Dear Colleagues and Friends,

On November 6th, the future of food is at stake at the ballot box. California’s Proposition 37 – The Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act – requires clear labels letting consumers know if foods are genetically engineered. Over 50 countries worldwide label genetically engineered food already.

Carlo Petrini, founder and president of Slow Food International, was in our state recently, and he kept saying that this is our moment to do something really important for everyone on this planet—that people are watching from around the world to see how we respond. And I agree with him.

I think this is the moment when we need to stand together as chefs, restaurateurs, and people who care about food to support Proposition 37. Whether or not you live or vote in California, please tell your friends, donate to the campaign right now, sign the petition below, and add your voice to this critical movement.

With hopefulness, 

Alice Waters 

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Chefs’ Petition In Support of Prop 37

We, the undersigned, endorse California’s Proposition 37 – The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act. 

As chefs, we are on the frontlines of feeding America and we have an enormous stake in ensuring transparency in our food system. It is our duty to nourish our guests, both in body and soul. However, we can’t prepare the best food we know how when information about the ingredients we purchase is hidden from us with labels that are missing basic facts. This includes foods that are genetically engineered or contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). While Proposition 37 does not require restaurants to label their food as genetically engineered, it provides chefs the ability to knowingly source ingredients made without GMOs. 

Fifty countries around the world—representing more than 40 percent of the world’s population—already require GMO labeling, including all of Europe, Japan, India and China. Polls show that more than 90 percent of Americans want to know if their food is genetically engineered. 

We demand the right to know what’s in our food and we are adding our collective voices to this movement!

Signers: