California proposition results are in and voters rejected Prop 37, which would have made it mandatory for retailers and food companies to label products made with genetically modified ingredients.
Supporters of Proposition 37 said consumers have a right to know whether food has been genetically altered, particularly when the long-term health impacts are unclear. Opponents argued that the labels would stigmatize foods that are scientifically proven to be safe.
Proposition 37 failed 54 percent to 46 percent. The rejection Wednesday followed an expensive offense from agribusiness and chemical conglomerates, Monsanto and The Hershey Co, raised $46 million for advertising to ensure voters would say no to Prop 37.
Proponents were only able to raise $7.3 million, reports California Watch.
A win would have put California at odds with the federal government, which does not require such labels because bioengineered foods are not significantly different in taste, texture and nutrition.
If California had passed Prop 37, it would have been the first state in the U.S. to pass GMO labeling legislation. China, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, countries in the European Union, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, India and Chile are just a few of the nations that already require GMO foods to be labeled.
While on the campaign trail in 2007, President Barack Obama promised to label GMO foods if elected.
Click here for the full list of California proposition results.
