Here is some brief information about California's Prop 37 for the November election. Please take a few minutes to educate yourself about this extremely important issue regarding your health and the food of the future! Listed below are some facts about this campaign. You can easily learn more by visiting: www.carighttoknow.org
Don't forget, every vote counts, will be needed and very much appreciated! Vote YES on Prop 37!!!
All Proposition 37 does is require clear labels letting consumers know if foods are genetically modified. We already have food labels showing nutrition, allergy information and other facts consumers want to know. This measure simply adds information telling us if food is produced using genetic engineering, which is when food is modified in a laboratory by adding DNA from other plants, animals, bacteria or viruses.
What Are We Eating?
Fact: GMOs have not been proven safe, and the long-term health risks on humans of genetically modified foods have not been adequately investigated. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not require safety studies for genetically modified food.
We Currently Eat Genetically Engineered Food,But Don’t Know It
A genetically engineered food is a plant or meat product that has had its DNA artificially altered in a laboratory by genes from other plants, animals, viruses, or bacteria in order to produce foreign compounds in that food. This type of genetic alteration is not found in nature and is experimental. The scientific term is "transgenics," and is also often referred to as GMO, or Genetically Modified Organisms.
Example: Genetically Modified corn has been engineered in a laboratory to produce pesticides in its own tissue. GMO corn is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency as an Insecticide, but is sold unlabeled.
[EPA Pesticides]
The Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods Are Unclear
Unlike the strict safety evaluations required for the approval of new drugs, the safety of genetically engineered foods for human consumption is not adequately tested.
There have been NO long-term studies conducted on the safety of genetically engineered foods on humans.
Much of the World Already Requires Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods
More than 40 countries with over 40% of the world’s population already label genetically engineered foods, including the entire European Union. Even China labels genetically engineered foods. California should take the lead on this important issue in the United States. What do these countries know that we don't?
A Simple Proposition for California in 2012
The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act is simple: The initiative would simply require food sold in retail outlets to be labeled if it is produced through genetic engineering.
Just Like Nutrition Facts
We didn’t use to label foods with calorie or nutritional value information, but we do now, and most consumers use this information every day. The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act simply requires food producers to also label food that contains genetically engineered ingredients.
No Cost to Consumers or Food Producers
The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act will have no cost impact on consumers or food producers. It simply adds a label to genetically engineered food. Companies change their labeling all the time. In a recent poll, 93% of Californians said they would vote for Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods! If this initiative passes, it will be a huge step towards the transparency we deserve. Once people KNOW what is in their food, they can make the informed choice to avoid the potential health risks of GMOs until more research on their long-term effects can be done.
