California's Proposition 37: Effects of Mandatory Labeling of GM Food

Carter, Colin A., Guillaume P. Gruère, Patrick McLaughlin, and Matthew MacLachlan

from ARE Update Vol. 15, No. 6, Jul/Aug, 2012 Special Report: Marketing Issues and Opportunities in Organic Agriculture

View Article PDF: California's Proposition 37: Effects of Mandatory Labeling of GM Food

Abstract

Californians will soon vote on Proposition 37, mandating that genetically modified (GM) food is labeled. Supporters argue that mandatory labeling responds to consumers' rights, offers greater choice, and provides more information on food content. But the specifics of Prop 37 will result in a much different outcome. Food category choice will decrease and the added labeling information will be imprecise. Prop 37 will introduce a double standard for accidental GM purity in organic versus non-organic foods, favoring organic.

Keywords

GM labeling, food labeling, Proposition 37, GM thresholds

Citation

Carter, Colin A., Guillaume P. Gruère, Patrick McLaughlin, and Matthew MacLachlan. 2012. "California's Proposition 37: Effects of Mandatory Labeling of GM Food." ARE Update 15(6): 3-8. University of California Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics.
https://giannini.ucop.edu/filer/file/1453327762/16895/