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GMOs or genetically modified organisms exist in almost all of the food that you eat. Between sixty and eighty percent of all processed foods in the United States contain at least a small trace of GMOs. Various helpful qualities in modified plants make them more beneficial than organic plants. However the many risks to humans and the environment outweigh the benefits. Many potential unknown risks exist because very few tests involving the safety of GMOs occur. Even with all of the risks involved, foods containing GMOs do not need labels that tell consumers that what they purchase is inorganic. The government does not regulate GMOs as well as they should. GMOs exist in the food you eat everyday although, some benefits to GMOs exist the risks and lack of government regulations far outweigh them. Most products purchased by consumers contain at least a small percentage of GMOs. According to the FDA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are over 40 plant varieties that have completed all of the federal requirements for commercialization. Some examples of these plants include tomatoes and cantaloupes that have modified ripening characteristics, soybeans and sugarbeets that are resistant to herbicides, and corn and cotton plants with increased resistance to insect pests. Not all these products are available in supermarkets yet; however, the prevalence of GM foods in U.S. grocery stores is more widespread than is commonly thought. While there are very, very few genetically-modified whole fruits and vegetables available on produce stands, highly processed foods, such as vegetable oils or breakfast cereals, most likely contain some tiny percentage of genetically-modified ingredients because the raw ingredients have b... ... middle of paper ... ... TRUTHS REPORT." 2.1. MYTH: GM Foods Are Strictly Regulated for Safety. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. Phillips, Theresa, Ph.D. "Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) | Learn Science at Scitable." Nature Publishing Group : Science Journals, Jobs, and Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Mar. 2014. Pusztai, Arpad. "Genetically Modified Foods: Are They a Risk to Human/Animal Health?" Action Bioscience. N.p., June 2001. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. Sakko, Kerryn. "The Debate Over Genetically Modified Foods (ActionBioscience)." ActionBioscience - Promoting Bioscience Literacy. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. "U.S. Regulation of Genetically Modified Crops." U.S. Regulation of Genetically Modified Crops. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. Whitman, Deborah B. "Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?" Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful? N.p., Apr. 2000. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.
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