Victory for science as California rejects Prop. 37

The votes are in, and Californians have soundly rejected a measure that would have required labeling of genetically modified foods. With 98 percent of ballots tallied, Proposition 37 was trailing 47 to 53 percent, the Mercury News reports. ACSH was joined by a number of other groups, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science and newspaper editorial boards around the state, in condemning the measure as anti-scientific scaremongering. Years of studies have shown food grown from genetically modified seeds are no more dangerous than conventional produce, so the only purpose warning labels would have served was to scare consumers.
We've said from the beginning of this campaign that the more voters learned about Prop 37, the less they'd like it, No on 37 spokeswoman Kathy Fairbanks said.
I think this is a perfect example of what education can do for people, says ACSH s Dr. Elizabeth Whelan. When people are given the facts they can make the correct decision.
Two California cities, Richmond and El Monte, also overwhelmingly rejected new soda taxes.
Dr. Bloom comments, Yesterday, voters displayed an unprecedented level of sanity in California. Maybe it s something in the water?