Owusu 1

Samuel Owusu
Prof. Colleens
ENG 23-810
January 13, 2015
Genetically Modified Foods; to label or not to label.
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is among the most important issues around the
globe today. GMOs are organisms whose genetic material has been changed to increase
productivity and product quality. GMOs have raised numerous concerns over the past years
about its safety. Being resistant to pest and diseases, helping feed humans suffering from famine
by producing greater yields, and improving the nutrition of foods, GMO have many benefits to
mankind. Food is very significant to human life as it promote good health and also increases the
rate of survival. This is the main reason why GMO foods was accepted all over the world even
though food engineers did not have enough research done to prove the safety level of GM foods.
The growth of GM foods couldnt be contained like wildfires in southern California. Recent
researches have shown otherwise than we knew a decade ago and now global citizens want GM
foods labeled. The European Union faced a lot of trouble before it was finally able to get GM
food industries to label their foods. The citizens of United States have started a similar campaign
to ensure GM foods are labelled in U.S., but just the Europeans, they are facing a lot of
resistance. Many States have required their labeling but GM companies refuse to label them and
have hence created a lot of tension throughout the country.
A simple label on a can, bottle or sachet can solve this issue but GM industries either out
of pure knowledge or greed or lack of knowledge thereof has made it a lot complicated than food
labelling is supposed to be. The labeling of genetically modified foods is absolutely common
sense, and consumers should have the information just like we have calorie counts, protein, fat,

Owusu 2

carbohydrate and vitamin contents of foods and even size labels on shirts and shoes. There is
clearly no rationale to continue denying consumers the right to know whether a product is
genetically modified or contains genetically modified organisms.
The move for the labelling of genetically modified food begun about two decades ago
when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), back in 1994, approved GMO crops (Chu).
This reflects the uneven acceptance of genetically engineered foods since their rise. Last year, the
citizen of the state of California went out to vote to adopt the proportion 37.
The Proportion 37, [would have] required labeling on raw or processed food offered for
sale to consumers if the food is made from plants or animals with genetic material
changed in specified ways [It would have also] prohibited labeling or advertising
[genetically modified foods] as natural Although unintentionally modified foods
[would have] not required labelling under this proportion 37 (Chu).
Unfortunately, this bill was defeated due to lobbying in congress, partial research from
scientists and support from [both giant and smaller grocery stores] because of the little profit
they make from keeping consumers uninformed about GM foods (McLure 3). Despite the broad
support, special interests spending millions of dollars on campaign contributions and lobbying
to influence elected officials have succeeded at keeping us in the dark about our food choices.
Biotech industry and groups representing the big food corporations have spent tens of millions of
dollars across the country over the past couple of years to defeat these efforts for simple
disclosure. Foes of the proportion 37 referendum, including GM farmer, food engineers and seed
producers, claims that GM crops are more productive, pest-resistant and that the fast-growing
organic industry and misguided consumer groups are to blame for confusion about the science
behind them (3). While genetically modified foods may be more productive, as argued by GM

Owusu 3

companies, what it only does is put more money in the pockets of the producers. And the
healthcare and safety issues of genetically modified foods, which is more of a concern to
supporters of the referendum, is completely left undiscussed.
Despite the danger that GM foods possess on our health and environment, they are still
found on dinner tables each and every day without the consumers knowledge nor support.
Research on genetically modified organisms have not provided enough evidence about the safety
genetically modified foods and hence it should not skip labelling and still find its way in grocery
stores. According to Abbie Goldbas, a researcher for the International Journal for Childbirth
Education, great caution must be taken when dealing with genetically modified foods. And more
research has to be conducted to determine the overall benefits and risks of each product which is
genetically modified before it can come be sold on market (1). Even though the benefits of some
of these products may outweigh their risks, others which have not had enough research done on
them and as a result not good for the consumption of humans also finds its way in grocery stores
with the good genetically modified foods, and organic foods alike, mainly because there is no
label to differentiate between them. Labelling genetically modified foods will help consumers
make better choices at grocery store and feel better about spending their money on GM foods, if
they do.
Current research on genetically modified organisms cannot determine whether genetically
modified foods possess long term effects on the consumers or not. Supporters of genetic
engineering argue that genetically modified foods can improve the nutritional contents of various
foods will help people who suffer many deficiency diseases (Goldbas 1). Also, they claim that
GM foods can yields medical benefit by injecting a particular genes or vaccine (1). However,
GMOs are only a short-term measure, not the primary solution for nutritional improvement of

