GMO Labeling: A Go or a No-No?

On November 5, 2013 citizens of Washington State will vote on whether or not to label food products that have been genetically modified (GMO), allowing consumers to have more control over what they are putting into their bodies.

GMOs refer to foods that have been chemically altered to withstand radical climate change and insect infestation to promote optimal growth and survival. They have also been fortified with nutrients to curb growing deficiencies throughout the American population. Though using GMOs appears to be a well-intended practice, public health advocates have accused these artificial additives of being conduits of disease.

But it’s not whether GMOs are being used that currently has people up in arms, it is the lack of transparency and awareness of when they are being used and in which products.

So Resonate wondered: Is there a relationship between support of or opposition to the labeling of GMO use and how one manages his or her own health?  We uncovered quite the interesting contradiction.

People who don’t support GMO labeling on food are 15% less likely to manage health conditions without medication.  Medicine is an extremely regulated industry in the U.S. Not only are pill bottles prominently labeled with chemical ingredients, side effects, warnings, and directions, but they are also supplemented with more in-depth informational pamphlets when picked up at the pharmacy.

So how does a group who is opposed to labeling whether foods have been genetically modified easily comply with and take advantage of the information that medicinal labeling provides? Ultimately, medication, made from many different chemicals, and food are headed for the same destination – the body.

In contrast, Resonate found that those who support GMO labeling are 10% more likely to manage health conditions without medication. Rather, they are more likely to subscribe to lifestyle changes like diet and exercise over medicinal treatment for condition management.

Take a closer look at Resonate’s findings on supporters vs. opponents of GMO labeling by specific health condition: