Update from the GMO Labeling Battle Lines

by Britt Lundgren Director of Organic and Sustainable Agriculture for Stonyfield

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a whole year since the Just Label It campaign was launched to call for a label on all foods that contain genetically engineered (GE or GMO) ingredients. And what a year it’s been – in just 180 days, 1.1 million people submitted comments to FDA in support of labeling GE foods. While Just Label It continues to keep the pressure on FDA and the federal government, the California Right to Know campaign has opened up an exciting new front in the battle for our right to know what’s in our food. This November, voters in California will have the opportunity to decide whether the state should require labels on foods produced with GE ingredients. Known as Proposition 37, this ballot initiative in CA would simply require food sold in retail outlets to be labeled if it is produced through genetic engineering.

That’s why we strongly believe in Prop 37 in California and other efforts to require labeling of foods produced with GMOs. In fact, not only have we officially endorsed Prop 37, we’ve also given over $500,000 in donations and staff time to the national Just Label It Campaign demanding the FDA require labeling foods made with GMOs across the US. We hope that if you’re a California yogurt eater and resident that you’ll take the chance to assert your right to know and vote yes on 37 in November.