Prop 37 support wanes as Election Day approaches

As reported by this blog, Proposition 37 has gained the support of many residents in California that want food labels sold in the state to inform consumers of whether the product contains genetically modified (GM) ingredients. The reasoning behind this has come a from a growing consumer demand for more transparent labels on products, as well as increasing demand for healthier foods.

“Most studies with GM foods indicate that they may cause hepatic, pancreatic, renal and reproductive effects and may alter haematological, biochemical and immunological parameters, the significance of which remains to be solved with chronic toxicity studies,” Dona Arvanitoyannis, said in an executive summary of the “Health Hazards of GM Foods” by Earth OpenSource, supporters of Prop. 37.

But, according to Reuters, the popular sentiment has swung in the past few weeks from vehement support to second-guessing, which may be owed to a $46 million campaign lobbied by major food producers including PepsiCo and DuPont. The campaign is called “No on 37.”

The advertisements state that the initiative is “badly written” and will increase an average family’s grocery bills by $400 annually and “hobble” California farmers. Furthermore, the ads point “special interest exemptions” that skip over aspects of restaurant foods.

In addition, the source stated that both sides are using scientific methods and evidence that doesn’t stand up to industry standards to mislead voters, effectively polarizing the debate.

As Californians hit the polls today, businesses that sell food products in the Golden State may benefit from investing in a Primera LX900 color label printer. Should Prop 37 pass, these label printers will allow them to create high-quality custom labels on short notice that can also adhere to new state regulations and standards.