Voters in California will decide if genetically modified foods should be labeled.
Voice of America says genetically modified foods are those such as corn sugar, soy protein, and cottonseed oil. These are found in about 80 percent of our foods in grocery stores. Corn, soybeans, and cotton all are somewhat genetically modified to resist insects or chemical weed killers.
The American Medical Association says there have been no health effects reported by GM foods, which have been on the market for about 15 years.
Pamm Larry, a Chico, California resident says, “People used to think that smoking wasn’t addictive. My understanding is, there’s a lot of stuff like that.” She goes on to say, “So, I just think in the meantime, people have a right to know what they’re buying and eating.”
Polls show that 90 percent of Americans agree and Larry is a leader in getting Proposition 37 on California’s ballot.
NBC reports while the World Health Organization and the National Academy of Sciences believe GM foods pose no risks, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine says it does.
The AAEM has evidence from animal studies that show GM foods can cause infertility, organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, and accelerated aging.
The FDA wants biotech companies to consult with them about their products’ safety before they can go out to consumers but GM foods do not need to be labeled unless they have significantly different nutritional properties, contain allergens not expected in the food, or contain toxins beyond acceptable amounts.