Letter: Prop. 37 is just a hidden food tax

There is a good reason every major newspaper, the California Farm Bureau, California Retailers Association, California Taxpayer Protection Committee, California Women for Agriculture, California Small Business Association, California Chamber of Commerce, our local Chamber and many more business groups, as well as hundreds of doctors and scientists are recommending a no vote on Proposition 37. This is yet another initiative that is so poorly written, costly and deceptive.

Proposition 37 would ban the sale of tens of thousands of perfectly safe grocery products in the state because they contain genetically engineered ingredients, unless they are specifically repackaged and relabeled, just for California. Despite the fact that the FDA, USDA and many medical experts have deemed these foods safe and labeling is unnecessary and costly, opponents of modern farming techniques and biotechnology are pushing this extreme measure.

Probably the most offensive part of this initiative is that it would burden California family farmers with red tape and expose them to frivolous lawsuits. The huge legal fees and litigation costs would ultimately be passed on to consumers in the form of higher food prices. What does this mean? An estimated increase in everyone's grocery bill in the amount of $350-$400 per year. This is nothing more than a hidden food tax.

Vote no — we do not need additional costs for California taxpayers.

For more information go to noProp37.com.

Barbara LeVake

Yuba City

California Women for Agriculture

State legislative director