Genetically Modified Organisms By Margaret Atwood

In 2015, Tim Anderson, a PhD researcher, wrote “GMO Foods are Unsafe”, an article which perhaps sheds light on the mishandling of genetically modified foods, including the lack of testing of said food products, as well as the potential hazards posed to humans and the environment. In the same year, Genetic Literacy Project’s web editor, JoAnna Wendel, wrote a contrasting article “Genetically Modified Foods Have Been Studied and Found Safe to Eat”, and voices her disgust over the false information that constantly belittle GMOs. She believes the allegation that little evaluation has been accomplished to monitor and ensure the safety of these genetic modifications is based on frantic opinions and not accurate facts. Although their positions appear to utterly oppose one

In the essay “Genetically Modified Food: Watching What We Eat,” by Julie Cooper, she argues against the rampant use of genetically modified food (GMO) without any current form of regulation. Cooper discusses the possibility of health risks to those consuming foods with altered genes and the food’s capabilities to have far-reaching health risks. She continues with a discussion as to how and why the creation and use of the GMOs have become so unregulated. She then discusses the response, which is the public’s cry for their right to make informed choices. Other topics discusses are the political, environmental, and corporate ramifications of the rise of GMOs.

“By 1999, to avoid labels that might drive customers away, most major European retailers had removed genetically modified ingredients from products bearing their brand.” (Chayka 1). Today most people seem to be more concerned about what is in their food. The author shows his concerns about GMOs and uses statistics to help his argument. All of the author’s reasoning makes me concerned and worried about our food and the safety of everyone else. People’s health is important for this world to survive and live a healthy lifestyle. GMO labels should be honest about their food no matter what issue they may face. People trust these brands and most likely stick with it for most of their lives. The important part of food companies is being honest with their ingredients, not interfering or harming other food companies, and ensuring the safety of its consumers.

Many will argue that Genetically Modified Organisms(GMOs) are not safe for human consumption, however they are almost inevitable for our everyday food consumption. Some argue that the recent increase in gluten intolerance is caused by GMO foods (Argument against). Other state that the risk to humans by GMO’s is relatively small (The GMO”). The bottom line is what people put into their bodies is a personal choice and a person should be able to easily tell if a product has been genetically modified or not.

Whether or not to require labeling of GM foods is a major issue in the persistent debate over the risks and benefits of foods crops that are produced using biotechnology. Bills requiring compulsory labeling have been introduced and proposed in different levels, but not evenly implemented. Some of the common genetically engineered crops include soya beans, canola, corn and cotton. The US Food and Drug Administration policy on the labeling of GM food requires labeling is the food has significantly distinct nutritional property (US FDA par 2). Further, labeling is required if the GM food product includes an allergen that consumers may not expect to find in such a product, or if the product contains a toxicant that is beyond acceptable limits (US FDA par 3).

During the Ragtime era Upton Sinclair felt that people should be educated on what happens to their food a social issue that can be found happening today as people are demanding to know what’s in their food. Furthermore, Labeling Genetically Modified food is the best way to educate customers about what they are consuming. Polls conducted by professional news organizations, including the Washington Post, MSNBC and Reuters/NPR consistently show that over 90% of consumers want GMO ingredients labeled. As ABC News stated, “Such near-unanimity in public opinion is rare.” This study shows how many people are adamant to have GMOs labeling. Pam Pinto, owner of Act Natural Health and Wellness in Torrington Connecticut. “I strongly feel that GM food should be labeled.” Pinto said, “We should not be our Government's experiment.”

The advancement of technology has allowed our generation to genetically modify food for what is believed to be beneficial to consumers. The environmental and health effects of genetically modified foods have generated controversy about whether these foods are safe. With such advances, the use of genetically modified food is expanding, even though they 're unlabeled. Genetically modified foods should be labeled because of the possible health, environmental, and economic risks. Once a consumer knows what they are paying for, it is fair to produce and market such foods.

Ever since their entrance onto the consumer market in the last two decades of the twentieth century, genetically modified organisms (often referred to as GMOs) have been getting mixed reviews from the public. Genetically modified consumer products (primarily food) have pushed the barriers of some people's comfort levels. Born out of either a lack of knowledge or a sincere concern for public health or the environment, a consumer rights movement has been planted around the world pushing for labeling of genetically modified food products. This movement has matured in many places to a degree where interest groups have successfully lobbied governments into adopting criteria for labeling transgenic food

Sixty four countries around the world have banned the use of GMOs, otherwise known as Genetically Modified Organisms, within farms and supermarkets. However, the United States, a usually technologically advanced country, has yet to invest much time or effort into this endeavour, one that would make food healthier for people and protect the environment. The US government has taken a step back in this effort for healthier food options, as in the country, companies that use GMOs are not required to label their food as such. Some companies and businesses, however, are working to make a change in the case for GMOs in the US, by advocating minimized GMO usage, menu transparency, or the complete ban of the usage.

