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Argument Essay Final
Classroom Management, Engagement and Motivation (C572)
Western Governors University
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GMO’s, As Harmful as We Think? Genetically Modified Foods (GMO’s) have recently gained more attention as the issue becomes a popular and strongly debated subject. There have been active protests by public interest groups and environmental organizations against Genetically Modified Foods for various reasons. One of the main questions people have asked is, “should we support or oppose GMOs?” First, we must keep in mind that GMO’s are genetically modified organisms that have genes from other organisms added to the existing genes. The goal is to give the existing genes new characteristics such as disease resistance. Although this may sound good, that the GMO can resist diseases, it can prove harmful to humans in that they can present significant allergic reactions. Sometimes, proteins, that humans were allergic to begin with, can be added to an organism, plant, or animal, that some humans may not have been allergic to originally, now causes the same allergic reaction to the original organism. (Lallanilla, 2016)
GMO’s are created in a lab by altering the DNA of the animal or plant. Introducing genetically altered foods into the human body has been tested for effects however, like Robert Gould M., president of the board of Physicians for Social Responsibility states, “The contention that GMOs pose no risks to human health can’t be supported by studies that have measured a time frame that is too short to determine the effects of exposure over a lifetime”. The Food and Drug Administration does not require any safety assessments from GMO companies, they do however invite companies to voluntarily provide data for safety reviews. One thing that is hampering more studies from gathering the data necessary to track potential health risks to humans is the lack of labeling. ("GMO Foods: What You Need to Know," 2016)
It is difficult for doctors to diagnose patients who have problems with food allergies if they don’t know what their patients are eating. Gould says, “If your patient has a problem with food allergies or other side effects that may be related to GMOs, it’s difficult to identify any links unless these foods are labeled”. So why is there a labeling debate? Not too many years ago, companies were mandated to provide nutritional information labels on all food products. I can remember growing up, when I would go to the supermarket with my Mother, each store had a generic section. The products had a black and white label that only stated what was inside. No other information was provided for the consumer. ("GMO Foods: What You Need to Know," 2016)
In over 60 countries, GMO labeling is mandatory but not in the U. Those who oppose the labeling say that it unfairly implies that GOM’s are unsafe while those in favor say that consumers have a right to know what is in their food and what they will potentially be ingesting. “Producers already must label foods that are frozen, from concentrate, homogenized, or irradiated,” says Jean Halloran, director of food-policy initiatives at Consumers Union. “GMO labeling is one more piece of helpful information”. Much of the opposition to the labeling comes from GMO manufactures including DuPont, PepsiCo, Kraft Foods, along with many others and are contributing the most to stop the mandatory labeling. (Consumer Reports, 2016)
Just as there are consequences for humans who consume GMO’s there are consequences for companies if they are forced to provide labeling on their GMO products. One is that labeling is expensive which, in turn, would affect the price of the products on consumers. Labeling can be confusing to everyone. As we read in the article from Biology Fortified, “In the same NYT piece, we find that plain SpaghettiOs must carry a GMO label. But meatball SpaghettiOs do not need to. Since they are regulated by different agencies, meat-containing products are exempt”. So,
The solution that has been proposed by the biotech industry is to create a new generation of crops that are immune to not only glyphosate, but another popular herbicide known as 2,4-D. “Since this is likely to make even more weeds immune to both Roundup and 2,4-D, this ‘solution’ to the super-weed problem makes about as much sense as pouring gasoline on a fire to put it out,” says Charles Benbrook, Ph., a research professor at Washington State University who also serves on a USDA advisory committee on agricultural biotechnology”. Overuse of herbicides can also affect the health of consumers due to the residue from these chemicals that can end up in the food crops. Some studies have shown that the increased exposure to these herbicides have caused increased risk of birth defects, reproductive problems, and even non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma. (Whitman, 2000)
Another major impact of GMO’s to the environment is that GMO’s can cross pollinate and the seeds can travel. This would cause widespread contamination and impossible clean up not to mention self-propagating GMO’s can outlast global warming and nuclear waste. There is a huge potential impact to the environment and in turn humans and animals. Organic farmers have been starting to see the effects of cross pollination in an ongoing battle to keep their crops pure. There can be a host of unpredictable side effects from mixing genes from unrelated plant species. For example, it can unleash a lot of new toxins, allergens, nutritional deficiencies and so on. (Whitman, 2000)
Some companies have proposed solutions to the cross contamination. For instance, “non- GM corn would be planted to surround a field of B. GM corn, and the non-GM corn would not be harvested” (Genetically Modified Foods: para. 23). With the buffer zones, wind would not be able to carry the pollen to weeds and other crops. The buffer zone crops would be left for insects to devour while not developing a resistance to the pesticides. Another possible solution is to
create GMO plants that do not produce pollen (male sterile) or to modify it so the pollen does not carry the introduced gene. (Zilberman, 2012)
Imposing restrictions to GMO foods in the United States is confusing. There are three different agencies that have jurisdiction over GMO foods. The EPA who evaluate GMO plants for environmental effects. They study risk assessments on any potential harm from pesticides to human health and the environment while establishing tolerance and residue levels for pesticides. The USDA who evaluates the plants to see if they are safe to grow. They have the power to quarantine potential problem crops and animals in order to prevent the spread and movement of the suspected products, put restrictions on exporting and importing suspected products or even destroy any products cultivated in violation of the regulations. The FDA who evaluate how safe the plant is to eat. The FDA’s current policy, developed in 1992, states that biotech companies may voluntarily request the FDA for consultations, however companies are not currently required to do so. Also, companies are not required to follow the FDA’s recommendations after the consultation. The agencies currently do not have the time, money, or resources to carry out health and safety studies of every proposed GMO food product.
In conclusion, it’s fair to say that Genetically Modified Foods (GMO’s) do have the potential to solve a great many of the world's hunger and malnutrition problems, and to help preserve and to protect the environment by increasing yield and lowering our reliance upon chemical pesticides and herbicides. Yet, for world governments, especially in the areas of regulation, international policies, safety testing, and food labeling there are many challenges ahead. Many people feel that the wave of genetic engineering is inevitable for the future and because there is such an enormous potential for benefits, we cannot afford to ignore the technology. However, as a result of our enthusiasm for this powerful technology, we must avoid
Zilberman, D. (2012, June 11). Why labeling of GMOs is actually bad for people and the environment. Retrieved from blogs.berkeley/2012/06/06/why-labeling-of- gmos-is-actually-bad-for-people-and-the-environment/
Argument Essay Final
Course: Classroom Management, Engagement and Motivation (C572)
University: Western Governors University
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