Michael Pollan: California's Prop 37 Fight to Label GMOs Could Galvanize U.S. Food Movement

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As California voters prepare to vote on whether to label GMOs in food, we go to Berkeley to discuss Prop 37 and its implications for the broader food system with journalist and best-selling author Michael Pollan. Among the nation's leading writers and thinkers on food and food policy, Pollan is the Knight Professor of Science and Environmental Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley School of Journalism. He's written several books about food, including "The Botany of Desire," "The Omnivore's Dilemma," "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto," "Food Rules: An Eater's Manual," and the forthcoming, "Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation."

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• Category

  News & Politics

[IntertidalWoman]

Michael didn't mention that transgenic (GMO) foods sell for less on world markets, so by making GMO's invisible due to a lack of labeling, the food sector can substitute ever increasing percentages of GMO's into the American diet and get the same price as conventional food. If GMO's were labeled the price of GMO's in the USA would go down, ending a hidden price support. There is no consumer demand so a lack of labeling is the only way to maintain a market for GMO's in the USA as human food.

[optionsupdate]

in northern india so many farmers have committed suicide after they have been tricked into using monsanto seed which they were told would require less water.

[SuperCorrector1]

"many people "supposedly" changed their minds on election day"

How many people "supposedly" changed their minds?

[SuperCorrector1]

"There is no consumer demand"

WRONG

There IS consumer demand for cheap, sane food.

Moron.

[MiaRyanne]

It wasn't the money that was spent on advertising that won the vote, is was the very hackable voting machines that can take credit for that. The 40 something million was just a small price to pay to make for a plausible explanation as to how so many people "supposedly" changed their minds on election day. We've been duped again, and they're gonna get away with it because people don't want to know just how corrupt the system has become.

[khataroo]

I was so disappointed that Proposition 37 lost. Monsanto spent so much money fighting this issue and buying up as many "Natural Food" companies, such as Kashi, etc. Now what needs to happen is to label food that isn't modified as a non GM food. If I don't grow it myself, then I will only purchase Non GM or strictly organic food. I applaud Europe for banning GM food outright. It's so shameful we even have to stoop to Monsanto, et al, for our food. A pesticide company! YIKES!

[khataroo]

I was so disappointed that Proposition 37 lost. Monsanto spent millions of dollars fighting this fight and buying up all the "Natural Food" labels such as Kashi, etc. The companies that don't use GMO's will label their food "not modified" and if I don't grow it myself, then I will purchase "not modified foods." I don't understand why we don't just ban it outright just as Europe did. Something like this shouldn't even have to present itself on a ballet. Wake up people!!!

[mrwanker2012]

eat shit the LAND OF THE FREE!

[cri8tor]

Monsanto has won this battle, but the war isn't over.