Melissa Favara
English 101
25 February 2008
Label Them or Not?
Mandating genetically modified food labels in the United States has been a big issue with the public. There are good arguments on both sides. Some people believe that they have the right to know what is in the foods they are eating. Other people believe that it shouldn’t matter whether or not the foods are labeled, and the amount of work it would take to do such a thing from here on out is unreasonable. There is another group that either has no opinion or is unaware of what genetically modified foods are. Let’s take a closer look at these opposing sides.
The public doesn’t always take news so well, especially when it involves new food and health studies. Introducing genetically modified foods to the public can be a little tough, because for one, the words “genetically” and “modified” don’t always make sense to everyone, and secondly, “modified foods” doesn’t sound the greatest, either. In fact, it sounds rather out of the ordinary. Genetically modified foods are foods in which the genetic makeup is altered during the time they are living plants. When foods combine genes from different organisms, they are said to be “genetically modified” (Genetically, par. 2). The steps to producing genetically modified foods involve taking DNA from one organism, modifying it in a laboratory, and then inserting it into the other organism's characteristic information that is transferred from parent to child, also known as hereditary information, to produce new and useful traits. Genetic modification has only been around since the seventies (Genetically), and we already have so much debate about it.
One side of the argument believes that labeling genetically modified foods would be too big of a hassle for the food producers and too confusing for grocery shoppers. Most food manufacturers that do use genetically modified organisms wouldn’t be able to tell us how many are included in their foods (Kintisch, Par. 1). Whether or not certain ingredients are genetically modified also needs to be taken in to consideration when thinking about labeling these foods, and whether it is feasible. Eli Kintisch, from the New Republic magazine, mentions that in order to label genetically modified foods, people would first have to segregate food production lines from field to factory to grocery stores (Par. 1). He also states, “The cost of such an operation would raise retail prices as much as 10 percent for some foods” (Par. 1). The only solution given from this article, “Sticker Shock,” is to label foods “GM-Free” or “non-GM,” and have anti-GM consumers pay for the cost of segregating these foods (Par. 1). My impression is that those who are not as concerned about labeling genetically modified foods are also not as concerned over whether or not the foods are safe for consumption.
The flip side to this argument is that many Americans feel they have the right to know what is in the foods they eat, according to Senator Barbara Boxer (qtd. in Kintisch, par. 2). This is a claim made by those who are worried about the safety of genetically modified organisms in the foods they eat. Environmental concerns are also considered when dealing with genetically modified organism and foods. Herbicides and pesticides are predicted to triple as a result of genetically modified organisms used in foods, causing the environment to gain more toxins in soils (Genetically). This could then cause extinction in certain seeds and plants, destruction of forest life, and bring poisonous plants that harm mammals. The spraying of pesticides that kill beneficial insects are expected to bring new, evolved “super pests” that can sustain the spraying (Genetically). Cross-pollination is also a concern for those who are growing crops nearby another farm. Farms that are growing organic crops don’t want genes from another farm with genetically modified crops to interact.
Potential human health risks are yet another concern for those against unlabeled genetically modified foods and the whole idea of modified foods to begin with. The biggest concern that I’ve seen from this side is the risk of allergens in the foods. Because labeling isn’t required by law, we really can’t be completely sure about possibly eating something that will force us to have to go to the hospital. But if this is being looked at in the argument, then shouldn’t other ingredients in foods that make people sick be looked at too? If we brought to the attention of food producers that their foods were making people sick, and they got rid of those foods and ingredients, we would then be limited to many fewer items in the grocery stores. We can’t suit everyone’s needs when it comes narrowing down foods that cause people to become sick, because many people can get sick from different things. People with allergies can read labels to avoid the ingredients to which they are allergic. But if a different ingredient includes a gene from the food they are trying to avoid, they have no way of knowing it.
There are also ethical controversies about genetically modified foods (Genetically). Genetically engineered crops are contaminating organic crops, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is doing nothing to stop it. Many people believe that by not labeling genetically modified foods, those producing genetically modified products are “violating natural organisms' intrinsic values” (Genetically). They also think it is wrong to “tamper with nature by mixing genes among species” (Genetically). These people are more in favor of at least letting others know about this contamination. Instead of sitting back and doing nothing, Americans are taking action against the FDA and the U.S.D.A. to make labeling mandatory (Organic). The busy activists are standing up for the organic farmers.
I found it very interesting that the same side who felt labeling G.M.F’s would be too hard, mentions that 86% of Americans feel they should be labeled (Kintisch, Par. 2), and still disagree. Why do they want to go against this big majority of consumers? Are they only trying to make a big profit? Another interesting fact stated by the same side was that, “during the presidential campaign, Al Gore and Ralph Nader promised mandatory labels on GM food” (Kintisch, Par. 2). After doing some research, I also found that other politicians such as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton also support labeling genetically modified foods (GMOs). Even if the two aren’t favorites of some for the 2008 presidential election, they are both very smart, credible people, who know a whole lot in a number of subjects.
Labeling genetically modified foods would make it so every consumer has the opportunity to make an informed decision about what they are eating. Why shouldn’t American’s know whether or not their food is natural or genetically modified? We have the right to know what is in our food, even if it brings confusion to the shoppers. Food producers who have their minds set on money don’t have to worry about the risks of allergens in their foods, because they know more about what is being put in them. You would think that because people are trying to make certain foods healthier, those people would put a lot of consideration into the public’s health. It doesn’t seem like there is much consideration with all the controversy about labeling these foods. We shouldn’t have to go completely organic because of fear of allergens in non-organic foods. Health should be more important than money to anyone, and I personally think that we should save anyone a trip to the hospital and label these genetically modified foods.
Works Cited
“Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms” Human Genome Project Online. July 2007.
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, Human Genome Program. 20 Feb. 2008.
Hart, Kathleen. "The FDA Should Require Safety Testing and Labeling of Genetically
Engineered Foods." At Issue: Genetically Engineered Foods. Ed. Nancy Harris. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Clark College - Cannell Library. 20 Feb. 2008.
Kintisch, Eli. "Labeling Genetically Engineered Foods Is Not Feasible." At Issue:
Genetically Engineered Foods. Ed. Nancy Harris. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Clark College - Cannell Library. 20 Feb. 2008.
Schauss, Alexander “Do You Know What is in Your Food?”
The Campaign Grassroots Political Action. 2007. 23 Feb. 2008
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