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Do you think that food containing genetically modified organisms should be labelled in the United States?

Many of the advocates supporting the labelling of foods containing GMOs would say that it is unfair for consumers to be kept in the dark about what is actually in their food. Transparency from the corporations who make up the food industry is something that consumers have been trying to achieve for a long time. In 1996, without the publics notice, GMO crops began to be commercialized and put on the shelves of supermarkets nationwide. Most citizens during this time did not know of GMOs or what their purpose in our food was, but now people have started asking some important questions regarding GMOs.

With society becoming more health orientated over the years, people have been become more conscious about what foods they put into their bodies. What most people would not like to find out is that most people have eating foods containing GMOs for most of their lives. There was no public notice telling consumer that some of their products were genetically engineered to have specific traits. Knowing this some consumers have questioned whether or not GMOs are completely safe for consumers and the environment.

Consumers have also brought up that the FDA has not done any thorough research about the health risks GMOs have in humans. The safety evaluation system used for testing genetically modified crops today, which uses a “substantial equivalence” concept, has remained the same since the commercialization of genetically modified crops in 1996. It is based on the notion that genetic engineering is an extension of traditional plant breeding and should be regulated in the same way. Even with the lack of long term studies in humans, numerous animal studies have shown adverse health effects from consumption of these foods, including organ damage, infertility, and changes in immune system. Human safety concerns arise from genetic engineering due to the introduction of new allergens, an increased level of naturally occurring allergens, plant toxins, or changes in nutrition. Many advocates for labelling would fight and say that the FDA is not doing enough to protect citizens from unknown health risks from these foods.

Although most Americans want their foods labeled and some states have even proposed bills to mandate labelling, companies like Monsanto, Dow Agrosciences, and the Grocery Manufacturers Association have payed millions of dollars to block these kind of bills at any cost. Ads funded by these companies are made in order to sway voters that labelling foods would end up costing consumers and producers more money, that it would hurt farmers business, and labelling isn’t necessary because GMOs are “safe”.

Also, how much different would it be for companies to add or change a label? Companies spend tons of money making labels they already put on their products and they even change the labels to appeal to consumers more. Nutritional labels serve a similar purpose, they tell us things like how much fat and how much high fructose corn syrup is in each product. Companies not wanting to add an extra label lie to consumers stating that it would make costs for producers and consumers to rise, however a report by Consumers Union, stated that labeling would only cost consumers a penny a day. Some of the information that is already placed on labels could possibly deter any consumer, however companies believe if they have to start labeling if their product was genetically engineered people would not buy their products. Companies know that once consumers know the truth about what is in their food they will start to make more health informed decisions.

Now knowing some of the truth behind these food companies it is easy to see why they oppose labelling, however consumers have the right to know what is in the food they eat and not have their food picked out by the government.