Mother’s Market promotes Prop. 37 GMO labeling

Aug. 21, 2012

By John Seiler

When shopping yesterday at the Huntington Beach health-food store Mother’s Market, which I’ve patronized for 25 years, they promoted this flyer from the store:

“LET’S MAKE HISTORY!” it says, by passing Proposition 37, the initiative that would mandate the labeling of food that’s “GMO” — genetically modified organism. We’ll be doing some analysis of Prop. 37 here on CalWatchDog.com.

For now, I’m amused to see that, at the bottom of the flyer, it reads, “Proposition 37 simply requires labeling of genetically engineered foods…”

Simply? The full text of the initiative, from the Yes on 37 site, runs to eight pages if you print it out. My late friend Frank Yegge used to say, “If a law is longer than one page, it’s too long.”

Prop. 37 contains such language as:

“111910.  (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 111900 or any other provision of law, any person may bring an action in superior court pursuant to this section and the court shall have jurisdiction upon hearing and for cause shown, to grant a temporary or permanent injunction restraining any person from violating any provision of Article 6.6 (commencing with Section 110808), or Article 7 (commencing with Section 110810) of Chapter 5. Any proceeding under this section shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, except that the person shall not be required to allege facts necessary to show, or tending to show, lack of adequate remedy at law, or to show, or tending to show, irreparable damage or loss, or to show, or tending to show, unique or special individual injury or damages.

“(b) In addition to the injunctive relief provided in subdivision (a), the court may award to that person, organization, or entity reasonable attorney’s fees and all reasonable costs incurred in investigating and prosecuting the action as determined by the court.

“(c) This section shall not be construed to limit or alter the powers of the department and its authorized agents to bring an action to enforce this chapter pursuant to Section 111900 or any other provision of law.”

Sounds like another Lawyers’ Full-Employment Act.