Another contributing factor to the controversial nature of GMOs is the fact that a majority of the world does not consider such food products safe, since “ in more than 60 countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs” (The Non-GMO). However, even though genetically engineered organisms are widely considered to be unsafe in many aspects, the U.S. government has little to no restrictions on the production and consumption of these products.

Due to the rigorous testing of GMFs to make sure they are not toxic, the government has approved several genetically based foods since 1994. While we are constantly being told that their testing is thorough, very little long-term testing has been carried out to understand what possible effects they could have on both the environment or human health (refer to the article Genetically Modified Crops Safety Assessments: Present Limits and Possible Improvements for more information on the matter). Moreover, the fact that it takes ten years to approve a genetically engineered food should make us feel comfortable, but overall there are still varying results in relation to long-term effects of these foods. The citizens with this knowledge are uncomfortable when buying foods, as they do not know which products to avoid. There are 64 countries that have already made GMF labelling a legal requirement, while other countries (such as the United States) have recently passed this

Genetically engineered has foreign genes inserted into their genetic code. In 1973 the idea of a man made DNA or rDNA came from Stanford University from a grad student. Also Professor Herbert Boyer and some of his biologist friends decided to try it. 75 percent of our processed food that U.S. produce contain some genetically modified ingredients. Some of this are crackers, breakfast cereal, and some cooking oils. Mostly everything that contains soy or corn even high fructose corn syrup have at least been genetically modified. Some of the most common type of genetically modified foods are Corn, soy, yellow crookneck squash, zucchini, alfalfa, canola, sugar beets, cotton, and Hawaiian papaya. The food and drug administration regulates labeling of genetically modified food. So some people have concern about not labeling the genetically engineered food. They are concerned because what if a genetic of peanut is inserted into a tomato and a person who is allergic to peanut eats it. Does that make the person eating the tomato also allergic to that tomato would he be able to eat it. Expert say that about 60 to 70 percent of the genetically engineered food that are in the United State grocery shelf. In a survey nearly 9 out of 10 scientist from the American Association for the advance of science say genetically modified food are generally safe to eat. Today they are at least twenty six countries that partially or totally banned genetically modified food. Some of them are China,

Consumers consider a product, as safe for utilization, if there are no proven long-term effects. As with GMOs, there has been no proven results, to justify them as unsafe, or unhealthy. A report was held, to examine the health from those in the United States and Canada, contrastly, with the health of residents in the United Kingdom, and Western Europe. In North America, there are no GMO regulations, and genetically engineered products are the majority of consumption. In the UK, and Europe, there are many strict legislatures on consuming genetically engineered foods. After the study, there was no difference in the health of those in North America, and those in the UK and Europe

Importantly, there is a current controversy concerning whether genetically modified foods should be labeled as such or if it is an unnecessary extra expense. Indeed, some individuals believe that if a product is genetically modified then it is potentially dangerous to a consumer’s health causing birth defects, increased risk of cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease (Greenpeace, n.d.). Therefore, based upon this predisposition they believe that a label should be placed on every product that is genetically modified, since it is the consumers right to know if a product has been exposed to harmful chemicals and pesticides. Contrariwise, others believe that labeling genetically modified foods is not needed, since there is presently no viable

When GMOs first became “a thing” in 1996, the United States immediately began planting them in many rapidly increasing areas. (Lucht, 2015, p.4257) These plants were mostly insect and herbicide-resistant. The US was not alone in its support for GMOs seeing as Argentina, India, China and Canada all began planting GMOs as well. (Lucht, 2015, p.4257) No one seemed to see anything wrong with this movement until the first US shipments of GM soy arrived in Europe and protests breached. In contrast to many other countries, the European Union is against GM foods. Some EU countries (Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia) grow GM maize and have actually publicized that it has benefitted them and their economies. (Lucht, 2015, p.4256) When consumers were asked in Europe if GM food should be supported, more than half disagreed. If anything in Europe is genetically modified it must state that it is on the label. (Twardowski, 2015) This runs true even if the product is physically and chemically the same as the untouched product. Because of this skepticism shown in Europe about whether or not GMOs could be trusted, suspicions in the US arose as well. Consumers began to make the argument that if we weren’t told what we are eating was being genetically modified, are we really aware of what we are eating? (Bunge, 2016) Many consumers believed that their values and beliefs were being mocked.