Essay about Genetically Modified Foods vs. Organic Foods

“Sixty to seventy percent of all processed foods available on store shelves contain genetically modified ingredients”, according to George Erdosh and Marcia Amidon Lusted in “To GMO or not to GMO? Genetically engineered food has strong advocates and harsh critics.” Genetically modified organisms can be found in most conventional foods processed in the United States, and genetic modification of crops is extremely common on classic Minnesota farms. Crops such as corn and soybeans or even papaya and zucchini are viable for genetic modification. In fact, the definition of (GMO) as reported by Alex K. Rich and Tom Warhol, authors of “Genetically Modified Foods: An Overview,” is, “food in which, at some point during the production process molecules and proteins are chemically altered to give the food more nutrients, a better appearance, and a longer shelf life.” As a matter of fact, a majority of all the foods found at the grocery store are genetically altered. However, many people do not know what genetic modification really is, or that the idea has been around for many years. GMOs are used to control pests and weeds. Therefore, through changing the genetic makeup of the plant, modifications allow for advancements of new technologies that account for the applicability of specific chemicals, as opposed to dated Non-GMO farming techniques.

Most people in the United States don't realize that they've been eating genetically engineered foods since the mid-1990s. More than 60 percent of all processed foods on U.S. supermarket shelves—including pizza, chips, cookies, ice cream, salad dressing, corn syrup, and baking powder—contain ingredients from engineered soybeans, corn, or

The genetic engineering of foods has, in one sense, been in existence for hundreds of years. The first time Gregor Mendel bred different varieties of pea plants to observe the various traits present in their offspring, the concept was born. Today, genetic engineering has developed into one of the most complex and advanced fields of scientific thinking, all the while provoking many questions and acquiring many opponents along the way. While there are compelling arguments presented for each side of the issue, the simple fact is that genetically modified (GM) foods are a reality, especially in the United States, as they are already present in many products that are consumed on a daily

The world we live in today is in no doubt constantly changing all thanks to the technological and scientific advancements. These advancements are what have led to the birth of molecular genetics which is the genesis of improvements in the field of agriculture. Food is a very crucial part of human survival, and while it may be abundant in many developed countries, the same cannot be said about the developing countries. A 2015 report by FAO on the state of food insecurity sates that there are about 795 million people sleeping hungry because of shortage of food with the vast majority coming from developing countries (2015, FAO). The rise of genetically modified food in the recent years however has helped to provide a solution to some of these food shortage problems. Generally genetically modified foods otherwise known as GMO foods are foods that result from crops whose genetic makeup have been modified or altered. This happens through a process that’s referred to as recombinant DNA that serves to give plants traits that are desirable with the use of molecular techniques. Some of the most bioengineered foods include tomatoes, corn, cotton, rice, papaya, wheat among others. While it has had many benefits and successes, GM foods still have risks and the question of safety always arises when it comes to discussions.

GMO, or Genetically Modified Organism, is a modern problem today because of its abundance in foods, and lack of labels. GMO’s are used to modify the DNA of our consumable food to protect them from herbicides, pests, and any other disease that can destroy a crop. Unfortunately, these methods are not considered safe in most countries, with the notable exception of America. The European Union has outright bans on using anything that has even the effect of a GMO on foods that will be sent to be eaten by consumers, however, most Genetically Modified foods in America are not even labelled. 80% of foods contain some sort of genetic modification; the most common of these are soy, corn, beets, canola, yellow squash, and zucchini. GMO product first became an ethical issue when they were introduced to the produce sent to grocery stores to be consumed. Because of their many benefits and disadvantages, the use of GMO’s became an ethical and debatable issue with room to move either way. Some people argue that GMO’s are the cause of illness, and cancer, while others believe that they are paving the way for the produce of the future. Still others are completely unaware of the contents of the food they are buying. Either way, Genetically Modified Foods will always be around to surprise you, even when you least expect it.

Today’s world we see more and more people taking responsibility for their diet and trying to live a healthy lifestyle by eating healthy foods. In 1996, genetically modified foods were introduced to the general public. The idea of genetically modified foods was to help resist the amount of crops lost from weeds, diseases, insects and even extreme weather conditions to help farmers improve productivity and product quality along with saving cost. On the other hand, genetically modified foods are quite concerning for the consumers. Genetically modified foods have become a major concern. Since genetically modified foods have been introduced to the world, there have been a skyrocket of health issues all across the globe. Most of the foods that are packaged and put into stores are full of toxic pesticides, herbicides and fungicides and many of these foods are not labeled once put in

The world is fast changing and with every new day, many things are being introduced to us with the aim of making our lives easier, so I hear. Technology tops that list, closely followed by the availability of fast foods across the world. These fast foods are mainly made from inorganic foods, commonly known as GM foods (genetically modified foods). This does not mean that fast foods are the only type of foods made from GMO (genetically modified organisms). Other foods also like tomatoes, potatoes, corn and various fruits are also as a result of genetic engineering. I shall argue that it is important to label genetically modified foods as not all people support their existence.

