first draft

Kennan Patton

Professor Kerr

EN101-23

11/29/2011

Better Science

Approximately 80% of American processed foods contain some form of genetic modification (“Genetically”), and it can be anything from color, taste, size, even add vaccines. although the FDA has no glide lines on genetically modified foods, as far as making companies tell people if they use genetically modified foods in their products. Do not tell that to the people that what genetically modified foods labeled and regulated. These people try to use scare tactics to get everyone on their side of the argument, which is why this essay will be defending genetically modified foods. genetically modified foods should not be labeled, have more advantages then disadvantages, and more chefs use them then opposes them.

Why genetically modified foods should not be labeled. The first genetically modified foods were sold in 1996 as oils like corn, soybean, and canola (Holmes). Most people don’t even know that they are eating genetically modified foods and most don’t care. Labels on genetically modified foods food would imply a warning about a health effect, whereas no significant differences between genetically modified foods and conventional foods have been found. If a nutritional difference were found in a genetically modified food, current FDA regulations require a label to that effect (“Labeling”). The next reason why genetically modified foods should not be labeled is a label would be for people who want to buy non-genetically modified foods in which they already have an option with organic foods which are not genetically modified ("Labeling”). The next reason why genetically modified foods should not be labeled is the cost of labeling ("Labeling “). If the packing plant does not put the label on (in most case they won’t) then you have to pay a third party to label and find out what is genetically modified and time is money and for people how don’t care if their food has been genetically modified people who can get organic food will be costing them more money by saying that genetically modified foods must be labeled. The last reason why genetically modified foods should not be labeled is the food system infrastructure. The food system infrastructure (storage, processing, and transportation facilities) in the US could not handle the need for segregation of genetically modified and non- genetically modified products (“Labeling”). In the transporting foods you would need two trucks to go to the same places which would go back to cost, if the restaurants has to pay for two trucks to bring their food you have to pay double for you food that they are making. The same thing would happen at the grocery stores, and this effects not just genetically modified food but all food. The reasons why genetically modified should not be labeled are that the people that want the labels don’t eat genetically modified, the food system infrastructure, could not handle the change, and the cost. That is why genetically modified foods should not be labeled.

Why people think genetically modified foods should be labeled. the first reason is consumers’ rights to know what are in the products or what was done to the products that they are buying (“Labeling”), I have no problem with this but have some label tell people that is genetically modified just seems a bit over boar. The next reason why people think that genetically modified foods should be labeled is so people how don’t want genetically modified foods can stay clear of genetically modified foods (“Labeling”), but all they have to do is buy only organic food to avoid this problem. The next reason why people think that genetically modified foods should be labeled is that most people want mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods (”Labeling”), but most people are not aware of the price increase that it will cause. The last reason that people think that genetically modified foods should be labeled is that there are 21 other countries and the European Union have already made labeling mandatory for genetically modified foods, but the US does not do what Europe dose otherwise they would be using the metrics system, cellist, and have different shoe and clothing sizes, in fact the US has never done what Europe has done just because the US is just a bunch of rebels at heart. With consumers’ rights, avoiding foods, most people think it should be, and Europe is doing it, are the reasons why people think genetically modified foods should be labeled.

What are the advantages of genetically modified foods? According to a web MD article “Experts say 60% to 70% of processed foods on U.S. grocery shelves have genetically modified ingredients” ("Genetically Modified”). in the same article it says “Researchers from the Food Policy Institute at Rutgers' Cook College found that only 52% of Americans realized that genetically modified foods are sold in grocery stores and only 26% believed that they have ever eaten genetically modified foods -- a modest 6% increase since 2001”("Genetically Modified”). so if sixty five percent of the food in stores are genetically modified foods since 2001 odes are one has been eating genetically modified foods for ten years and have not noticed any side effects from genetically modified foods then one has just been adding to the numbers that will be used to say that there are no side effects form genetically modified foods, so they are safe to eat. And to answer the rest of this question I will list them and then go over them one at a time, pest resistance, cold tolerance, drought tolerance, and pharmaceuticals. First is pest resistance, crop loss from insects was something that all farmers had to deal with, but with genetically modified foods this is not the case anymore. They can make food that can keep the pest away on their own. According to an article written by Deborah B. Whitman

Consumers do not wish to eat food that has been treated with pesticides because of potential health hazards, and run-off of agricultural wastes from excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers can poison the water supply and cause harm to the environment. (Whitman)

So people don’t want genetically modified food, but they don’t want pesticides, and there’s less and less farm land to grow crops that the US needs to use one of these techniques to insure that we have plenty of food. Next is cold tolerance, unexpected frost can kill acres of crops and leave tons of produces off the shelves, but by adding “An antifreeze gene from cold water fish has been introduced into plants such as tobacco and potato” (Whitman).this will give plants a fighting chances to make it through early spring when the plants will have to face the greatest odds of frost. Next is drought tolerance, whenever a plant can long periods without water will give farmers more flexible so they don’t have to water the plants and they try to wait on rain to save them money that they can pass along to the consumer. The last one is pharmaceuticals, and according to Whitman “Researchers are working to develop edible vaccines in tomatoes and potatoes. These vaccines will be much easier to ship, store and administer than traditional injectable vaccines” (Whitman), and with these genetically modified foods the US can help third world countries. So with all the advantages of genetically modified foods it’s easy to see why they are a popular chose for farmers.

What are the disadvantages of genetically modified foods? There are no proven disadvantages when it comes to genetically modified foods, most people worry that the genetically modified plants will bread with weeds and make some kind of super weed (“Disadvantages”), but there is no proof that this will happen. The next concern is that they may be harmful to people, but again there is no proof to back up this clam but genetically modified foods have been out for ten years and there is not evident ageists genetically modified foods.

The last point will be should genetically modified foods be used in restaurants. A question that is not so easy to answer, some will say that you can’t use genetically modified foods in restaurants, but there is a group that is saying yes you can and they are getting bigger. One chef in Australian says that genetically modified foods could "potentially help millions of people around the world"(MARCUS). Later in that same article it says “The mainstream chefs don't have any problem with GM. . . but there are a lot of 'celebrity chefs' who have a different agenda . . . they are catering to a very select clientele who have strong philosophical views about how food is produced" (MARCUS). When one thinks about it most restaurants are already using genetically modified foods. So the only chefs that are thinking about not using genetically modified foods are celebrity chefs, for the rest just seat back and eat whatever comes out of the kitchen.

With around 65% of the food in the grocery stores already having genetically modified food and an alternative food for people who don’t want genetically modified foods, and all of the advantages that genetically modified foods provides it is easy to see why the US backs genetically modified foods. at this time the advantages out way the disadvantages to not use genetically modified foods.

Works Cited

"Disadvantages of Genetically Modified Food." Want to Know It | Answers to Life's Questions | Everything Blog. Web. 27 Nov. 2011. .

"Genetically Modified Foods (Biotech Foods) Pros and Cons." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health. Web. 26 Nov. 2011. .

Genetically Modified Foods. Web. 27 Nov. 2011. .

Holmes, Bob (14 July 2010). "Altered animals: Creatures with bonus features". New Scientist.

"Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods." Colorado State University Extension. Sept. 2010. Web. 25 Nov. 2011. .

MARCUS, CAROLINE. "Chefs Stir Up the Heat On GM Food." Http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 06 Feb. 2011. Web. 26 Nov. 2011. .

Whitman, Daborah B. "Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?" CSA. Apr. 2000. Web. 26 Nov. 2011. .