s biggest contributor.<\/p>\n Immediate donations are needed<\/a> to fight back against the Monsanto corporate cash, said Delana Jones, campaign manager for Yes on 522.<\/p>\n Listen to what Dr. Michael Hansen, senior scientist for Consumers Union,<\/a> has to say about the GE food labeling initiative:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Visit EcoWatch’s GE FOOD<\/a><\/strong> page for more related news on this topic.<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"I-522\"](\"http:\/\/ecowatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/I-522.jpg\")
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