Monsanto spends $5 million on anti-labeling campaign

Agricultural giant Monsanto Co., one of the largest makers of bioengineered crop seeds, is trying to persuade Washington state voters away from a proposal to require labels on genetically modified foods.

Monsanto has contributed $5.1 million to oppose the measure, according to Bloomberg. So far, companies like Monsanto, DuPont Co. and Dow Chemical Co. are backing an anti-labeling campaign with $18.1 million.

Washington joined 26 states with proposals this year to mandate genetically engineered food be properly labeled or removed from store shelves.

Creve Coeur-based Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) reported total net sales of $14.86 billion in 2013, compared with $13.50 billion reported last year.St. Louis Business Journal