Backers of the bill say it is not about banning “GMO foods,” it’s about giving consumers information similar to the way nutrition information labels do.

“This would just give consumers the ability to make informed decisions," says Austin Price with CALPIRG. "It’s about giving consumers information similar to the way nutrition information labels do.

The bill’s opponents say it would create an unnecessary expense for California farmers and food producers that would put them at a disadvantage with out-of-state competitors.

Connecticut and Maine have already passed similar laws. The European Union requires labels on all GMO foods sold there.

The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to hear the bill next week.

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