Owusu 4

foods and nutritional benefits. If genetically modified foods contain all this good stuff, why then
is it so hard just to label it? No consumer will complain if his food can also heal him/her as GM
industries are saying. Demerits of genetically modified foods far outweigh their merits.
According to an article written by McLure Jason, a study by the American Academy of
Environmental Medicine (AAME) advised precaution because GM foods have not been tested
for human consumption and because there is significant evidence of probable harm (2). Recent
researches have proven that GMOs can cause food allergy reactions, indirect and non-traceable
effects on cancer rate, unknown effects on human health and malfunction immune system
(Chu). Several studies bear testimony to this danger. For instance, a recent French study
recently reported that rats that ate genetically modified corn which was sprayed with weed killer
Roundup were more likely to develop tumors, organ damage and die early (Chu). Therefore, it
is evident that GM foods are harmful to our health.
Foes against labelling genetically modified foods argue, they are protecting consumers
from higher prices. But there is no proof that labeling GMOs increases food prices. In fact, the
opposite is true in 65 countries where labeling is already occurring, there has been no
measurable impact on food prices (Chu). Rees, writer of the book GMO; Short Guide for the
Confused, said in his book, As a food producer, I can substantiate that such an argument is
false. Label modifications occur regularly and we must budget for the cost, so there would be no
increasing prices in order to simply label a product as genetically modified (96). Also a recent
article in the New York Times magazine has pointed out that Last year, Campbell created the
website that offer[ed] information about the ingredients in its products and how they are used,
including those items that come from genetically engineered crops ( Strom). For example, this
website discloses that among the ingredients in Campbells Cream of Mushroom soup, the

Owusu 5

vegetable oil, monosodium glutamate and modified food starch may come from genetically
engineered sources. The website has had no apparent impact on sales, according to a company
spokeswoman (Strom). This shows GMO industries are just feeding people lies not just about
their products but also the effects their products will have on the economy.
Transgenic crops will destroy our environment and organic farming industry by
contaminating organic foods. Advocates of GMO assert that transgenic crops possessed harmful
insect resistance and herbicide resistance helps to reduce the environmental contamination
(Chu). However, the resistant gene injected to these crops can spread to the ecological system.
Consequently, the change has resulted in a dilemma due to the birth of super weeds and insect by
spreading the gene to them. The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that GMO
crops often have posed serious risks to the ecology in 2000 because the crops which contained
plant incorporated pesticides killed useful insects and produced the toxin by the plant as it
grows (Jae-Hwan 5). Also, the EPA evaluates risks to human health, non-target organisms, and
the environment by pesticides.
Aside the health hazards that comes with genetically modified foods, there is a wide
range of religious problems with genetically engineered foods. Religious vegetarians, such as
Seventh Day Adventists and Muslim, want to be able to pinpoint and avoid meat and vegetables
with insect, animal or virus genes in them. Rees mentioned in his book, Jews who keep kosher
food laws want to be able to make sure that genetically engineered foods do not violate their
restrictions (7). A broad stretch of religious leaders in this country and around the world have
severe teaching objections against tampering with the patterns of life that occur in genetically
engineering foods. Without labeling them, these people have no way of avoiding the genetically
engineered foods in question. Many consumers who are not formally religious also have severe

Owusu 6

ethical objections to much of the genetic engineering research and development that is currently
going on and wish to avoid genetically engineered foods for that reason (Tongyang). Without
labeling consumers have no way of avoiding these foods.
Finally, to prevent genetically modified foods, it should bear a label and people should be
recognize the effects of GMO. In Europe and Japan, diffusion of GMOs has been less than 2%
because environmental groups call GMOs to Frankenstein foods because of their own
disadvantages and the general public avoids the foods (Tongyang). However, In USA, GMO
rate is in serious condition. Most of major crops came from GMO, it is more than 50%
(Tongyang). All GM food should be labeled for the protection of this nation against potential
risks of eating the foods. No studies have been done on the role genetically modified foods plays
in obesity in U.S. but based on my research I am sure labelling GM foods will have a huge
impact on the fight against obesity in United States. Labeling is consistent with the right to know
for consumers. And it is the best way to give consumer a choice to buy GM foods and hence
proper measures should be taken in the quest of labelling genetically modified foods.

Owusu 7

Works Cited
Chu, Louise, Patrice Sutton, and Robert Gould. "Genetically Modified Food Labeling Through
The Lens of Public Health." UC San Francisco. UCSF News Center, 05 Nov. 2012. Web.
27 Dec. 2015.
Goldbas, Abbie. "Gmos: What Are They?...Genetically Modified Organisms." International
Journal Of Childbirth Education 29.3 (2014): 20-24 5p. CINAHL Complete. Web. 27
Dec. 2015.
Jae-Hwan Han, and R. Wes Harrison. Factors Influencing Urban Consumers' Acceptance of
Genetically Modified Foods. Review of Agricultural Economics 29.4 (2007): 700719.
Web. 26 Dec. 2015.
McLure, Jason. "Genetically Modified Food." CQ Researcher 31 Aug. 2012: 717-40. Web. 27
Dec. 2015.
Rees, Andy. Genetically Modified Food: A Short Guide For The Confused. London: Pluto Press,
2006. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 30 Dec. 2015.
Strom, Stephanie. "Campbell Labels Will Disclose G.M.O. Ingredients." The New York Times.
The New York Times, 7 Jan. 2016. Web. 10 Jan. 2016.
Tongyang, Yang, Glenn C. W. Ames, and Joshua Berning. "Determinants of Consumer
Attitudes And Purchasing Behaviors On Genetically Modified Foods In Taiwan." Journal
of Food Distribution Research 46.1 (2015): 30-36. Business Source Complete. Web. 26
Dec. 2015.