California Proposition 37 (GMO Food Labeling) Heading for Defeat

As Obama wins, Monsanto and its coalition of large ag and food companies look set to win in defeating Proposition 37 in California.

Yes, the proposition has many flaws and exemptions. But the argument often used that it would hurt small farmers and small grocers (as if Monsanto cares about small farmers) if they have to comply started to smell to me like the same argument to support Fukushima produce: "Farmers are hurting, we must help them by eating food produced in Fukushima, even if it contains radioactive cesium. It's safe anyway, because the government says so. We're in this together, aren't we?"

From NBC San Diego (11/6/2012):

Early Returns Show Prop 37 Food-Labeling Law Failing

Anywhere between 40 and 70 percent of food products sold in California grocery stores contain some genetically engineered ingredients.

A statewide proposition that would require manufacturers to label all foods made with genetically-modified ingredients was failing in very early returns Tuesday, according to the Secretary of State.

As of 8:45 p.m., Prop 37 was losing 58.3 percent to 41.7 percent.

If Prop 37 passes, California would become the first state in the nation to enforce the GMO labeling requirements.

The potential law was heavily bankrolled by chemical companies and food manufacturers. And the majority of that funding – some 93 percent of the $44 million raised to defeat the proposition – came from out of state.

By comparison, the Yes on 37 camp poured some $7 million into a campaign dubbed the "crusade against Frankenfood."

Genetic engineering involves manipulating the genes of an organism, usually with the goal of improving a plant’s resistance to pests or to allow a plant to withstand the use of pesticides.

While there have been no long-term studies that suggest consuming genetically-modified foods are harmful to humans, supporters of Prop 37 cited a lack of evidence to the contrary in their arguments for the measure.

"Whether you buy genetically engineered food or not, you have a right to know what you are buying and not gamble on your family’s health," supporters said.

(Full article at the link)

The website "No on Prop. 37" has a list of donors to the successful campaign:

Abbott Nutrition
B&G Foods, Inc.
BASF Plant Science
Bayer CropScience
Bimbo Bakeries USA
Bruce Foods Corporation
Bumble Bee Foods, LLC
Bunge North America, Inc.
C. H. Guenther & Son, Inc.
Campbell Soup Company
Cargill, Inc.
Clement Pappas & Company, Inc.
Clorox Company
Coca-Cola North America
ConAgra Foods
Council for Biotechnology Information
CropLife America
Dole Packaged Foods Company
Dow AgroSciences LLC
E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co.
Faribault Foods, Inc.
Flowers Foods, Inc.
Four K Farms
General Mills, Inc.
Goya de Puerto Rico, Inc.
Goya Foods Great Lakes
Grocery Manufacturers Association
H.J. Heinz Company
Hero North America
Hershey Company
Hillshire Brands Company
Hirzel Canning Company
Hormel Foods Corporation
House-Autry Mills, Inc.
Idahoan Foods, LLC
Inventure Foods, Inc.
JMR Farms, Inc.
Kellogg Company
Knouse Foods Cooperative, Inc.
Kraft Food Group
Kraft Foods Global, Inc.
Land O’Lakes, Inc.
McCain Foods USA, Inc.
McCormick & Company, Inc.
Mead Johnson Nutrition Company
Mondelez International
Monsanto Company
Moody Dunbar, Inc.
Nestle USA, Inc.
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
PCS Administration (USA) Inc. (Also Known As “PotashCorp”) PAC (Out of State PAC)
PepsiCo, Inc.
Pinnacle Foods Group LLC
Reily Foods Company
Rich Products Corporation
Richelieu Foods, Inc.
Sara Lee Corporation
Saticoy Foods Corporation
Smithfield Foods, Inc.
Snack Food Association
Solae, LLC
Sunny Delight Beverages Company
Syngenta Corporation
The J.M. Smucker Company
Tree Top, Inc.
Tri-Cal Inc.
Unilever
Welch Foods, Inc.

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