What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Organic Food Essay

1055 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Negative side of GMO

We live in a world where people are becoming more health conscious and mindful of what they consume in their daily lives. Some are converting over to eating all organic products because they are “100% natural”. If you have ever noticed, while going grocery shopping in your local market certain foods are labeled organic or say, “100% natural”. However, the conventional foods we eat every day have no labels. Most of these non-labeled foods are GMOs, which is also known as Genetically Modified Organisms, most of which we don’t even recognize. In the US, food corporations are not required to label these genetically modified foods, which can pose health risks to those who consume them.The first thought that runs through people head when they see Advantages of GMO crops include: high yield production, cheaper products and greater drought resistant plants. Organic farming advantages include: reduced health risk, better quality, promotes biodiversity, implanted farmers knowledge, serving water resources, reduced pollution, no pesticide or herbicide residue on food, and the list goes on. Organic farming out numbers Genetically Modified produce advantages by a long shot, showing that organic farming is actually better for you. However, there are always disadvantages to both. The disadvantages of GMO crops includes: a lesser quality of food, antibiotic resistance, potential toxicity, possible creation of allergen city, possible creation of new viruses and diseases, environmental concerns, lack of labeling, and the list goes on. However, the disadvantages of Organic farming include: lower yield, higher cost, and need for a huge rate of manure, and more management will be required (Azadi). The disadvantage of GMOs outweighs those of the organic farming and brings up great concerns. These concerns are important because they are concerned health issues, which the might cause. A huge concern, which we are battling today, is that U.S. is on of the only countries that do not label their GMO products. We Consumers should know what they are eating and given the choice to buy it or not. According to (Colin Carter and Guillaume Gruere, 2004) from University of California, Davis, if mandatory labeling was required processors would be exposed to political pressures and negative publicity. At first this may cause a loss for producers. However, once consumers are better educated and there is better information on GMOs, consumers’ minds will change. In return food and processing companies will not be at a great loss. Also, since most processed products are made with corn or soybean it would not be that much of a price difference for consumers (Carter). The only time price will differ is for natural

Show More
Related

  • Organic Food: Hydroponics Vs. Organic Farming

    768 Words  | 2 Pages

    Growing organic has less of a risk than growing with hydroponics. Hydroponics can help human kinds existence on earth but as of now it is hurting humans. Hydroponics can one day be a very helpful resource but it still needs a lot of work to get to that point. Growing organic has little to no risk and also helps your health and weight. Eating healthy can help you lose weight which will increase your health! Growing organic allows you to know what goes in your body at all times. No chemicals or pesticides go into growing organic which allow you, as the consumer, to know what goes in you body at all time. Hydroponic is a new study that will improve in the future but for now we will just stick to organic. Scientist are still exploring and discovering ways to make hydroponics better and healthier for humans but as of now we should stick to organic food, But it's YOUR

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Gmo Labeling

    1016 Words  | 3 Pages

    A very valid point brought up by Clause (Say ‘no’), Hemphill, and Banerjee (both G.M.O. and the U.S.), is that consumers already have an easy and effective option to steer clear from GMOs: buying organic products. Through Hemphill’s and Banerjee’s article, we are informed that United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) “presently offers an organic certification for crops and processed food products, which by definition prohibits the use of GMO ingredients” (Page 455-466). This is certainly a label that has the ability to help concerned customers know exactly what they are eating. The co-authors call this solution the “Voluntary Labeling Strategy.” There is, however, one issue with this: not all products that don't contain GMOs qualify as organic. The resolution lies in an upcoming proposal from the U.S. Food and Drug administration (FDA). It's called “Voluntary Guidelines” and it allows, but doesn't force, GMO-free products to display a label of their own. I believe that this is a much smarter option than labeling every item containing GMOs because it is not binding by law, which would provide consumers with all of the benefits they need to choose the right foods for their preferences, while saving on all of the unnecessary extra costs discussed

    Read More

  • GMO Labeling Essay

    1763 Words  | 4 Pages

    A non-GMO label doesn’t necessarily mean “healthy”. White sugar, flour, and processed ingredients if not genetically modified are considered non GMO. Recently Cheerios made their ingredients GMO free. This label made Cheerios seems as a “healthy conscience choice” when in fact they are not healthy at all. The truth is that this breakfast cereal is highly processed and is best to be avoided despite the “healthy halo” of being approved by the National Heart Association and GMO free. The truth appears on the nutrition label and the ingredients (Wartman). “If you can’t pronounce it, don’t buy it” The voluntary labeling places a burden on the consumer. The average Americans are forced to navigate confusing and cluttered food landscape” (Wartman). A mandatory labeling law is vital to give clear and concise information to citizens.

