I’ve recently had the pleasure of joining a grassroots movement that is determined to put forth a ballot initiative to require the labeling of foods that have been genetically modified (GMOs). Genetically modified food is a plant or meat product that has been manipulated in a laboratory by putting DNA from other plants, animals, viruses or bacteria in that food.

This is done in order to kill any weeds, bees or wildlife that may be around that plant, but leave the plant alive. This has led to the problem of superweeds, weeds that are not affected by GM foods and which farmers are forced to use ever more toxic sprays on. Also, these seeds are genetically enhanced to cross pollinate with non-GMO crops, causing a huge financial burden to small farmers. Further, the long-term health effects on human beings has not been studied.

Because of these and other concerns, 50 countries (even China!) have banned or severely limited GMOs. But in the U.S., we don’t even require labeling of our food. The only way to avoid GMO foods is to buy organic and to avoid the foods that have been approved to be genetically modified.

Today, as much as 85 percent of corn and a majority of soy is genetically modified, but not labeled as such. Our belief is that all food sold at commercial grocery stores that contain genetically modified ingredients should be labeled to give consumers a choice.

If you would like to join us, please come to a signaturegathering meeting held at 7 p.m. Monday nights at 4438 Los Angeles Ave. in Simi Valley. Please call (805) 527-3295 to RSVP. Toni Hansen Simi Valley