To: The Monsanto Company

Tell Monsanto: Endorse California's Proposition 37, Require GMO food labeling

We the undersigned call upon Monsanto to show its integrity, respect, ethics, and honesty in the distribution of its products and in the education of its consumers.

We ask Monsanto:

1 - To publicly endorse PROPOSITION 37, the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act, and

2 - Not to interfere with efforts to pass Proposition 37 and not to fund or otherwise encourage, support, or coordinate opposition to California's Proposition 37.

Why is this important?

In Europe Monsanto has publicly stated that food labeling has Monsanto’s full backing and that Monsanto fully supports food manufacturers and retailers in their introduction of labels on genetically engineered food in Europe.

We request that the Monsanto Company look carefully at its own principles, code of conduct, and previous statements, and reconsider its position on the labeling of genetically engineered food in California. We believe that the respectful and ethical choice is for Monsanto to publicly endorse California’s PROPOSITION 37 - the November, 2012 ballot initiative to require labeling of genetically modified foods sold in California.

Monsanto pledges on its website to demonstrate integrity, respect, ethical behavior, perspective and honesty in everything its employees, contractors and management do.

Monsanto also pledges to provide extensive educational programs, and to “ensure that information is available, accessible, and understandable.”

In the U.S. Monsanto continues to oppose the labeling of genetically engineered foods, even though it would indicate they contain Monsanto’s own products.

Monsanto currently complies with labeling regulations in the European Union.

Why is the U.S. different? Why does Monsanto hide from us what they readily provide to the people of Europe?

People have a right to know what ingredients are in their food.

Millions of people are concerned about genetically engineered food for reasons related to environment, health, and/or social issues, and want genetically engineered food to be labeled. As a matter of integrity their concerns should be respected.

Current regulations in California and the U.S. do not require labeling of genetically engineered food.

California’s Proposition 37 would require that genetically engineered food sold at retail in California be labeled.

970,000 signatures were gathered in California to place Prop 37 on the ballot. Many more consumers in California, the U.S. and the world want to be told if their food contains genetically modified ingredients.

We call upon the Monsanto Company to endorse Proposition 37, the California Right to Know Initiative, that would require genetically engineered food to be labeled in retail food products in California.