If you live in California, you’re going to be seeing a lot of the number 37 from now until November. Prop 37 is the initiative that will appear on ballots in November giving consumers the option to vote on placing labels on genetically modified foods (GMOs).
If Prop 37 passes, food products using genetically modified ingredients would be labeled as such. Be prepared to see a lot of Yes on 37 advocates at your local farmer’s market and tapered to the cars of the majority of the general public. According to JustLabelIt.org, 92% of Americans want the FDA to label genetically modified foods.
According to KCET, opponents of Prop 37 include the companies that make GMOs, particularly Monsanto, who have incredibly deep pockets and the best marketers money can buy, so the passing of Prop 37, even in a consumer-friendly state like California, is not a given.
The other factor to consider in why passing Prop 37 isn’t necessarily a no-brainer is that some believe the initiative doesn’t go far enough, since it won’t require labeling on all GMO-adjacent food products, such as beef that was fed modified grains.
What do you think? Do you want your food labeled? Would you be willing to pay a bit more to see that happen?