Genetically Modified Organism Labelling: Problem and Solution - Essay Example

GMO Labelling: Problem and Solution Outline I. Introduction A. Background Information B. Thesis ment: there is a sufficient ground to consider the lack of GMO labels as a serious problem of the modern food industry that demands immediate and effective solutions to preserve safety and rights of the general population. II. Body A. Stating of a problem: 1. GMO labelling is a national concern touching upon all citizens of the United States 2. GMO products are potentially harmful for the health of people a. Toxicity of crops can be increased due to GMO b. Allergic reaction due to GM foods is a widespread notion today 3. Environmental hazards of GMO are known B. Solution to the problem: 1. The single national standard on GMO labelling is needed 2. Example of the European Union can be used to draft the legislation III. Conclusion: A. Short summary of the problem B. Solution: establishing the single national policy will enable consumers to make an educated choice and would preserve their right to know. The issue of labelling genetically modified products remains among the most disturbing and actively discussed within the U.S. food industry. The problem lies in the fact that the relevance and safety of growing and consuming such products is still a controversial topic today. Although quite opposite opinions are being expressed in this regard, no specialist would take the responsibility to ensure that GMO foods are completely safe for both people and environment. Moreover, the rest of the world has already recognized the need to put labels on all products that contain genetically modified organisms and implemented the corresponding legislations. Subsequently, there is a sufficient ground to consider the lack of GMO labels as a serious problem of the modern food industry that demands immediate and effective solutions to preserve safety and rights of the general population. To start with, the issue of GMO labelling should be viewed as a national concern since it touches upon all Americans rather than some particular group. For instance, since the massive production of GMO foods was launched in 90s, they gradually took the great share of the market and, today, constitute the prevailing majority of all the available products. Namely, near 70 percent of all processed food that are sold on the territory of the United States contain genetically engineered ingredients as well as the majority of the crops sold throughout the country are genetically modified. (Dahl 359-361) According to Louise Chu, more than “88 percent of all corn and 94 percent of soybeans” are genetically modified. (Chu) It follows that people are left without any option apart from consuming products remaining unaware of what they are actually paying for. Subsequently, it seems irrelevant that people are not given the opportunity to learn about the genetically engineered ingredients that were added to the product together with all the rest information put on a label. As a result, it is possible to regard the absence of GMO labelling laws as a direct violation of people’s rights to know what they are buying and consuming. Moreover, the seriousness of the discussed problem is reinforced by the fact that GMO products are potentially harmful for the health of people. Firstly, the overall range of possible effects of GM foods on human health is not fully and deeply investigated yet. Specialists admit the risk of the appearance of the unknown effects on health and agree that at present there are no sufficient data and evidences that could make it possible to argue that GMOs are safe or not. (Verma, Nanda, and et al 3-11) However, it is suggested that genetically modified products can introduce genetic materials into human cells producing various adverse effects. (Chu) Among such is antibiotic resistance, which can develop as a result of consuming foods that were engineered. It is explained that antibiotic resistance genes are used by biotechnologists as selectable markers in the process of inserting new genes. At the same time, in recent years, specialists have been expressing concerns over the numbers of bacterial strains, which resist antibiotics. Subsequently, there is a risk that antibiotic resistance marker would be transferred from plants to humans and reinforce the influence of infections. What is more, it is feared that genetically modified foods and crops can have a direct negative effect on health though the increased toxicity of such products. It appears that the majority of plants contain substances which are toxic to people. However, the levels of toxicity in plants that humans consume are too small to produce some adverse effects on health. In contrast, inserting a gene into plants can result in the production of higher levels of toxins, in amounts that are dangerous for humans. The reason lies in the fact that while interfering with a metabolic pathway of a stressed plant, inserted gene can make a plant to develop more toxins as a response to this interference. Although, researches could previously argue that such probability is too insignificant to be viewed as a serious concern, a recent study revealed a gene in a potato that proved to be toxic for mammals. (Verma, Nanda, and et al 3-11) Therefore, increased toxicity is another reason to argue for GMO labelling, since it proves that the safety of such products is the issue that requires much additional research and more plausible data. Under such conditions, denying people the right to know what kinds of products they are buying equals to putting their health at