California's Proposition 37 was narrowly defeated last week (53 to 47). If it had been passed it would have required the labelling of all foods containing GM within two years.
Many are attributing the proposition's defeat to the money invested by its opponents. A coalition containing Monsanto, DuPont and others spent $45 million on promoting their case, with advertisements showing people such as growers and scientists making the case for genetically modified foodstuffs.
Proponents of the bill, though defeated, are actually stating a victory of kinds. They say that that, despite being outspent 5 to 1 in the campaign, the narrowness of the defeat was positive for them.
The groups behind Proposition 37, a coalition of farmers, organis food producers and non profit organisations, are looking to the Farm Bill.
"Federal GE foods labeling must now be the focus," said David Bancroft, campaign director of Just Label It.
