Making a Difference in Our 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.
…show more content…
One of these is Whole Foods, who, along with promoting menu transparency, also offers more than 13,500 non-GMO products to customers. This is extremely important, as consumers should always have a right to non-GMO contaminated food. In the past, GMOs have proven to cause strain within one’s digestive and immune system. Additionally, GMOs have been linked to causing some allergies in infants, as their small bodies and working too hard in order to fight the unknown and unnatural substance. GMOs most likely have even more long term effects, but because the FDA has halted nearly all attempts to study these, they will go unknown. Obviously, GMOs pose several health risks to both adults and children. By providing groceries that do not contain/are not GMOs, Whole Foods is paving the way for other grocers. In fact, they are the first major grocery store in the US to provide full menu transparency and offer so many non-GMO options. Using money from shares and bonds in the company, Whole Foods can research more non-GMO products, and therefore offer these to consumers. As well as doing this, they will be able to give customers more tips on how to shop when avoiding GMOs, something they already do today. I decided to purchase stocks in this company for those very reasons, and because I am a big believer in natural and healthy food options, as everyone should be. Overall, Whole …show more content…
The government, or government run programs, can assist in this endeavour as well. One extremely important government expansion that can help with the usage of GMOs in the US is the FDA. Although it seems obvious that they would be the ones to help, the FDA has discouraged any research to be done regarding GMOs, meaning only smaller, less well-known research companies can identify the many risks GMOs pose for both human and environmental health. The FDA is so reluctant to perform these types of tests because a large portion of its funding comes from the companies that produce these genetically modified foods and products. However, if more of the FDA was funded largely by government bonds, the organization would most likely be more willing to use money for GMO research. So, the more government bonds that go towards the FDA, the less the organization will have to rely on independent donors, and the less biased the informational agenda will become. By having more information on the topic of GMOs, the government may be more inclined to create laws forcing manufacturers to label their products, and may even move towards banning GMOs, as so many developed countries have done in the
Although GMO can be helpful, it also can be reportedly damaging in relation with health. In 1999, a scientist conducted an experiment; feeding some mice GMO foods, and some other mice non-GMO foods. The mice that were fed GMO products showed signs of precancerous cells while the other mice were completely healthy. (Science in the News). After the information was given to the public, the researcher was fired. The public went into a mass of chaos. People stretched the story, others changed it, but nonetheless GMOs had been
“Should We Care About Genetically Modified Foods?” by John N. Shaw appeared in Food Safety News issue of February 1, 2010, as a feature under the health section on the controversy between the pros and cons of genetically modified foods (Also known as GMO, genetically modified organisms). The main idea of this article is to inform people of the benefits of GMOs . The author, John Shaw received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with a minor in Marketing from the University of Arkansas in 2007, where he was a “leadership scholar.” In addition to his studies, he has worked as a research assistant with Food Law LL.M. Director Susan Schneider, interned with Wal-Mart Government and Corporate Affairs division, the Arkansas Attorney General Public Protection Division, and with United States Senator Blanche Lincoln. John has a passion for Food Law, sports, and outdoors. In the article, he states, “ I submit that I am no scientist; merely an interested student.” According to the article, he is passionate and has done sufficient research about the topic to support his argument.
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.
Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMO’s, are organisms that have had genes from a different organism implanted into their own genetic code in order to produce a new result (“Genetically engineered foods”). This practice has elicited polar responses across the globe, for a multitude of reasons. Besides the obvious reason, being the morality of changing an organism's DNA for human benefit, one frequently noted problem is the monopolization of GMO’s by the company Monsanto, whose name is nearly synonymous with GMO’s due to their involvement with these crops. Monsanto has been at the center of many controversies regarding GMO’s, and is even considered to be ranked third to last for reputation among all major American companies (Bennett). Most
We live in a Gilded age of produce. Within the past couple of years, GMOS replaced our original, natural diet with these “genetically altered” foods. GMO, or genetically modified organism, is defined as “a plant, animal, microorganism, or other organism whose genetic makeup has been modified using recombinant DNA methods (also called gene splicing), gene modification, or transgenic technology” (Non-GMO Project). What may be perceived as healthy salad at first glance, may just be a bowl of genetically modified “food”. These are underlying problems not recognized by most of the public. The use of GMOs creates endless risks and pose a threat to the environment, genetic diversity, and future.
