A voluntary GMO labeling bill failed to receive enough votes Wednesday to clear a procedural hurdle.
The Senate voted 48 to 49 against the voluntary labeling proposal by Senate Agriculture Chair Pat Roberts.
The Kansas Republican was unable to reach a compromise with his committee’s top Democrat, Debbie Stabenow, who led the opposition.
The bill needed 60 votes to move forward.
Before the vote, Stabenow said negotiations would continue, and that she hoped a deal could be wrapped by the end of this week.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell voted against the cloture motion, which will allow him to bring up the legislation later should an agreement be reached.
Presidential candidates, Senators Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders, along with now former candidate Marco Rubio, were not present for the vote.