    Read More

  • Essay On Monsanto

    1088 Words  | 3 Pages

    When you eat a cheeseburger, you might know that you are eating a beef patty with cheese, lettuce, and ketchup on a sesame seed bun, but do you know what you are really eating? According to the documentary GMO OMG, “approximately 85% of all processed foods contain GMOs”, yet most consumers are unaware that this secret ingredient is included in most of their food. Although Monsanto believes their product is safely feeding the world, consumers should be aware of the hidden horrors of genetically modified food because research indicates that GMOs could drastically affect their health as well as cause environmental damage, all while violating the rights of consumers and farmers.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Genetically Modified Foods

    702 Words  | 2 Pages

    Because of the increase in population, products need to be manufactured in a faster and more efficient way, and with genetically modified foods, the food is larger in size and quicker to harvest. Another advantage of GM foods is that it uses less fertilizer and less water and is more resistant to insects, diseases, frost, and drought. Consumers would not want to eat food that has been treated with pesticides because of possible health hazards and growing GM foods can help eliminate the use of chemical pesticides. Plants that are genetically engineered to resist strong herbicide will help prevent environmental damage by reducing the amount of herbicides needed. This will benefit both the companies and the environment because the production cost is reduced and the danger of agricultural waste run-off is limited. As more land is being used for housing instead of food production, crops need to adapt to locations unsuited

    Read More

  • Argument Against GMO Labeling

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    Until the government creates mandates for issuing labels on foods that contain genetically modified ingredients, there are measures that can be taken by common citizens and supporters of GMO labeling in order to keep Americans safe in the meantime. Since “study after study points to potential health risks” (“Whole Foods Market”), supporters need to raise awareness amongst the rest of society in order to generate a large group that can begin to press the government to create a law to handle the issue. It is in “the state’s interest [to] protect consumers from false or potentially misleading communication or prevent consumers from suffering unwitting harms” (Adler). Moreover, the government must be the one to put an official end to the lack of

    Read More

  • Genetically Modified Organisms and How They Have Changed Food in America

    1669 Words  | 4 Pages

    Food is an essential part of everyday life without it one could not survive. Every day we make choices on what we put in to our bodies. There are countless varieties of food to choose from to meet the diverse tastes of the increasing population. Almost all food requires a label explaining the ingredients and the nutritional value allowing consumers to make informed decisions on what they are consuming. However, many may not be considering where that food is coming from or how it has been produced. Unfortunately, there is more to food than meets the eye. Since 1992, “ the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ruled, based on woefully limited data, that genetically modified foods were ‘substantially equivalent’ to their non-GM counterparts” (Why to Support Labeling). GM food advocates have promised to create more nutritious food that will be able to grow in harsh climate conditions and eventually put an end to world hunger in anticipation of the growing population. There is very little evidence to support these claims and study after study has proven just the opposite. GM crops are not only unsafe to consume, but their growing practices are harmful to the environment, and multinational corporations are putting farmers out of business.

    Read More

  • Genetically Modified Foods Argumentative Essay

    1272 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to an article titled “Genetically Modified Foods Eaten” regularly by Linda A. Johnson today, essentially 40% of the foods we eat are genetically modified, unless you eat organic foods and/or you grow your own. Most products containing corn, soil, canola oil, or cottonseed oil contain genetic modification. One of the biggest genetic modification company is Monsanto (Johnson). She goes on to say many Americans don’t even know they are consuming genetically engineered foods. In “Genetically Modified Foods Confuse Consumers” by Mary Clare Jalonick writing in the Washington Times, has talked about how this is because the FDA does not require them to be labeled. Jalonick has said, “Genetically modified foods are plants or animals that have

    Read More

  • Organic Food Essay

    2103 Words  | 5 Pages

    Currently, there is a global demand emerging for organic products specifically a huge consumer demand in the United States and Europe. The United States ranks fourth in organically farmed land globally, and sales of organic food have increased by almost a factor of six, from $3.6 billion in 1997 to $21.1 billion in 2008 (Reganold, Andrews, Reeve, Carpenter-Boggs, Schadt, Alldredge, Ross, Davies, Zhou, 2010). In the United States, organic farming has gained much popularity in the farm sector, mainly due to the new wave or generally recognized as healthy food products (Uematsu, Mishra, 2012).

