Will California Proposition 37 Affect Genetically Modified Food Labeling Policy in the United States

Foods derived from genetically modified (GM) crops include fruits, vegetables, and grains and are the result of a process by which foreign genes are spliced into a related or non-related species resulting in a genetically modified organism. Genetically modified foods have been a part of the food chain in the United States for more than a decade while incurring little of the controversy exhibited in European countries. Paralleling this divergence in consumer attitudes are differences in national policies regarding labeling of GM foods. While the countries of the European Union and others have adopted a policy of mandatory labeling of GM content the United States has followed a policy of voluntary disclosure. California Proposition 37 called for the implementation of mandatory labeling of GM foods within the state and has major implications regarding policy in the rest of the United States. This paper examines the literature regarding national policies toward GM food labeling in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan and other economies and is followed by a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of GM labeling policies that has been developed in this research stream. The results of the recent election in California are presented and analyzed on a county by county basis. Finally, the implications for policy changes in the United States are explored.