“70 percent of our corn farmland and 93 percent of soy farmland are planted with crops genetically engineered to resist pests and herbicides and increase crop yields. 60% of all the processed foods in the United States are genetically modified; a shocking statistic has the concern of many Americans. However, most people are uninformed about the beneficial impact that genetically modified food has on their diet. GM is the use of molecular biology technology to modify the inherited structure of organisms. Genetically engineered crops increase nutrients, drought tolerance, provide more food for growing populations, and resists diseases and pesticides. Genetically engineered foods are crucial to the improvement of economy, agriculture, society, and health choices. The creation of GM foods was one of the most significant breakthroughs in food industry. Genetically modifying foods is a key component that is harmless for the enrichment of our foods.

80% of all crops and produce that are consumed in the United States are genetically modified. Genetically Modified Foods are plants or animals that have undergone a process wherein scientists alter their genes with DNA from different species of living organisms, bacteria, or viruses to get desired traits such as resistance to disease or tolerance of pesticides. It is my intention to show the negative side effects of GMO products; which explains why so many people are becoming increasingly concerned about consuming GMO products.

This paper explores the history, uses, advantages, and disadvantages of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). All of the examples exhibited explore different aspects of GMOs found in recent research. From growing GMO crops to the health factors of eating GMO crops, this investigation illustrates vital information to form one’s own opinion on GMO use. Most farmers are in support of GMO crops because they are produced quickly and in large quantities. Some consumers are in support of GMO crops because they are fairly inexpensive and can have desirable traits such as long shelf life. However, will the low price of GMO crops outweigh the possible diseases that GMO crops can cause to the human body or the negative environmental consequences? Another issue is the fact that Americans usually do not know what they are consuming due to lax labeling requirements. The food industry is rapidly changing with the addition of technology. GMOs are just one example of biotechnology being brought to the table. Keywords: Genetically modified organisms, GMO crops, health, consumers, environmental, biotechnology

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), up to 92% of U.S. corn is genetically engineered, as are 94% of soybeans and 94% of cotton, and approximate 75% of processed foods on supermarket shelves – from soda to soup, crackers to condiments – contain genetically engineered ingredients. Obviously, genetically modified (GM) foods have already become a considerable part of our life. Nevertheless, due to human health risks, environmental threats as well as economic concerns, consumers and scientists believe the public should be more cautious of GM foods, which has not been adequately regulated and tested.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms whose genetic make-ups have been changed, inserted or deleted into another organisms. While the safety, disadvantages, and public concerns of genetically modified foods has grown significantly with the productivity of the genetic engineered foods. The problem can be solved with stricter regulations for manufacturer from the Food and Drug Administration and U.S Department of Agriculture. Some of many possible solutions to the genetically modified foods include the general public having knowledge about these foods and promote by purchasing non-GMOs labelled products.

Often when we eat something, we never really think about where the food is coming from and how it’s made. Have you ever wondered how McDonald’s French fries stay so fresh and don’t go bad even after a week? Most food in today’s agriculture is genetically modified. If you research about what a McDonald’s French fry, soybean and corn all have in common, you’ll find that they are one of the most commonly processed or genetically modified foods available in the market. “Genetically modified organisms or GMOs as it is called is when they alter the DNA of a fruit or vegetable.”1 In other words, genetically modified foods are created by artificially manipulating their genes. Thousands of people around the world are eating foods that are not natural and that they have no idea about. “The average supermarket stocks 30,000 to 40,000 food and beverage products; assuming that three-quarters of processed foods contains a genetically modified ingredient, the average U.S. supermarket stocks somewhere between 22,500 and 30,000 products that contain GM ingredients.”2 Genetic engineering all started in 1935 after a Russian scientist named Andrei Nikolaevitch first discovered DNA. Ever since, scientists have constantly been working on improving genetically modified foods and organisms. Over the years, the industry has led us to believe that genetic engineering and genetically modified foods are a natural breeding process that causes no harm but this is far from the truth. Genetically modified

Consumers do not need to go far to find Genetically Modified (GM) foods at the grocery store considering “90% of the corn and soybeans planted in the United States” (Landrigan, 2015, p.1) are genetically modified, helping to increase farmer’s crop yields. The GM corn alone is used extensively in many other forms such as processed foods, sodas, bread and more. Even though GM foods have been around since the early 90’s, the debate surrounding the plausible health and environmental impacts have only inflated in more recent years. For what started out as scientists in a lab striving to improve the U.S. and the extended worlds existing social problems such as world hunger, turned into a social concern of its own. Consumer knowledge is limited or skewed due to chemical giants such as Monsanto, investing in a multitude of public campaigns to display the safety of modified foods. Although there are multiple concerns surrounding GM foods, the heaviest burden on society today is the unknown. It is extremely important that the general public becomes more knowledgeable surrounding every facet of GM food in order to help identify and create solutions, while striving to decrease any potential negative implications.

In today’s society many people are beginning to really pay attention to what they are eating. Some people are totally against genetically modified foods because they believe that these foods are associated with many health problems. Sixty percent of people in the United States do not realize that they have ever eaten a genetically modified food. These foods are all around us and constantly being improved by scientists. Genetically modified foods are really good for the world’s population.