    Read More

  • Essay On Gmo Food Pros And Cons

    1107 Words  | 3 Pages

    GMOs have their pros and cons, but in terms of their effects on biodiversity, the technology is almost solely negative in how it affects the environment. Genetically modified food can damage agriculture as it allows for less restraint on chemical usage which leads to stronger weeds and weaker soil. The crops can easily spread their genetically modified genome through the wind. GMOs damage living organisms by making nasty insects stronger and vital insects weaker. GM foods are correlated with the decline in mammal and bird health, and the introduction of GM animals like salmon poses a threat to the ecosystem of wild fish.

    Read More

  • Negative Effects of GMOs

    846 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...M crops will escalate the cost of farming, causing many small farmers to potentially loose their businesses. As GMOs continue to affect human life and the environment, it should be mandatory for products to be labeled if they are genetically modified, thus giving consumers the right to make their own decision. With the list of health risks and environmental issues rising, the use of GMOs should be banned as a method to increase food supply and continue a natural approach to eliminate all risks.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Organic Food

    1098 Words  | 3 Pages

    The term “organic” is almost everywhere in modern society, whether it’s used to promote a product or it’s debated on whether it really benefits the human diet. Organic food is heavily debated on as it appears more and more in local grocery stores and farmers markets begin to populate, it raises questions such as “Is organic food better than food grown with pesticides and biologically engineered genes?” and “Are there benefits to eating organically over foods grown in any other way?” In terms of what data and results show in research may help lead to answers to most of the heavily debated issues throughout discussions on organic food.

    Read More

  • Growing Demand for Non-GMO Foods: Risks and Benefits

    820 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is evident that the majority of American farmers utilize biotech seeds, because of the risks that the insect resistant and herbicide resistant traits help reduce. GMO's make the life of a farmer much easier as they do not have to worry about rushing to spray herbicides, to keep weeds out, or worrying about insects damaging crops and having to spray pesticides. For instance, Brian Scott a farmer in Indiana, when corn root worms starts indulging on his organic crops, the worms will cause a significant damage before he can react accordingly and eliminate the problem with the use of chemicals. These corn root worms won't affect Scott's insect resistant GMO corn because the pesticide is always in the plant. In addition, the GM corn was created only to harm a small group of insects and this allows for other beneficial insects to survive and assist the crops, since Scott did not have to spray pesticides. Farmers use GM crops mainly because of a reliability issue, not only are biotech plants easier to maintain, but they are less likely to cause a devastating loss. To a point where even insurance companies will provide farmers with lower premiums. Troy Rausch, another Indiana farmer, states "... when you're delayed by a couple weeks by rain like we were this year, the GM traits come in awfully handy for weed control". The GM traits are of much benefit to Rausch as they eliminate the need for him to utilize his time and combat against pesky weeds. The use of GMO's in the agricultural space eliminates many risks that would be common in conventionally bred

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Organic Food

    879 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Some people live to eat, others eat to live,” as rightly said by an anonymous author. Food is a source of life, we need to consume food everyday to survive and having nutritious food is essential to have a healthy living. Food that we consume today is an outcome of industrial farming which uses lot of chemical and pesticides to grow plant and use hormones and antibodies in animal and also to store food for longer period. So in this we have a question, what options do we have, this could be simple by consuming organic food, naturally grown vegetables and animal sources and sustainable growing methods. When we talk about organic food, we might not know much about it but we know it is good for our health and might consider it to consume everyday if readily available. So what is organic food? According to Allen, Gary J. & Albala, ed. (2007). Organic foods are produced using methods of organic farming, with limited modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, though organic pesticides, such as Bt toxin, are still used. Organic foods are also not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical additives. Thus organic food is comparatively nutritious, use less pestisides and is sustainable and less harmful to the environment

    Read More

  • Natural Food Vs Organic Food Essay

    1045 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Organic” and “natural foods” are a part of a trend that is growing quickly, but how much do we consumers really know about the difference between natural food and non-organic foods? Food that is considered organic can be defined as being produced without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents. Processed foods are defined as foods that are packaged in bags, boxes or cans. Authors like Pollan and Foer, in their essays “Escape from the Western Diet” and “Against Meat” respectively, argue that organic food and a vegetarian diet are better for humans and the environment. Contrastingly, others like Shapin, author of “What Are You Buying When You Buy Organic” believe that we are too fixated on whether or not to buy

    Read More

More about What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Organic Food Essay

Open Document