Californians to vote on genetically modified food labels in November

As reported by this blog, genetically modified foods in California have taken a prominent role in the public’s spotlight. The state will vote in November on whether producers should be required to create custom labels that specify if their food is made from genetically modified ingredients.

If the bill passes, California will become the first state to require the labelling of genetically modified foods or foods containing genetically modified organisms known as GMOs. This would mean that most processed foods would need a custom label by 2014, informing shoppers that the product contains ingredients that came from plants whose DNA had been tampered with.

“Consumers have a fundamental right to know what is in their food and make choices, so I think everyone should be working toward this,” said Albert Straus, the president of Straus Family Creamery which is a popular organic dairy in Petaluma and a spearhead of the labeling movement. “Our labeling costs do not go through to the consumer.”

Furthermore, any raw or processed food made from plants or animals with compromised DNA would need to be labelled as well but, alcohol and any foods that are certified organic will be exempted. Some opponents to the movement have pointed out a potential loophole where any animals that produce meat and dairy products can be fed genetically altered grains without requiring those products to be labeled as containing GMOs.

With the intent of the bill focused on giving consumers more information about what they’re eating, many companies actually take pride in producing or selling whole foods that have not been genetically modified. If other retailers or manufacturers wish to inform their customers about where their products come from or how they are made, they may want to use a Primera LX900 color label printer to create the custom labels needed to convey this useful information.