The debate over genetically modified foods continues to haunt producers and consumers alike. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are foods that have been modified through bioengineering to possess certain characteristics. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or increased nutritional content (Whitman, 2000). The debate continues to grow as to whether these genetically altered foodstuffs are the answer to hunger in the coming years, or whether we are simply children playing with something that we do not have the capacity to understand. One of the biggest debates in the GMO issue is whether producers need to use labeling of
Whole Foods is the leading retail provider of the finest organic and natural products in the nation. They promote healthy eating and living making it a great place to shop and work. If you work for Whole Foods and get hurt, how would you support your family? Are you prepared for loss of income due to injury?
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
Whether Americans realize it or not, most of them consume genetically modified organisms every time they eat a snack or a meal. According to Robin Mather’s article “The Threats from Genetically Modified Foods”, “you’re eating genetically modified foods almost daily unless you grow all of the food or always buy organic” (Mather). This can be a scary thought for those who know about the numerous effects of GMOs or those who didn’t know what was in the food they’ve been ingesting for years. When Nielsen selected 1,200 Americans for a survey on GMOs for The Wall Street Journal, “61% of consumers had heard of GMOs and nearly half of those people said they avoid eating them” (Gasparro). The only difficulty with avoiding genetically modified organisms is that they make up approximately eighty percent of the ingredients used in processed foods that put together most of the regular American diet (Gasparro). The reason that genetically modified organisms are in most processed foods is because most processed foods contain corn or high fructose corn syrup that comes from genetically modified corn plants. Of all the corn, soybeans, sugar beet, and canola crops grown in the United States, over ninety percent of those crops are grown from genetically altered seeds (Gasparro). Ever since 1996, when genetically modified plants were first commercially grown for the public, the use of genetically modified seeds has been on a sharp increase (Charman). Although the use of genetically modified
The last few years American’s have been the center of attention when it comes to an example of unhealthy living. In 2013 obesity became recognized as a disease in order to help aid the fight for a healthy future. Fingers are being pointed at every company and government branch possible on who is to blame for the current crisis. One thing people are able to agree on is that the food we are eating is the main cause of the health crisis in America. At the heart of this debate is the discussion on genetically modified organism, or GMO foods.
By the year 2012, over 70 percent of the processed foods in the U.S can be linked to genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Despite this strong dependency on the manipulation of genetic material, there are many questions concerning long-lasting impacts such food could bring. The government of the United States of America should enforce stricter restrictions on the consumption, production, and availability of food products containing genetically modified organisms. Genetically engineered foods have detrimental impacts on the environment, are linked to large, monopolizing industries, and do not reduce world hunger.
GMO products are made just like Frankenstein. Frankenstein was created in a laboratory from different DNA unnatural from its own. But unlike Frankenstein who was ugly on the outside and initially beautiful on the inside, a GMO tomato for example, is a big plump, juicy, red, beautiful tomato on the outside but has harmful effects on the inside. In today’s society, our local grocery stores are filled with GMO products. Most consumers are uneducated about GMO and unaware of what is being purchased because there are no laws of mandatory GMO labeling. According to The Non-GMO Project, “In North America, over 80% of our food contains GMOs.” GMO foods
The purpose of this paper is to provide a preliminary internal look at Whole Foods Market, which was ranked 44th last year as Fortune’s Top 100 Companies to Work For. And even though the company is ranked 44th on Fortune’s top 100 and 218th on Fortune’s 500 top companies, they have remained in Fortune’s rankings consecutively for the past 18 years. This paper will offer a look at the organization’s vision, mission, and core values, as well as its’ major strategic objectives. I will also determine how and in what ways the theory of Full Range Leadership Development can support the core principles of Whole Foods Market’s strategy.
Abhorrently, today's consumers are faced with discomfort regarding food safety. For the past 20 years millions of people around the world have been eating plants genetically modified by scientists. Genetically modified crops are tweaked to resist the harsh herbicides. In a recent article titled Labels for GMOs are bad the author argues that GMOs are safe for human consumption. In fact,Suspected culprit in devastating 'fiber disease' statistics show that “Around 70 percent of processed foods in the U.S contain genetically modified ingredients.” ( The Editors 1 ) I strongly oppose The Editors point of view towards GMO labeling because consumers want to know what they are eating. GMOs should indeed be labeled to inform what's in the product
Whole Foods Market was established by four businessman that wanted to create a supermarket which sells all natural food. The four businessman are John Mackey and Renee Lawson Hardy, the owners of Safer Way Natural Foods, and Craig Weller and Mark Skiies, the owners of Clarksville Natural Grocery. The first Whole Foods Market was launched in 1980 in Austin, Texas, with 19 workers. Who The company grew from a local organic and natural supermarket into the market leader of organic and natural foods which consist of 41 branch spread across United States, UK and Canada.