By Jan Woods

In Europe and more than 40 countries worldwide, food corporations are required to label whether genetically modified organisms are contained in the food products they sell to those countries.

And yes, you guessed it, the Europeans and others are not buying it, literally or figuratively. The contaminants (viruses, bacteria, new and patented gene combinations) had not been thoroughly tested and the courts there invoked the “precautionary principle” to protect their citizens from possible harm.

So what did the food corporations do? They took the GMOs out of the products they sell in Europe. So, right there is your first science experiment: The countries whose people do not eat GMOs have far less chronic disease than in the United States over the past 20 years, since the stealthy introduction of GMOs into our USA food supply. Allergies, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, obesity and auto-immune diseases have exploded here.

I provide some links to begin with below, if you want to look at what some scientists and others have to say in addition to what your own common sense may tell you.

This situation is almost identical to the tobacco wars of yesteryear, when the Phillip Morris corporation, among others, and even some scientists and some doctors said tobacco posed no risk to human health, and, in fact, was “good” for you. We know how that story ended.

Now you have to choose whom to believe when you decide how to vote on Proposition 37 on Nov. 6 — Monsanto- and Pepsico-backed lobbyists, scientists and politicians and other huge corporate interests who are willing to spend $10 million to hide from you what is in the food you are eating, or a grassroots movement of mothers, fathers, farmers, scientists, medical professionals, small businesses and others who support labeling.

Let’s label it, let the average citizen decide if he or she wants to buy it. We are up against the $10 million that agribusiness has just contributed to defeat this honesty-in-labeling proposition, the one they call “costly.” It’s just some ink: “contains GMO.” With billions in profits and taxpayer subsidies, these corporations can afford some ink.

Cheap, unhealthy food equals expensive health care and sick kids. Now that is costly. Vote yes on Prop. 37. Label it and let us decide. It’s democratic, it’s fair and it’s compassionate.

For more information, visit www.carighttoknow.org, www.robynobrien.com (TEDX video link) or www.earthopensource.org. The last link is a scientific explanation of both GMO myths and truths, highly recommended if you are still undecided.

There are lots of types of pollution to worry about: water, air and land. But healthy food is our best medicine and a protection against all the rest. Without clean food, we cannot thrive There may never be a more important choice for the health of our state and nation. Best of health to you all.

— Jan Woods is a Woodland resident.

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