By, Brenda Acuna |Staff Writer|
With less than two weeks until election day, California voters can easily find themselves undecided about which propositions to support.
Proposition 37, a measure seeking to label genetically engineered food in California, is just one of the many propositions on this November’s ballot.
If the proposal passes, it would require labeling on raw or processed food if made from plants or animals with genetic material altered in specific ways. The measure would also forbid such foods from being marketed as “natural,” “naturally made,” and “all natural” in labeling and advertising of foods.
Alejandro Rivera, a sophomore at CSUSB says he favors the proposal because he wants to know what’s in his food.
“I have a right to know what’s in the food I’m buying and whether it’s healthy for me,” said Rivera.
Advocates for the measure argue that the food should be labeled accurately.
According to the Official Voter Information Guide, those in favor of the proposition also argue that the proposal is “a simple, common sense measure.
It gives you the power to choose what foods to feed your family. Big chemical companies should not make the decisions for you.”
Meanwhile, the opposition campaign said it is concentrating on telling voters that Proposition 37 is far from “a simple labeling measure.”
Those opposing the measure claim that Proposition 37 is “a deceptive, deeply flawed food labeling scheme that would add more government bureaucracy and taxpayer costs … increase food costs by millions,” report opponents in the Official Voter Information Guide.
Opponents also claim that reports have broadly concluded that genetically modified plants are safe.
Noprop37.com reports, “more than 400 scientific studies have shown foodsmade with GE (genetically engineered) ingredients are safe.
Leading health organizations like the American Medical Association, World Health Organization, 24 Nobel Prize winning scientists, and US Food and Drug Administration agree.”
Some CSUSB students are opposed to the measure as well due to possibility of higher food pricing.
“As a college student I have to be really tight with my money. If this measure passes, the pricing of labels will cost me more money. I can’t afford to pay more for my cup of noodles!” exclaims sophomore Tania Solis.
If approved, California will be the first state to require labels on food such as corn, sugar, and beets.