Genetically
Modified Organisms, or GMO’s are a topic that needs to be discussed more. GMO’s
are food plant genes that have been genetically engineered by scientists that
are inserted into a plant altering their genetic code. Certain risks and unsure
results as well as health and environment risks can all come along with
creating and planting these organisms.
If I had things my way, I would get rid of GMO’s all
together, but seeing as how difficult that would be I think changing the the
labeling system, or lack of labeling system on all food products containing
Genetically Modified Organisms can be a start of getting rid of them all
together.
In the United States
there are no mandatory food labeling systems of foods containing GMO’s
required, but with all of these possible risks there should be. Many states
have tried to take action and create laws stating that food company’s need to
label GMO products. In Massachusetts
we were very close to passing a mandatory GMO labeling bill, but then the safe
and accurate food labeling act came into effect, stopping Massachusetts and
every other state from passing mandatory food labeling acts.
Since the “Safe and
Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015” has been put into effect all of these
states efforts have been pushed to the side. This bill states that companies
have a voluntary labeling system, but let’s face it, if you tell anyone
something is voluntary they probably won’t do it. Opponents of the bill, who
call it the Deny Americans the Right to Know Act, or the DARK
Act are outraged by this bill because they have worked so hard and came so
close to getting labeling into effect.
Scientists still aren’t sure the effects of GMO’s and
so we should have the right to know what we’re eating. I’m not saying that
right now we need to ban the use of Genetically modified organisms but we need
to label any food with GMO’s in them, that way food companies are giving us the
choice on whether we want to eat them or not.
I relate to this problem too...only on a different level than yours I suspect. I work in a retail pharmacy, and one of my biggest pet peeves is someone coming in looking for the latest and greatest herbal product advertised by Dr. Oz in the last episode. They want my opinion on it ("Dr.Oz says to take it every day!"), and I have to tell them that I have no opinion on herbal supplements whatsoever. These sort of drugs are not obligated to be tested under DEA regulations; so Dr.Oz can say what he wants about Sundown Vitamins and not be required to provide actual statistics (and sorry to be cynical but as a side note the corporate sponsors are probably paying a ridiculous amount of $$$ for that plug).
ReplyDeleteLike you Black Snow I just want people to be knowledgeable and aware about what it is they are actually ingesting. Do your research beyond watching daytime television.
I completely agree. A lot of people want to know what exactly they are ingesting for food and without the labels it is hard for us to find this out. there should be labels on everything because people can be allergic to certain things. They need to have a better label system and to let everyone know their knowledge on what they are selling for the customers.
ReplyDeleteSomeone who agrees with the majority of scientists who say anthropogenic climate change is harmful but does not agree with the majority of scientists who say GMOs are *not* harmful, is not showing a great deal of consistency.
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