On a Political Scale
In 2007 as part of his campaign, Barack Obama promised to advocate for the labeling of GMOs. "We'll let folks know if their food has been genetically modified, because Americans should know what they're buying," Obama said in one speech (Gucciardi, 2012). Now, five years later, with the recent introduction of California's Proposition 37, questions as to why such labeling is not actually taking place and if Obama will ever fulfill his promise, have arisen.
Polls suggest that more than 90% of Americans agree that GMOs should be labeled, and President Obama is being urged to take action.
Polls suggest that more than 90% of Americans agree that GMOs should be labeled, and President Obama is being urged to take action.
Proposition 37
Studies and research suggest that most people don’t know what GMOs are, don’t know if they appear in the foods that they eat, and are not aware of the effects that they may have on their bodies. For this exact reason, there are many major corporations that either fight to continue the practice of not labeling genetically modified foods, and others that fight for the exact opposite- for the right of consumers to know when they are eating genetically modified foods and what that means. Prop 37 listed on the California ballot for example, would have either secured or eliminated required labeling of foods whose genetic material has been altered, and prohibited the labeling of foods as “natural” or “organic” when they are neither. Prop 37 was defeated by a vote of 53.1% to 46.9% (Lifsher, 2012), yet advocates for the proposition continue fighting.
References
1.) Gucciardi, A. (2012, November) Will Obama fulfill his promise to label GMOs?
Retrieved from http://theintelhub.com/2012/11/07/will-obama-fulfill-his-2007-promise-to-label-gmos/
2.) Lifsher, M. (2012) Prop. 37 backers vow to continue food regulation efforts
Retrieved from: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/07/business/la-fi-prop37-genetic-food-labeling-20121108/
Retrieved from http://theintelhub.com/2012/11/07/will-obama-fulfill-his-2007-promise-to-label-gmos/
2.) Lifsher, M. (2012) Prop. 37 backers vow to continue food regulation efforts
Retrieved from: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/07/business/la-fi-prop37-genetic-food-labeling-20121108/