Genetically Modified Foods Argumentative Essay

How can genetically modified food affect our society? GMOs are crops which have been scientifically manipulated to receive certain results. The United States proves their commitment to this movement, as their grocery shelves are filled with them. However, not many stand with the U.S., as many countries have banned biotech foods because of their risks. Genetically modified foods are a risk to our society as they may contaminate other productions, but they resist weather patterns; they lack the necessary tests to provide information about their possible dangers, however they are envisioned to be a solution to many health issues; furthermore, they dominate the food industry by not allowing variety, but on the other hand, GMOs may help future issues of food shortages.

Genetic engineering is the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material, otherwise known as DNA. Since biochemists Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer pioneered genetic engineering in 1973, the process has grown to have numerous applications such as medicine production, for example insulin (Mckinley). However, a main topic of concern is the application of genetic engineering on foods that we eat everyday. By modifying the genetic "blueprint" of crops, it is possible to improve many aspects of agriculture. But with any sort of scientific discovery that allows humans to act as Mother Nature, genetically modifying organisms has been a very controversial topic. Yet our society continues to grow, and the need for the benefits of genetically modified foods continues to grow. Genetically modifying foods should be permitted in our society because it allows larger yields of crops to be produced, produces foods with higher nutritional values, and reduces our global ecological footprint.

Many food companies frown upon the idea of having to put labels on their foods because consumers will not want their product if their are too many GMOs in the product. If food companies were forced to put GMO labels on their products they may feel inclined to put less GMO in their products to cause consumer happiness. With labels on the food products consumers will feel more confident with their purchase to consume that food. Which would cause sales to fly through the roof for many food companies, especially organic food companies. GMO labeling influences consumer behavior, “...the majority of supermarket employees believed that the presence of non-GMO labeling influenced consumer behavior in some way, with 52.9% reporting that it impacted all consumers, 17.6% asserting that it mattered to those who were knowledgeable and interested in food without genetic modification, and only 5.9% feeling that their clientele would not be interested because of its demographics.” (Wunderlich). According to a survey done by Wunderlich, Gatto and Mangano where they investigate the current Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) and organic labeling policies and to determine the impact on consumer choice. They found: “There is a need for clearer labeling policies regarding GMO foods. If GMO foods were labeled more clearly, consumers would be able to make more educated purchasing decisions and

People nourish themselves by consuming three meals each day. Eating is essential for survival, but what is actually in food we eat? Many are oblivious to that. People should be very informed to what is actually going into their gastrointestinal system because it significantly impacts their health, and it can between life or death. Gone are the days when people saw every step of how their food was manufactured until it got onto their table to eat. With increased human population on Earth, consequently, mass production is ubiquitous. The commonality of mass production, has led to genetically modified foods. Genetically modified foods are foods that have been genetically engineered to produce effects that make them more desirable. It is also worth noting, that GMOs are not on food labeled when sold to the public. Many people are unaware of genetically modified foods as they have significant negative effects on humans in conjunction and the environment.

Due to the rigorous testing of GMFs to make sure they are not toxic, the government has approved several genetically based foods since 1994. While we are constantly being told that their testing is thorough, very little long-term testing has been carried out to understand what possible effects they could have on both the environment or human health (refer to the article Genetically Modified Crops Safety Assessments: Present Limits and Possible Improvements for more information on the matter). Moreover, the fact that it takes ten years to approve a genetically engineered food should make us feel comfortable, but overall there are still varying results in relation to long-term effects of these foods. The citizens with this knowledge are uncomfortable when buying foods, as they do not know which products to avoid. There are 64 countries that have already made GMF labelling a legal requirement, while other countries (such as the United States) have recently passed this

Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, are foods that have been prepared through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology. Although GMOs have been all over the world for numerous years, it wasn’t till just lately that individuals have become more concerned with them. Though, countless industries and corporations that produce genetically modified organisms, like Monsanto, attempt to make believe that the foods they harvest are healthy and valuable for the environment; though that may be correct at first glimpse, numerous anti-GMO protestors are certain that these corporations trick people into believing corrupt information. In this essay, we will uncover the pros and cons of these foods and ultimately, come to the assumption that GMOs may have letdowns for

Many people are unaware that there have not been sufficient tests conducted that prove GMOs are entirely safe. Therefore, people ought to consider the potential health risks they are taking when consuming a GM food product. However, since most biotech companies such as Monsanto, Cargill, Dow, Bayer and others do not advertise that their food products contain GMOs, consumers are not aware that most of the foods they purchase have been genetically modified. It is obvious to suspect that these companies are benefiting from the public’s lack of knowledge. Consumers need to be made aware when they are purchasing genetically modified products. Genetically modified organisms can potentially cause harm to our environment and have a detrimental effect on human health.

