Editor:
Thank you for your article, “The $38 Million Label” (Oct. 11). Why would six chemical companies and their allies be willing to spend that kind of money to prevent one simple line on an ingredient label? Why are they so intent on concealment? What kind of public policy is it that withholds pertinent information from the consumer? On the basis of those questions alone, I’m persuaded to vote for Prop. 37. But there’s more.
When I read the opposition’s arguments, I’m struck by their purported concern over lawsuits against small mom and pop grocers. My understanding is that the entity guilty of mislabeling would be the responsible party, not the grocer who simply puts the product on the shelf. Further, Prop. 37 provides an out if a product has not been knowingly or intentionally genetically engineered. Ironically Monsanto, itself, seems to love lawsuits — provided it’s the plaintiff. Monsanto has been the biggest bully on the block when it comes to suing and bankrupting small farmers. And get this: If, for example, wind-born pollen from a neighboring GE crop contaminates your field, Monsanto’s licensing agreement absolves it and your neighbor from responsibility, while you can be (and most certainly will be) sued for patent infringement! I’m not making this up; it’s that crazy. So serious is the situation that a group of 60 family farmers, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations filed a preemptive lawsuit against Monsanto, (Organic Seed Growers & Trade Association, et al. v. Monsanto) seeking protection from accusations of patent infringement should contamination occur. They lost the first round but the case is under appeal.
It seems to me we have a system that is out of control and we, the people, need to stand up and be heard. We need to know what is in our food. Yes on 37.
Kay Schaser, Eureka
This article appears in Banished.
Thanks for further spreading the anti-GMO’s propaganda machine. Monsanto does not sue for accidental cross-pollination. The whole premise of your argument is based on misinformation. Think about it, you just exemplified why they don’t want label put on the foods. All the misinformation out there about GMOs would sway people away from those products when they are perfectly safe. Monsanto and others are just trying to protect themselves and their customers (farmers). The whole “if its safe why not label it?” line is naive and is hiding the true motives of anti-GMO activits, which is to ban GMOs altogether.
Unlike Mr. or Mrs Anonymous, and after much research in regard to current considerations as to insufficient GMO testing for human consumption, patenting, the effects of Glyphosfate on our land and our crops in regard to nutrient content,…and much more, I find this article to be very much on the spot.
Additionally, Monsanto has definitely sued for finding GM plants in an otherwise non GM farmer’s land, cross pollination or not, blown in with the wind. This has been a huge issue. What planet do you live in? Anybody can look it up. And so can you. But just to bring you up to date, check out Dr Don Huber, check out his credentials and what he had to say a year ago, before you talk about misinformation. What do you feed your family? Is obstinate blind faith your best card? Is Dr Don Hubard also misinformed? Or maybe you have invested in the GM industry and eat organic, like our presidential candidates do?
This below is the issue, and as such we need labeling so we can know what we buy to avoid it until proper testing is available.
http://youtu.be/X4swW9OFmf8
There is no misinformation about this. If I put a GMO product into my body, I want to know what it’s going to do. There is a direct connection between the food you eat and the health you maintain. Monsanto has not given me any proof to believe GMO’s are safe. But hey, if they are safe, then why worry that anyone would be swayed away from a measly label? Not only that, but the employees of Monsanto should be the first one’s eating these products.
Monsanto and their scientists remind me of those damn executives at ALCOA forcing us to drink their Fluoride waste products when they, and every dentist I know, uses a water filter.
Don’t trust Whole Foods. They want to scare people away from perfectly safe GMO products (that are demonstrably better for the environment) so that they can sell more high-priced organic produce.
monsanto roundup soybeans contained my father nongmo soybean meaning was not able to ship those soybeans to japan aprox 1% of the bean plants had in 1 pod 1 bean that was a darker colour and roundup positive monsanto is now in court with my father and seeking money from he is 77 years old the $15,000 loss is more than he makes in a year and lives in nurseing home and drives to the rented farms to plant and help harvest the crop blyth ont canada 2262221429
i was in court march 13 2013 against monsanto with my father it became very clear that monsanto would spend any amount to fight us in court. monsanto would hire lawyers and experts that we could not afford and if they lost monsanto would continue to appeal if they lost. Not only would monsanto not give us anything for my father lost but monsanto would give us 10 year promise in writeing to not sue if there genes were found again in our soybean crop. i feel the law needs to changed to protect farmers of nongmo and organic farmers