risk. In addition, environmental hazards of GMOs also add to the seriousness of the problem and give additional reason to argue that people should have the right to decide whether to support producers of GM foods or not. For instance, it is a known fact that genetically modified crops quickly develop and show the tendency to move from plantation to plantation by means of pollen and seeds. In other words, the spread and population of GMOs, which can become not controllable, has a potential to impact populations of other plants. The following would result in threatening populations of insects, birds, and microbes, and in changing the biodiversity as a whole. A good example in this regard would be the high mortality of monarch butterfly caterpillars caused by pollen from B.t. corn. (Verma, Nanda, and et al 3-11) Another significant concern is the appearance of allergic reaction due to consuming GM products. In fact, allergy has been among the essential arguments used to support the idea of GMO labelling. The rationale behind such association can be found in statistical data that show the significant increase of the percent of people suffering from a kind of an allergy on food since the 90s – the time when GMOs actively entered the food industry. Today, accordingly to different calculations, near 15 million of people in the United States have an allergy on food and the most affected appear to be children with approximately two children in one classroom suffering from allergy. Namely, about 8 percent of children aged from 6 to 10 have a food allergy and near “39 percent of all affected show a history of severe reactions.” ("American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology") A fact to consider in this regard is that yet near two decades ago the mentioned numbers were significantly lower than they appear to be today. At this point, specialists explain that there is chance that in the process of transferring genes from one plant to another, allergens would be transferred as well. (Chu) As a result, there is a possibility that a person would accidentally consume ingredient which is life threatening, but there is no possibility to avoid the situation as far as there are no labels that could tell the whole history of a product creation. All arguments and facts considered, it becomes clear that GMO labelling is indeed an acute national concern that has to be addressed reasonably and effectively. Due to the fact that the issue touches the U.S. society as a whole, making all citizens equally affected, it is clear that the solution to the problem should also be established on the national level. In fact, the appearance of the possible policy has been given much attention recently, which made it possible to conclude that the single national standard on GMO labelling is the most appropriate way out of the situation. It would demand that companies put corresponding labels on products, which contain genetically modified organisms and materials under the unite policy. (Keaton ) The benefits of a single policy as opposed to local or state legislatures is that it will make it possible to establish a better control over its appropriate execution as far as all the states would be required to confirm to the established standards and fulfill its requirements without any indulgences. As it is stated in the 2013 report prepared by National Products Association, the strong side of a national standard is that it is not only the most cost effective, but the less confusing as well. “Hundreds of different local and state requirement s would be expensive and counterproductive.” (Keaton ) Apart from that, in the process of crafting and implementing the legislation, it would be right to take into account experience of the European Union, which implemented compulsory GMO labelling on products that contain GMO, consist of it, or are derived from genetically modified products and although can no longer contain GMO, but still have DNA or protein resulted from those modifications. Furthermore, the principles standing behind the labeling law admit that all consumers have an undeniable right to “get all essential information on manufacturer, composition, preparation, storage methods” and other important information about a product. The following is relevant for not only products that are being sold directly to the customers, but to the food served in all possible facilities, such as hospitals, canteens, restaurants, and other. In addition, there is also a need in clearly defining services responsible for managing the control over the compliance with the laws, procedures in a way this control would be conducted as well as the ways to penalize violators. As a whole, following the mentioned steps it is possible to reach the effective solution to the given problem. To sum up, GMO labeling obtains a specific place among the food industry issues in the United States. Today, the prevailing majority of various products on the market is genetically modified or was produced using GM ingredients. The following raises significant concerns among citizens, who are deprived of the right to know what they are consuming. Moreover, it is recognized that GMOs do not prove to be definitely safe and harmless. Therefore, there is a need in establishing the single national policy that would require putting labels on all GM foods. It this way all consumers would be capable of making aware and educated choice of the products to consume, which is the right of all people. Works cited "Allergy Statistics ." American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. 2014: n. page. Web. 25 Sep. 2014. Read More