Many people feel that genetically modified organisms are unsafe, untested and therefore not something they want in their food or environment. I feel that without the proper studies and research we are putting ourselves in the hands of large corporations that have more of an interest in making money than offering a safe product. I feel it is important to make an informed decision when it comes to products or organisms affecting ourselves or our environment.

When walking down the aisles of Giant or Safeway, what individuals usually look at are the amount of fat or the number of calories a product contains. Others just pick up whatever looks good for dinner that night. But what many of those individuals don’t look out for, or even know about, are Genetically Modified Organisms. Even if they wanted to, the products in grocery stores don’t contain the proper labels that make the consumer aware of what they’re actually consuming. Many people are still in the dark about what GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms) are and our government does not do much to inform its people about these products and the companies that produce them. Genetically Modified organisms are animals or plants that have been inserted with genes that scientists have pulled from several different species and inserted into one to create a super animal or plant. The creation of genetically modified organisms was supposed to be the answer to human advances in agriculture and world hunger, but unfortunately it has more potential to harm our animals, our environment, and most importantly ourselves. The corporations that produce these products must be fully regulated and tested by the government to determine if safe enough to grow and consume. The companies creating this abnormal food only have money in mind, without thinking about the consequences. These super food maybe be seen as magic seeds to some, but the thing that is supposed to be

My own view is that whether or not GMOs are bad for human health, they should still be labeled. To this date, GMOs Mandatory labeling remains optional which has led to deceptive advertising. This kind of deception prevents consumer from knowing the exact ingredients of their foods, prevents scientists from identifying the effects of the consumption of GMOs and causes consumer’s mistrust of the Food and Drug Administration agency. In other words, Optional labeling of GMOs allows deceptive marketing, prevents people from recognizing GMOs side Effects, and causes mistrust towards the FDA.

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

The debate for labeling genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the food supply has been an ongoing battle for years. Both sides have valid points and believe passionately in their stance. One side states they are safe for the consumer to eat and do not need to be labeled. The other side argues not enough long term studies have been done to validate this claim and labeling should be mandatory to protect the consumer. While both supporters and non-supports of labeling GMO foods may not seem to have much in common, they can both agree that there is a need for a plentiful and nutritious food supply.

In the handbook titled GM Foods written by David E. Newton there is a section that explains why GM foods are not labelled, which caused outrage back in the 90s. This section written by Dr. Phill Jones who earned his PhD in physiology and pharmacology. He was also a patent attorney. For ten years he specialized in biological, chemical and medical inventions. He states that "The FDA's authority comes from the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and according to the act, the FDA can only require information on a label that is accurate and material." He also mentions that the labeling of GM food would go against the FDA's regulation system. He mentions that the FDA uses science to evaluate the safety of foods and focuses on the characteristics more than how the plants were engineered. I would think that the safety of the food would also incorporate the plants' health, where and how it grows. He also claims that "advocates for GM food labeling claim that these labels would enable consumers to avoid health risks probably associated with GM foods." I believe people should be aware of what they are eating and have a choice to buy the products or not. We should know where the food is coming from and exactly what and how it is produced or modified. Without labeling people are forced to continue eating GM foods

In the past few years, society has been made more aware of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Because of this, GMOs are being replaced in diets with more natural and organic options. GMOs have been researched and found to cause adverse effects on human health because of the gene splicing, or genetic alterations that are done to create them through genetic engineering. Before this issue became an issue, many people were eating processed and even healthy foods without understanding what chemicals and toxins they were actually putting into their bodies. GMOs are infused into food without awareness because one never really understands what all those unpronounceable words, label GMOs, really are. Due to recent research, it has been found that genetically modified organisms are harmful and can lead to increased risks of disease and cancer.

The general argument made by the editors of Scientific American in the article “Fight the GMO Food Scare” is the labeling of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) products is superfluous because of the innocuous hazards of GMOs. According to the editors, “instead of providing people with useful information, mandatory GMO labels would only intensify the misconception that so-called Frankenfoods endanger people's health.” Here, the editors are basically saying that labeling would have a harmful effect, rather than a helpful one (as intended), since the requirement would make it seem like these foods are dangerous. In addition, the editors claim that labeling GMO products would cause a “family's yearly food bill by as much as $400”as “conventional crops often require more water and pesticides than GMOs do”. The editors also argue that “such