How California Could Force the Rest of the US to Label GMO Foods
- At June 3, 2012
- By Michael Tiner
- In News
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By Tom Philpott
Mother Jones, May 31, 2012
Straight to the Source
In November, California voters will decide on a ballot initiative that would require labeling of all foods containing ingredients from genetically modified crops. The initiative made it to the ballot after almost 1 million Californians signed a petition in favor of it-nearly double the 504,760 signatures needed under the state’s proposition rules. The campaign that organized the push to get the measure on the ballot focused on possible health effects of GMO foods.This news will not likely be applauded by my friends over at Croplife America, the main trade group of the GM seed/agrichemical industry. The big GMO crops-corn, soy, sugar beets, and cotton-are processed into sweeteners, fats, and additives used widely by the food industry. Everything from high fructose corn syrup-sweetened Coke to soybean oil-containing Hellman’s mayo would have to bear a label reading something like “Contains GMO ingredients.”
That would send a shockwave through the food industry-one that could ultimately be felt on the industrial-scale US farms that have been devoting their land to GMO crops for years, and the companies that profit from selling them patented seeds and matching herbicides. The reason isn’t just that California represents an imposing chunk of the US food market. It’s also that a food-labeling law that starts in California is unlikely to stay in California.
Laura
Oh this would be groundbreaking…can only pray this law passes!!!
Demeter
Laura, go back to your hippie commune, move to another socialized country, such as California, or grow your own food.
Farmers are the guinea pigs of all the produce they grow. They eat more of their own food then you ever will. Do you really think they would grow anything harmful just to sell more? C’mon people, open your eyes just once.
Laura, if you do grow your own food, let me know you sell anything extra that you can’t eat to someone after poisoning it somehow. Somehow you believe farmers would do that.
Michael Tiner
To bad Mr. Demeter hasn’t a clue what he’s talking about. Or maybe he’s actually a paid shill for the Biotech industry.
First off, yes Farmers are the guinea pigs of all the produce they sell. So lets look at the result of GMO crops grown by farmers.
*Scientists Warn EPA Over Monsanto’s GMO Crop Failures, Dangers*
Read more: http://naturalsociety.com/scientists-warn-epa-over-monsantos-gmo-crop-failures-dangers/#ixzz1yXNbGIxX
*Monsanto GM-corn harvest fails massively in South Africa*
Read more: http://digitaljournal.com/article/270101#ixzz1yXNrVFUV
*Monsanto India Farmer Suicide*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Av6dx9yNiCA
Secondly, lets look at the toxic effect of chemical agriculture on the farmer’s physical health.
*Apopka farmworkers say pesticide exposure caused illnesses*
http://orlandoweekly.com/news/apopka-farmworkers-say-pesticide-exposure-caused-illnesses-1.1155817
Pesticides Continue to Harm Cambodia’s Farmers
http://www.voanews.com/content/pesticides-continue-to-harm-cambodias-farmers-114477019/166941.html
*Studies show pesticides harming Salinas Valley children*
http://investigativereportingworkshop.org/investigations/toxic-influence/story/studies-show-pesticides-harming-children/
Real farmers are not the problem. The problem is that less than 1% of the food we eat is actually grown by traditional farmers. 99% or more of our food is grown by giant for-profit multi-national corporations. The corporations care nothing about our bodily health or that of the environment. They only care about ever increasing profits.
To the point about Laura moving away to a ‘socialized country’ like California. Last time I checked, I live here in the United States of America, which employees one of the largest ‘social welfare’ systems on the planet through the Social Security program which I am forced to participate in against my will. There is no option to opt out of Social Security and these welfare program ‘social contract’ stipulations and tax collection is enforced at gun point by the IRS and now the Department of Homeland Security.
Lena
That is awesome news! If this passes, it gives consumers a CHOICE. We are all buying and eating it now and have no options other than to grow it ourselves. I wish I could.
But given the option to vote with our pocketbook–that will speak loud and clear!