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Where Do You Stand: GMO Labeling and Prop. 37

The campaigns for and against Proposition 37 are heating up. Fairfax's Town Council and Good Earth has backed the GMO labeling initiative. How do you feel about genetically modified food?

 

Fairfax’s Good Earth Natural Foods is participating in non-GMO month when the issue could not be timelier.

The food fight over Proposition 37 should intensify this month as Californians prepare to vote in November on the measure, which would require the labeling of genetically engineered food (or genetically modified organisms). The proposition would also not allow genetically engineered foods to be labeled as natural. 

The Fairfax health food store is one of more than grocery 1,500 grocery retailers in North America participating in the third annual non-GMO month this October, according to Good Earth officials.

Good Earth will have specials, shelf tags, displays and educational materials to help shoppers identify Non-GMO Project verified options.

The Fairfax Town Council audience erupted into applause and cheers Aug. 1 after

GMOs are created by gene splicing techniques. Opponents argue it creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes. GMO labeling is mandatory is almost 50 countries in the world.

“The passing of Prop 37 will go a long ways to stopping the continued dangerous proliferation of GMOs in this country; with GMOs now found in as much as 80 percent of conventional packaged foods, we are more committed than ever to helping people find safe, healthy non-GMO choices,” said Al Baylacq, a Good Earth Natural Foods partner, in a release. The store officials have formally endorsed the proposition.

While the Yes on Proposition 37 backers are polling ahead of the resistance, those behind No on 37: Coalition Against the Deceptive Food Labeling Scheme are launching a costly campaign, which a total of more than $25 million in contributions from Monsanto, DuPoint, PepsiCo, General Mills, Kellogg and other major U.S. food and beverage makers

According to the nonprofit Non GMO Project, “high-risk crops” that are .

 

How do you feel about GMOs? Are you going to vote for Prop 37 in November? Tell us why or why not in the Comments!

 

