If you grind fresh coffee in the morning does that mean you’ve genetically modified the beans? What if you decide to can pickles—have you altered the natural state of the cucumber to the point that it’s been genetically modified?
No but that’s what Proposition 37 suggests as it is written.
On the surface, California’s Proposition 37 seems like a great idea: require genetically modified organism (GMO)-containing foods to be labeled as such so consumers can be informed of what they are ingesting with honesty on a label. The basics have moved far beyond labeling GMOs in foods, however. While consumers will have more transparency from companies concerning the foods they ingest, several other companies will be negatively impacted even though their products do not contain GMOs.
As it is currently written, any product that has undergone any kind of processing including canning, smoking, pressing, cooking, freezing, dehydration, fermentation, or milling, cannot be labeled as “naturally made”, “natural”, “naturally grown”, or “all natural” and must be labeled that it contains or may contain genetically engineered material even though it does not.
That bag of organic frozen strawberries in your grocer’s freezer is not a GMO food but because it has been frozen, it must be labeled with a warning that it may contain genetically engineered material. Planning to purchase a smoked salmon? It will have a warning that it may contain genetically engineered materials as well.
I agree that everyone has the right to know what is in their food, exactly where it came from, and under what conditions it was grown or produced but Proposition 37, as it is currently written, is not the way to achieve this. The intentions are honest and fair but the idea has mushroomed far beyond labeling GMOs and keeping consumers informed and forces unnecessary pressure on nearly every product on the shelf at a market. Consider the items on our shelves at Hanna’s Herb Shop—natural herbs that have been milled and encapsulated or tinctured—these items would need to be labeled that they may contain genetically engineered materials because their state has been altered, even if in a natural way.
If you’re voting in California in November, take a moment to read up on Proposition 37. The idea is valid and necessary but as written there will be long-term consequences for companies (manufacturers and retailers alike). There is a way to go about enforcing Right to Know campaigns but Proposition 37 is not the way.
The way this is written, the only winners will be the lawyers. This is written by the same lawyers that drafted Prop 65 and have made millions by bringing lawsuits against companies and forcing settlements without even a shred of evidence to their claims. That is how Prop 37 is written as well. It allows lawyers to come in and bring lawsuits against any food/dietary supplement related company without a shred of evidence. They then make their money off of the small companies that are forced to settle rather than pay the legal fees that it would cost to fight the allegations. They will make millions, small companies will go under, and the consumers (who they claim to be helping) will be left with confusion and a lack of good natural products. Lets fight to get this re-written correctly to help consumers and the natural product industry!
Hmmm, I was unaware of these aspects of the law. I will have to read further and in more depth. Very thought-provoking.
Few are aware of the larger Food Production Efficiencies context in which GMO’s are clearly not humanity’s best choice. The following research link will provide details for those wishing tools for a productive, abundant food system.
GMO’s are a part of a vast 2-dimensional ‘agriculture’ (Latin ‘ager’ = ‘field’) deficiency & violently self-imposed ignorance perpetuated in colonial societies for 6000 years. Humanity’s ‘indigenous’ (L = ‘self-generating’) ancestors cultivated the 3-D polyculture orchard with canopies & lower levels as vines, bushes, herbs, vegetables, greens, nuts, fruit, mushrooms etc across continental landscapes. Polyculture Orchards photosynthesize 92 – 98% of solar energy into massive abundance of food, material, water-cycle, energy etc. Biosphere energy cold spots attract warm-moist ocean winds inland. 60% of ocean to continent water transfer is through condensation on leaf surfaces. Agriculture field crops only photosynthesize between 2 – 8% of solar energy, reflecting over 90% back into the troposphere. Reflected solar energy pushes winds from the continent into the oceans thus creating desert conditions. Orchard tree roots descend as deep as the canopy pumping water, mining minerals & developing nutrient colonies tens of metres deep. Agriculture roots are only centimetres deep. Polyculture orchards are 100 times (10,000%) more productive of food,materials, energy, water-cycle & other essential ecological services than agriculture. Life on earth only exists because of the height & capacity of trees whose heights actually perfectly mirror earth’s distance & energy balance with the sun. Until humanity again understands our natural-science primate roles as stewards of the tree & biosphere, we live in disequilibrium with nature, scarcity, cruelty & slavery to ignorancesuch as GMO’s & agriculture represent. https://sites.google.com/site/indigenecommunity/design/1-indigenous-welcome-orchard-food-production-efficiencies
Towards a culture of peace & ecology,
No law is perfect. It is necessary at this juncture to prevent big Mo from obtaining free rein.
Thanks for your comments, everyone. Didgevillage, I agree that no law is perfect but the current language on Prop 37 will cause more harm than help. It is a great idea and necessary but not as written.
This is a really interesting post. I can see the points you made and how these things could cause real problems. I also really want GMO to be labeled. I hope they figure out a good system and make it happen. I am entering the Nordic Naturals contest.
Thankfully Prop 37 did not pass in the recent election. Hopefully this gives everyone a chance to have their voices heard and a new Prop can be drafted that benefits everyone!