California' November 2012 ballot will have a Proposition to label foods containing genetically engineered ingredients (GMO foods). Please vote YES for this Proposition to ensure the safety of our food.

GMOs: What are GMOs? Genetically Modified Organisms. The correct scientific term is "transgenics." 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. Currently, GMOs are found in 80% of U.S. packaged and processed foods. GM crops include corn, soybeans, canola, cottonseed, sugar beets, hawaiian papaya, a small amount of zucchini and yellow squash, and dairy products injected with GM bovine growth hormone.

Labeled in nearly 50 countries: While Canada and the U.S. do not require labeling of GM foods, they are required to be labeled in nearly 50 countries around the world including the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, China, New Zealand and many others. 

American Public Wants GMOs Labeled: A recent poll released by ABC News found that 93% of the American public wants the federal government to require mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. As ABC News stated, “Such near-unanimity in public opinion is rare.” Yet the United States is one of the countries in the world that doesn’t require labeling of GE food.

The Proposition: The Committee for the Right to Know submitted the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act as an initiative measure for the November 2012 election. Because they have collected enough signatures, a proposition will be on the ballot. The proposition will require genetically engineered foods (also known as Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs) and foods containing GMO ingredients to be clearly labeled, similar to current labels with other nutritional information. The Committee for the Right to Know is a grassroots coalition of consumer, public health, environmental organizations, and food companies in California that is seeking the labeling of genetically engineered foods (GMOs).

Health Risks : Why would you want them labeled? Links from www.labelgmos.org point to some of the experts' reasons. Another excellent site, http://responsibletechnology.org, will give many more reasons. The main reason is that there is enough independent data to show health risks. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) urges doctors to prescribe non-GMO diets for all patients. They cite animal studies showing organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility. Human studies show how genetically modified (GM) food can leave material behind inside us, possibly causing long-term problems. Genes inserted into GM soy, for example, can transfer into the DNA of bacteria living inside us. The toxic insecticide produced by GM corn was found in the blood of pregnant women and their unborn fetuses.

Numerous vegetables, fruits and animal products are currently being developed and considered for approval. In a large advance poll, 75%+ 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 people deserve. Once people know what is in their food, they can then make the informed choice to avoid the potential health risks of GMOs until more research on their long-term effects can be done.

What You Can Do:
1. Tell your friends and family about GMO foods.
2. Vote YES for the proposition in November 2012.