Proposition 37 Opponents Gain Momentum

CALIFORNIA Support for Proposition 37, the food labeling initiative in California, is waning, according to a poll.

About 48 percent of respondents say they would vote yes for the Nov. 6 measure, according to the poll released by the California Business Roundtable and Pepperdine University School of Public Policy. Roughly 40 percent say they would vote no on the initiative.

The results reflect dwindling support for the measure, whose opponents have raised tens of millions of dollars to defeat it. A poll last month showed nearly 67 percent support for Proposition 37, with only 22 percent of respondents saying they would vote no.

"The companies that told us Agent Orange and DDT are safe are lying again and trying to buy this election by putting the full weight of their propaganda wizardry behind a campaign to confuse and deceive voters," said Yes on 37 campaign manager Gary Ruskin, in a statement.

The initiative would require labeling of genetically engineered foods, though there is a debate whether the measure would impact a much broader category of foods. Proponents of the measure maintain genetically engineered foods can result in unintended adverse health consequences while critics say respected scientific and medical organizations have concluded such foods are safe.