GMO has been touted by companies like Monsanto as safe and cost-effective, providing food solutions for millions of people in developed and under-developed countries. However, new research indicates GMO foods may not be as safe as believed. Laws like the GMO food labeling bill passed in 2016 allow consumers to be informed in what ingredients comprise their favorite food products. Why? Because GMO foods are not healthy. Thesis: Studies show the deleterious effects of long-term exposure to GMO foods especially foods that contain the weed killer, Roundup and yet Monsanto refuses to state the truth and in fact, lobbies to change labeling brought on by the food-labeling bill going on its end-stage summer, 2018. Problems: Overview

The GMO food labeling bill, which requires final rules by July 29, 2018 may allow companies to place QR codes rather than clear, on-package labeling, decreasing label efficacy and preventing millions of Americans from becoming informed on food purchases. All because companies like Monsanto want to perpetuate the belief that GMO foods are a good choice for any consumer. GMO foods are not safe, especially if they have traces of Roundup on them. Yet, Monsanto aims to develop herbicide resistant crops to increase yield and reduce weed control expense. “In particular, herbicide resistance in a susceptible monocot such as maize may provide increased flexibility in weed control by allowing postemergence control of weeds that exceed acceptable population levels following cultivation” (Duke, 2018, p. 113).

GMO foods pose a very real health threat. It may not be just because of the crops grown, but rather the herbicides continually sprayed on them like Roundup that has been...

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The evidence exists detailing how Roundup and other herbicides can have a negative effect on behavior and health. Nevertheless, Monsanto aims to make herbicide-resistant crops to continue using such toxic and harmful chemicals.

Problem # 1 GMO and Labeling

France and Japan have banned the growing of GMO crops alongside other countries like Switzerland, Madeira, Ireland, and New Zealand. While Japan imports GMO canola, it still maintains a strict stance on most other GMO crops. Other countries require at least GE labeling with Austria being the strictest. “Austria (whose citizens voted in a nation-wide referendum in the mid-1990s to ban GMO crops) has the most extensive and comprehensive ban with four varieties of GM rapeseed and one GM corn prohibited” (Howlett & Laycock, 2013, p. 132).

The United States tried to join the GMO labeling effort through the 2016 GMO food labeling bill. However, the potential use of QR codes could offset that. QR codes can only be scanned with mobile phones that have access to the internet and have the app installed to collect the information from the code. Rural areas and areas where people cannot afford smart phones will not see if a food product has GMO ingredients at all (Ecowatch, 2018). Nefarious practices like this could set…