Agriculture is an important part of the framework for the United States society. The plants that are grown and produced are essential in everyday life due to their prevalence in the diets of human beings. Recent advancements in agriculture have led to the creation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) which has sparked furious debate. As you have informed me, you are wondering what side to support regarding the issue of whether food manufacturers should be required to label foods that have been genetically modified. In this email, I will provide you with information about the subject of GMOs as well as discuss the issue of the labeling of GMO products so that you can make an informed decision regarding which side to support.
Before discussing the issue of the labeling of GMO products, it is important to first understand what GMOs are. GMOs are organisms that have been genetically modified which means that they are the result of the transfer of genes between organisms rather than plant breeding. As a result, the genetic makeup of these organisms is altered which changes the properties and traits that they possess. Genetic modification occurs in three main steps. The first step is to locate the gene of interest from the source and the use of genetic mapping helps to identify the desired gene. The next step is to isolate the gene from the source which is commonly done by the usage of restriction enzymes. Restriction enzymes were first used in the 1970s and they can excise specific pieces of DNA that include the target gene. The final step is to insert the gene into the plant that will be modified. This transfer of DNA into the organism occurs through a variety of methods. Two common methods that are used include the use of a particle gun and through bacteria. The particle gun method works by coating the desired DNA with metal particles and then shooting them into plant cells. The bacteria method relies on the use of bacteria which can help transfer DNA into the host. GMOs most frequently use the bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens for this genetic transfer. The bacteria are transformed with the DNA sequence with the gene of interest and the bacteria then transfer this DNA into the plant cells (The Royal Society, 2016). The plant then grows with this new DNA to form a genetically modified organism. These GMOs have many potential applications but have also caused a variety of concerns. The potential of these GMOs is vast as they can be genetically engineered to be resistant to plant diseases which can help countries that are forced to perform massive costly vaccination efforts to limit plant disease. A research study has shown that GMOs have helped to make an environmental impact by leading to a significant reduction in pesticide usage as well as leading to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions estimated to be around 6.5 million cars from the roads in 2006 (Brookes and Barfoot, 2008). These GMOs can also be engineered to be stronger and more nutritious which can help improve the human diet. There are however concerns with GMOs, as this genetic modification can lead to potential health risks such as the rise of new allergies. Many people also believe that GMOs are unethical because they are not naturally created (Phillips, 2008). The topic of GMOs is an issue with a variety of opinions.
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The creation of GMOs has led to their frequent usage in food products. This use in food products has led to a discussion about whether genetically modified foods should be labeled on food products. In 2016, President Obama signed a federal law that helped to regulate the labeling of GMO foods. The objective of this law was to allow the head of USDA to determine which foods are considered as GMOs and are subject to labeling as well as the ways that a company can disclose GMOs on these labels. This law requires that food label disclosure occur through a text, a picture, or a bar code that displays the GMO information for the food product. This law has created many advocates as well as critics. Advocates argue that this bill helps consumers understand exactly what is in their food products, so this bill provides power to the consumers as they have the right to know what is in the food that they are purchasing and consuming (Kerner, 2017). Critics believe that this bill will hurt companies such as Monsanto because the effort of these companies to label their food as genetically modified might cause them to stop making GMOs. This disruption could significantly impact the US food industry because GMOs are staples in packaged foods such as cereals and chips (Baertlein and Gillam, 2012). Critics also believe that food labeling has not provided the level of consumer choice that advocates of food labeling believe because mandatory labeling results in additional taxes which hurt the consumer due to the enforcement and testing that is required by GMO manufacturers. It is also believed that only learning about the content of certain food products using QR code scanners and online portals makes it difficult for consumers who are not technologically savvy (Carter and Gruère, 2003). A study has shown that food labeling will lead to an increase in the production cost for the producer which will thus lead to an increase in the price of the food product for the consumer as well (Gruère, 2007). The issue of food labeling has advocates but also many critics as well.
In this email, I wanted to refresh your knowledge about GMOs as well as provide you with information about the issue of labeling GMO products. I hope that you can make an informed decision regarding whether GMO labeling is a good idea or not.
Works Cited
- Baertlein, L. and Gillam, C. 2012. California's GMO labeling proposal in tight race. Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/26/us-california-gmo-idUSBRE89P02M20121026
- Brookes, G. and Barfoot, P. 2008. Global impact of biotech crops: Socio-economic and environmental effects, 1996-2006. AgBioForum 11: 21-38. http://www.agbioforum.org/v11n1/v11n1a03-brookes.pdf
- Carter, C. and Gruère, G. 2003. Mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods: Does it provide consumer choice? AgBioForum 6: 68-70. http://www.agbioforum.org/v6n12/v6n12a13-carter.htm
- Gruère, G. 2007. Labeling policies of genetically modified food: Lessons from an international review of existing approaches. IFPRI. http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/pbsbrieflabeling.pdf
- Kerner, Glenn S. “Food for Thought: The Federal GMO Labeling Law.” Food Safety Magazine, Mar. 2017, www.foodsafetymagazine.com/magazine-archive1/februarymarch-2017/food-for-thought-the-federal-gmo-labeling-law/.
- Phillips, T. (2008) Genetically modified organisms (GMOs): Transgenic crops and recombinant DNA technology. Nature Education 1(1):213, https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetically-modified-organisms-gmos-transgenic-crops-and-732/
- “What Is Genetic Modification (GM) of Crops and How Is It Done?” The Royal Society, May 2016, royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/gm-plants/what-is-gm-and-how-is-it-done/.
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GMO Proposal Essay.
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