Since the first genetically modified tomato, theFlavrSavr, became commercially available to the general public in 1994, for a longer shelf life, the adoption of genetically engineered seeds by American farmers has grown enormously. Public policy has been unable to keep up with the growing development of genetically modified organisms (GMO). These products are genetically engineered, in order to enhance the natural characteristics of that organism. GMO’s contain an array of bizarre chemicals, such as herbicides, pesticides, antifreeze, etc. Frankly, the full effects of GMO's are still unknown to the public.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for providing regulations on food label laws in the United States. The current policy does not require products to be labeled as long as there is no huge difference between the genetically engineered product and the non-genetically modified product. However the FDA does require these foods be labeled if there are ingredients of a potential allergen or there is an alternation in the nutritional properties of the food.
StarLink corn is the best case of a genetically engineered crop causing allergies. Interestly enough, the StarLink corn was not intended for human consumption. In 2000, fragments of StarLink was found in taco shells and other food products.
Monsanto claims that consumers can easily avoid their products by simply not purchasing them. However, on today's grocery stores, about 70% of all processed foods found on the shelves contain genetically modified organisms. The main ingredient in these processed foods is generally some form of corn or soybeans. With more foods containing GMO’s, it is becoming more important that public policies regulate the potential effects of GMO’s. Consumers have the right to know what is in their food.
Biotechnology is a relatively new industry, only a few decades old. Therefore the information readily available of how to detect allergies or the proper methods are unknown. Although there is a large presence of control in this market by the seed industry, there is hope for a brighter future. Between 2000-2004, manufacturers introduced more than 3,5000 products that were explicitly labeled ‘GE-free’. The purpose of the labels on food is to make the consumer aware of the health and safety of that product. Each and every day that passes by without labels on genetically modified organisms, is another day of injustice towards the American consumer. Take a stand and request from your local representative that labels are required on genetically modified organisms. If not, there may be a day, where you are a victim of the unknown effects of GMO’s.
I agree that consumers should be fully informed about the foods that they are consuming. However, I also feel as though the majority of consumers are unaware of what GMOs are, and some of the unknown effects related of them. Before we can push our government to require labeling we need to work to inform the public. I think that local groups who are passionate about this issue should work to spread public opinion. Once individuals are aware of GMOs and their associated issues I'm sure they will put pressure on local officials for labeling. This is a problem that should not go ignored, hopefully one day people will be fully aware of what is in the foods they are consuming.
ReplyDeleteI think it is ever more important to label these products, not only for the health and environmental issues associated their use, but the social impacts of GMO's. Local communities, like Blacksburg, that may not wish to harvest genetically modified organisms simply cannot compete with their highly productive yields. The fact that genetically engineered crops are greatly subsidized and encouraged to over harvest gives them a comparative advantage. I agree that local communities should inform the public, but things things happen faster in our country when it is a top-down approach, by the government simply implementing GMO labels, which is unfortunate for those already aware!
ReplyDeleteI agree that GMOs should be properly labeled so people are aware of potential side effects. However, like Aubrey said this issue really relates to a deeper problem, that Americans have no idea where their food comes from. It seems hypocritical then to complain about food labeling when there are so many other issues. On average a typical food item in a American meal has traveled 1,500 miles. Is this not the bigger tragedy that we are consuming food produced on the other side of the country? Local efforts have been underway to inform people about this dilemma. This years Virginia Tech common book - Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - speaks to this issue of buying local. We should be proactive about what we eat. GMOs have only become an issue because some people have gotten sick. By buying locally grown food, GMOs would not be as much of an issue.
ReplyDeleteI agree that consumers need to be educated about GMOs first. Even if the labels are on, if they don't know that it exists, it won't make much of a difference. In 1999, the US Food and Drug Administration held a public hearing to inform everyone about GMOs and its safety issues. It was publicized very well and a lot of interested parties showed up. They collected questions from everyone but didn't address them until 2000. More than half of Europe is more than happy to consume GMOs. However, surveys have shown that many Europeans didn't know about the environmental or health impacts related to GMOs. As Aubrey as mentioned, more localized public hearings should be conducted to inform residents about GMOs first.
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