The campaigns for and against Initiative 522, which would mandate the labeling of foods with genetically modified ingredients, are really kicking into gear this week. And yesterday, each side got a boost. First: Monsanto, the chemical giant who'd previously only put about a quarter of a million dollars into the no campaign, dropped a massive $4.6 million dollars into No on 522, doubling the coffers in a single donation and giving that side a $3.5 million advantage. Meanwhile, on the Yes side, a new statewide poll released yesterday showed that they're up with voters, at least; according to the poll, 66 percent of Washington voters will "probably" or "definitely" support I-522.

Also this week, Seattle City Council passed a resolution declaring their support for I-522 and the mandatory labeling of food with GMO ingredients. (The measure passed 8-1, with Council Member Jean Godden the lone no vote.)

It appears that the No on 522 campaign may start airing TV ads as soon as this weekend or next week, which is a bit earlier than expected. When the very similar Proposition 37 went up for a vote in California last fall, the opposition plunked down more than $45 million from large chemical and food companies—the pro-labeling camp raised less than $9 million—and ran TV ads claiming that labeling would drive up food costs, that the exemptions to the law made no sense, and that um, grocers would be smothered by literal red tape. Or at least, this is an example of the ads they ran in California:

Can't wait to see the new ones!