Are genetically engineered (GE) foods or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) required to be labeled? Unfortunately, though polls consistently show a majority of Americans want to know if the food they are purchasing contains GMOs, powerful biotech corporations continue to keep this information hidden from the public (GMO Facts). Genetic engineering is the transfer of genetic material from one organism to another, including unrelated species such as plants and animals. For example, scientists may insert a gene from a fish that thrives in a icy part of the ocean into a strawberry in hope that the fruit could become frost-resistant, however, cross-reactivity could occur if those who consume the altered berry are allergic to fish. Genetically modified foods have been in existence since the early 1990s, and they are not going away any time soon. In the European Union for example, GMOs are widely either restricted or banned if the “GMO in question poses a risk to human health or the environment” (Health and Consumers). I believe that genetically modified organisms are not only bad for the global economy, but a threat to the safety and integrity of the global food supply. Therefore, I propose legislation be passed in the United States requiring corporations to label foods that contain GMOs because we deserve the right to know what we are consuming.
Consumers have the right to know what they are eating, especially since GMOs could have negative health effects on humans. Jeffery M. Smith, Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology and consumer activist about GM foods discusses that the Bt toxin, regularly engineered into many foods as a barrier between the environment, causes skin irritation, nausea, fever, and can lea...
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The technological advances are increasing each year, and electronics are not the only things upgraded. The food eaten in the United States has also been touched by science in the form of GMOs. Although GMOs have been in the US food industry for almost twenty years, consumers should have the right to know what is in our food with mandatory GMO labeling.
Senauer, Benjamin. “Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered (GE) Foods: The Showdown Begins.” Choices. 2013. Web. 2 May. 2014.
The controversy surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) lies in the lack of acceptable research on the topic. While numerous studies and experiment have been conducted, unbiased results have yet to be published. On one hand, bioengineers claim their GMOs and GMO products are not harmful and may even be beneficial, while on the other hand, scientists and agriculturists claim they are terrified about the uncertainty surrounding these unnatural products. This paper will explain what GMOs are, then analyze positive and negative claims and determine if they have any validity.
Should you worry about GMOs? (2013). Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, 31(9), 4-5. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1458270646?accountid=39340
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In a world where healthy eating is always a fad, GMO Labeling is a hot topic. There are several misconceptions about GMOs. Products containing GMO's should be appropriately labeled because inappropriate marketing strategies could defer possible consumers, appropriate labels could help advocate understanding that GMO is not a negative additive and consumers have the right to know what is in their food. A GMO is defined as “an organism whose genome has been altered by the techniques of genetic engineering so that it’s DNA contains one or more genes not normally found there.” Research involving human consumption in GMOs has been in place since 1980, the FDA approved funding for GMOs in 1982. Even though they were approved in 1882, products containing GMOs did not hit grocery stores until late 1994.
“Genetically modified foods are a "Pandora's box" of known and unknown risks to humans and the environment. They have been forced onto the American public by multinational biotech and agribusiness corporations without adequate oversight and regulation by the United States government (Driscoll, SallyMorley, David C).”Genetically Modified Food is food which has been chemically altered by scientists during the production process to give the food more nutrients, better appearance, and a longer shelf-life (Rich, Alex K.Warhol, Tom). The importance of this issue is that these GMO’s can actually have a negative effect in our society in general. It could mutate in a negative way and cause cancer or other diseases. Genetically modified food should be strictly controlled due to its various detrimental effects on the environment, human health, and potentially insect/animal effects.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are one of the most important issues in the world today. GMOs are organisms that have had their genetic DNA altered for improvements in productivity and quality. Their pros and cons to those who consume them and the economy around them have been weighed heavily for years, with no true answers coming to the surface. With the widespread science of GMOs becoming more abundant, people should know the truth behind what is being done to their food before consumption, to then form their own opinions. However, all bias aside, GMOs do cause harm in many ways, but while benefiting the world in many ways.
“There is no research showing the effects that GMOs has on the human body after consuming for long periods of time”. Some people may be allergic to what is used in these new man-made methods of growing foods and there is no way to know. We are putting chemicals in our bodies. Furthermore, we should also be concerned about the impact that GMOs can have on animal and the environment. Altering the natural environment’s way can cause problems later on. Adding chemicals to the soil can make it hard to grow crops or to even grow food ever again later on. GMOs are causing problems to the soil that are not important now but will affect the upcoming generations. Finally, animals can also be affected by GMOs. It is not natural for humans to control and speed up the development of animals for example by injecting growth
With all of the controversy surrounding GMO foods, a topic that always arises is the subject of labeling. Labeling has been a matter of discussion for years and surprisingly, a consensus has not been reached. In the labeling argument, big organizations that oppose labeling claim that mandatory labels would increase costs. Supporters of labels meanwhile, argue in favor of the consumers’ right to know of just what it is that they are consuming. The debate of cost over right to know seems to be what fuels the persistent war between supporters and opposers of labeling. While there is huge opposition, labeling GM foods is a necessity and needs to become a reality in America.
Boyers, Lindsay. "Genetically Modified Foods." SF chronicle [San Francisco] 03 03 2013, Demand Media n. pag. Print.