Running Head: GMOS

GMO Consumption and Labeling

Lindsey Ikerd
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

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GMO Consumption and Labeling

Genetically modified organisms, commonly referred to as GMOs or biotech foods, are
plants and animals whose genetic material have been engineered with DNA from bacteria,
viruses, or other plants and animals (GMO Facts, 2014). Generally, the purposes of GMOs are
to equip a specific organism to withstand herbicides and produce their own insecticides. In
America today, GMOs are practically unavoidable, but in over 60 countries around the world
GMOs have been banned (What are We Eating, 2012). Currently, there is no law in America
that requires companies to label if there are GMOs used in their products. There have not been
enough studies done on GMOs to declare them safe for consumption. There continues to be a
growing amount of evidence that points to the conclusion that GMOs are harmful for
consumption and lead to a number of health and environmental problems (GMO Facts, 2014).
GMOs are currently being used in 80% of processed food. A recent USDA survey
concluded that only 52% of Americans were aware that GMOs were being distributed in the
grocery store, and only a mere 26% believed that they had eaten a genetically modified substance
(Are Biotech foods Safe to Eat, 2003). If the government requires manufacturers to label
nutritional information such as carbohydrates or calories, then why is their no law making GMO
labeling mandatory? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the government agency over
monitoring GMOs. The sad truth of the matter is that there are absolutely no GMO safety
testing requirements (What are We Eating, 2012). There has also been no long-term studies
conducted on the effects that genetically modified foods can have on humans (What are We
Eating, 2012). Unless the product is composed of completely organic materials, it is most likely
to contain GMOs (The Good, Bad, and Ugly about GMOs).

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A recent study in Canada has identified residue from pesticides that can be linked with
the consumption of genetically modified foods in maternal, fetal, and even non-pregnant
womens blood (Walia, 2014). The study collected samples from sixty women, thirty pregnant
and thirty not. The study shed a light to the adverse effects of xenobiotics, which is a chemical
substance that cannot be naturally produced (Walia, 2014). Such study shows that knowing more
about GMOs is crucial, and how unknown environmental chemicals can cause a disruption in
the normal growth and development cycle (Walia, 2014). Another new study from the Public
Library of Science announced that there are sufficient amounts of evidence that show that gene
fragments from consumed genetically modified foods can enter the human circulation system
through an unknown mechanism (Walia, 2014). In fact, in some blood samples, the percentage of
plant DNA is actually higher than that of human DNA.
In the year 1990, Dr. Arpad Pusztai had been given a grant by the United Kingdom
government to test and design protocols that could be put into place to moderate and assess
genetically modified foods and their safety (The Good, Bad, and Ugly about GMOs, 2014). For
one of his tests, he fed genetically modified potatoes to rats. The potatoes were engineered to
produce an insecticide called GNA lectin. While the insecticide was believed to be benign, Dr.
Pusztais results showed otherwise. All of the rodents showed a number of alarming side effects,
such as pre-cancerous cell growths, smaller organs (brains, livers, and testicles), and damaged
immune systems. Most of the aforementioned symptoms began to show in less than ten days
(The Good, Bad, and Ugly about GMOs, 2014). Since then, there has been a multitude of other
studies concluding similar results.
In 1999, Dr. Pusztai spoke before Parliament and presented his research findings, which
then resulted in the European Union Consumer-Led Revolt (The Good, Bad, and Ugly about

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GMOs, 2014). The revolt led to the requirement that all products containing a GMO must be
labeled. While media coverage was far from sparse in European countries, the ordeal sparked
virtually no attention from the press in the United States (The Good, Bad, and Ugly about
GMOs).
It is no secret that GMOs have been linked to all types of cancer and cancer causing
disorders. But recent studies have now found yet another disorder that GMOs will likely cause:
gluten disorders. The Institute for Responsible Technology released a study that links genetically
modified foods to conditions such as damage to the intestinal wall and impaired digestion that
could trigger gluten disorders such as celiac disease (Walia, 2014). Glyphosate, a chemical used
in genetic modification, can be linked to multiple disorders as well. The chemical has been said
to cause Autism, Parkinsons, Alzheimers, and birth defects (Walia, 2014). Glyphosate may
sound familiar because it is the main chemical being used in Round-Up, an incredibly toxic
pesticide. It is also being used in the food at your local supermarket.
Some may argue that there are many positive outcomes from the use and consumption of
genetically modified organisms. According to the GMO industry, GMOs reduce the need for
chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides, reduce the production of harmful greenhouse gasses,
and can result in an increased production of food for third world countries (The Good, Bad, and
Ugly about GMOs, 2014). While all of this might be true, at what cost are we gaining these
benefits? Feeding third world countries toxic food does not help them: it harms them. And when
it comes to the reduction of herbicide use: since when was it better to consume chemicals
internally rather than use them in safe moderations externally?
GMOs are unsafe. Due to lax protocol and blatant ignorance, the population is being
unknowingly poisoned. People need to be more informed about the hazards of eating genetically

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modified foods. Consumers should have the right to know what they are purchasing and feeding
their families. Ronnie Cummins, the national director of the Organic Consumers Association,
put it best when he said that you can summarize it in three words: [genetically modified foods]
are unpredictable, they are untested, and they are unlabeled (Are Biotech Foods Safe To Eat,
2003).

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References
Are Biotech Foods Safe to Eat? (2003). WebMD. Retrieved from
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/are-biotech-foods-safe-to-eat?page=4
GMO Facts (2014). Non GMO Project. Retrieved from http://www.nongmoproject.org/learnmore/
The Good, Bad, and Ugly about GMOs (2014). Natural Revolution: Empowering Natural
Living. Retrieved from http://naturalrevolution.org/the-good-bad-and-ugly-about-gmos/
Walia, Arjun (2014, August 8). 10 Scientific Studies Proving GMOs can be Harmful to Human
Health. Collective Evolution. Retrieved from http://www.collectiveevolution.com/2014/04/08/10-scientific-studies-proving-gmos-can-be-harmful-to-humanhealth/
What are We Eating? (2012). Label GMOs. Retrieved from
http://www.labelgmos.org/the_science_genetically_modified_foods_gmo