Win: California Health Committee Passes GMO Labeling Bill
It has been a long battle, fighting to save real food while going against genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that can cause cancer, attack human fetal cells, and instigate miscarriage. But the fight isn’t over, no. In fact, the California Senate Health Committee passed SB 1381 this past week which would require the labeling of all genetically engineered foods. It is a step in the right direction for food freedom.
Senator Noreen Evans introduced the bill, and Rebecca Spector of the Center for Food Safety argued in support of it.
“One of the great freedoms we have as Americans is the basic right to choose from a variety of different foods in the marketplace. However these freedoms are being denied to the more than 90 percent of Americans who want to know if their food is produced using genetic engineering, because these products are not required to be labeled in the U.S,” said Spector. “SB 1381 is a step toward protecting these state interests, and we are very pleased that the Senate Health Committee passed the bill today.”
This bill is a second-round attempt to pass GMO labeling legislation after Prop 37 was defeated using illegal campaign money from Monsanto and friends.
The Prop 37 bill was narrowly defeated by only a 3% margin even though the scales were heavily tipped with Monsanto’s $46 million on misleading advertising about GMO ingredients. They even used a Stanford University logo on mailers and TV ads, even though the University did not line up in support of their Frankenfood.
California Senate Bill 1381 will more likely reflect a more educated voter base, since the anti-GMO tide has been washing like a tidal wave across the nation. Over 6 million Californians voted for GE labeling in the previous Prop 37 polls, and of the 21% who didn’t vote, they said they were in favor of labeling, so this time SB 1381 should pass.
The bill passed the Senate Health Committee by a vote of 5 – 2, with two absent. It will now move on to either the Senate Judiciary or Agriculture Committee, to be determined by the Rules Committee next week.
We must continue to fight for GMO labeling!
