On November 6, 2012 after a long, hard-fought campaign, California’s Proposition 37, which would have required labeling of food products containing genetically modified ingredients, was narrowly defeated. The six point loss was due, in large part, to over 46 million dollars of misleading marketing paid for by agribusiness and major food corporations.

November 4, 2012, Rio de Janeiro

Civil society organizations have issued an official letter to Brazil’s federal government questioning the commercial release of the genetically modified maize NK603. Their request for reassessment of the release has been sent to various ministers and representatives of bodies linked to the area with the aim of suspending use of this technology until independent research confirms its dietary and nutritional safety. Social movements, civil organizations, scientific bodies and rights-based NGOs were among the entities signing the document.

To find out more, go to Food Myth Busters.

Today, October 29, 2012, the following statement was unanimously adopted by the 650 delegates representing 95 nations of the world participating in the Slow Food International Congress. Carlo Petrini gave an impassioned closing speech in which he emphasized the critical nature of this California vote in the global battle to take back control of our food system from the industrial food companies.