The food police have qualified a California ballot initiative that would require labeling of foods that are genetically engineered. The opposition is fighting back.
The Coalition Against the Costly Food Labeling Proposition responded aggressively to news of the proposal vote.
“The funders of this deceptive measure want to put scary-sounding labels on safe, (genetically engineered) products so they can gain market share,” says spokeswoman Kathy Fairbanks.
“This is really an attempt to ban” these foods, says Brandon Castillo, another coalition spokesman. Food companies will either face the cost of new labels for the California market or, to avoid the stigma of what he calls “a de facto warning label,” reformulate their products to remove genetically engineered ingredients.
“These foods are perfectly safe and thoroughly tested,” Castillo says.