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Barbara Petty October 2, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Definitely yes on 37. I want to know what I'm eating and what I'm feeding my family.
RJM October 2, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Yes on 37.
I don't believe we know enough about how GMO effect the body and the newest finding indicates it may be dangerous. We must be able to have a choice especially since the agri-glomerates are taking over so many farms and they are interested in the bottom line not in peoples health.
Sierra Salin October 2, 2012 at 01:26 pm
Are you kidding? Monsanto IS the AntiChrist as far as I (and many many many others) are concerned. All this proposition asks for is just labeling the Frankenfoods so that people CAN at least choose.
There are so many issue corrupt politics, back room deals and lack of oversight, as well as ill health, allergies, and toxicity in the natural environments attached to GMO's, and we know not what we are doing. GMO's are an insane bad dream and a future with too many potential and actual unintended-unforseen consequences, and unknowns. Do you really want to be a guinea pig or lab rat, or wish the same for your children or anyone else's? Look at these links. Anyone who embraces GMO is misguided, ignorant, or a fool. The consequences are too great. Are you ready for Oops? http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/271-38/13715-study-linking-monsanto-corn-to-cancer-must-be-taken-seriously-by-regulators http://naturalnews.com/037249_GMO_study_cancer_tumors_organ_damage.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k118bcaViL4&feature=share
Kathleen Tammaro October 2, 2012 at 02:43 pm
In an age when farmers are feeding arsenic to chickens, I am amazed that anyone opposes Prop 37. I invite someone to eat a conventional tortilla chip. The GMO corn that was used to produce the chip has the Bt toxin insecticide in every cell. It cannot be washed off. The corn itself is a toxin. Then, the corn chip is fried in GMO soy oil. The soy has been doused in the herbicide Roundup and the oil was hexane-extracted. Would you feed this to your family? I have studied the GMO issue very carefully. In fact, I eat 100% organic now to avoid insecticides, herbicides, GMOs, and hexane-extracted oils. In addition to GMO labeling, I sincerely hope that it will soon be mandated that food manufacturers must list everything toxic that is sprayed on crops or fed to animals. If you feed chickens arsenic, that is an ingredient. It should be listed. If you douse your soy with Roundup, that's an ingredient. List it. People value their health and they want to know what is in their food. Prop 37 should pass.
louis ram October 2, 2012 at 04:07 pm
I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT WHAT WE PUT IN OUR BODIES. FOR MONSANTO TO BE FIGHTING AGAINST LABELING TELLS ME THAT GMO IS VERY HARMFUL TO HUMANS AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSUMED AT ALL.
Rico October 2, 2012 at 09:51 pm
I have always been strongly opposed to buying or selling any food that contains GMOs, that is why I am voting yes on Prop. 37.
What is not quite clear to me is, how broad will the labeling requirement be ? They are now producing GM salmon, and the feed fed to factory farmed cattle has high GMO content. Should fish, meat, poultry and dairy products that contain GMOs be also required to list them ? As far as I know, they are exempt, it is only produce and pet food that is required to be labeled by Prop. 37. And what about restaurants ?, and cotton that is BT-GMO ?. I know people don't eat cotton but the wear intimately and sleep in cotton sheets. Since all these cotton garments cost us consumers money, we should have a right to not patronize producers that use BT-GMO practices. This Prop. 37 is definitely a step in the right direction, but it needs to be expanded in the future. Even Monsanto thinks it should go further, in a recent ad on TV opposing Prop. 37, they show some old dude saying that Prop. 37 is arbitrary, because it does not include all other products , only dog food and produce. Those admen will try anything to make a *uck !
Deb Callahan October 3, 2012 at 12:37 am
Yes on Prop 37, consumers have a right to know if there are GMOs in their food.
Popo October 3, 2012 at 06:12 am
I hope the GMO label is fun to look at, like a smiley face or cute puppy. Don't be surprised if almost everything in most supermarkets would need a GMO label. Genetically Modified soybeans and canola are standard ingredients in most packaged food.
Will vegetable seed packets also require this GMO label? I vaguely remember reading this book a while back: "Against The Grain" by Lappe 1998, recommended by a local biology professor, but there are probably more current books on the GMO subject worth investigating as well. What I do remember was that the authors claimed Monsanto or equivalent was inserting genes for scorpion poison into crops to combat crop pests, in addition to other genetic modifications to our food supply. Unfortunately it takes society a while to listen and question.
valeri hood October 7, 2012 at 12:53 pm
In case you missed the Golden Gate bridge walk to protest GMO's- check this out
and KCBS interview Mark Squire and I - hope it made it to the airwaves- 50 countries- including China label GMO's- we have the right to know- Just Label it- Prop 37- YES! Video highlights from yesterday's Golden Gate Bridge Walk as it relates to Prop. 37. Golden Gate BridgeWalk: Future of Food Lies in OurHands http://youtu.be/5FoHcE3XWng
William Bertram October 20, 2012 at 12:46 am
Also be aware that High Fructose Corn Syrup is now found to be connected to autism because of the refining methods. Aspartame and fluoride are also VERY heavy neuro-toxins. Remember too that roughly 90% of ALL soy grown is GMO.
Another note: 55% of ALL '100% Organic' cereals sold at Whole Foods were recently found to contain GMO wheat, corn and soy. Google it. Lastly, if you haven't heard about naturalnews.com...you have now. Best information about everything healthy AND Unhealthy on Earth!~ Best Wishes, William Bertram. (Formally of Fairfax and New Albion Book Shop)
Selena Xochitl Martinez October 24, 2012 at 12:52 pm
Monsanto is greed. Gmo's do not belong in our crops. I am amazed that so much money and effort, distortion, smoke screens and lies are utilized to defeat this very important issue. These greed mongers want to control the people. We are not fools nor are we fooled.
Love is louder Selena xochitl martinez. Parent and proud to call Fairfax home.
Rico October 24, 2012 at 02:11 pm
@William
I believe that you are mistaken when quoting the article in naturalnews about Whole Foods. If I remember correctly, the article said 55% of all "100% natural" cereals sold at Whole Foods contain GMO's. There is a huge difference between the two. As far as I know, 100% natural means absolutely nothing as far as being organic or containing GMO's, but when marketing something as being 100% organic, it has to be organic and GMO free. That is why anyone who cares about what food they put into their body should buy organic as much as possible. Just putting a label saying GMO free doesn't guarantee that the product is organic.
Stacy October 25, 2012 at 12:51 pm
@Ricardo Charducci, in regards to the breadth of the labeling requirement, Article 2 Section 8(D) of the California constitution stipulates that ballot initiatives cannot be about multiple subjects, so animal by-products (meat, milk, etc.) can't be covered this go-around. In regard to restaurants, they are not required by law to list their ingredients. Here is a fact sheet from the California Right to Know coalition about the parameters of the proposition: http://www.carighttoknow.org/truthaboutexemptions. I agree with you we all have a right to know what we are eating, and in the case of cotton, wearing. I hope the passing of Prop 37 is the first step in this direction.

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sheryl June 16, 2013 at 08:11 am
I went to the Smashburger in Novato & have to say that it was a disappointing experience. TheRead More burger was very mediocore & the onion rings were awful-very greasy. The staff were not friendly & operated with a "Bambi in the headlights" look about them. I do wish Smasburger luck in their locations. However, from my perspective there is a good deal of work that still needs to be done with the food, staff & service. At this time, "In & Out" Burger is a "hand's down favorite...thanks
Jason Kent June 16, 2013 at 03:06 pm
Sheryl, I would put up our food and our service against any In & Out, anytime, any place. I'llRead More put my burger where my mouth is (literally) and offer you some free vouchers to be at our opening in Mill Valley. Send me an email (jasonwkent@gmail.com) with your mailing address and I'll get those vouchers to you ASAP.
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Ken Seastrom June 15, 2013 at 07:34 am
How many loaves of bread could you make from a 200 sq, ft. wheat field?
Woody Weingarten June 19, 2013 at 07:07 am
Lisa says she doesn't yet know "how the plantings will yield. Could be six big loaves ofRead More homemade bread, could be many more, or fewer."
paul silbey June 18, 2013 at 08:00 am
Who can live on that pay in Marin? Maybe someone who walks or bikes to work?
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Congratulations Matty B.!!! Your grilled snapper burrito is da Bomb!
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I love Taco Jane's! So do my friends! Snapper tacos in blue corn tortilla-can't live without 'em;Read More mateo cakes-ahhhh!; mole enchiladas-the best! Congratulations making San Anselmo a better place to live (and eat) for 15 years!