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¶ … labelling GMO foods in Hawaii, where there have been several initiatives to curtail the use -- or at least to force the disclosure of GMO labelling and other transparency issues. Gillam (2014) describes a ballot measure on Maui seeking to suspend the production of GMO crops on the island. It is noted that there is little transparency with respect to these crops. Many of the genetic changes are done to make the crops resistant to aggressive pesticides, and this contributes to health and environmental dangers. Citizen's groups argue that not enough is known about the long-run effects of GMO crops and that the companies involved lack transparency, and do not typically operate in the public interest, but only in their own interest.
Brower (2013) describes a bill passed to force disclosure from GMO companies with respect to pesticide testing sites, which are feared to be adjacent to schools, homes and waterways. The author notes that food production need not be inherently destructive, but that there are few controls and disclosures for agribusiness, and that lack of oversight puts ordinary...
The negative health outcomes are an externality from which these companies profit, to the detriment of the affected population.
With respect to the issue of GMO foods, there are a few different arguments that are floated. Proponents of genetic modification point to the need to feed a rapidly-growing population and the increased production that can result from designing crops that are more resistant to disease and pests. This camp ignores a few things, such as the fact that much of the food that is produced is wasted rather than distributed to meet the needs of the poor -- their benefits exist more on paper than in practice. These companies typically make safety claims based on short-term studies, as long-term studies for emerging technologies are not available.
The anti-GMO lobby rightly points out that poisons in the environment can take decades to metastasize into cancers or other ailments. Thus, long multi-decade longitudinal testing can prove their safety. They also note that the current level of disclosure with respect to pesticides and GMO food production…
References
Brower, A. (2013). To feed and protect the world, rein in corporate ag. Huffington Post. Retrieved April 20, 2014 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrea-brower/in-celebration-of-world-f_b_4347635.html?utm_hp_ref=email_share
Gillam, C. (2014). Anti-GMO crop, pesticide ballot initiative launched in Hawaii. Reuters. Retrieved April 20, 2014 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrea-brower/in-celebration-of-world-f_b_4347635.html?utm_hp_ref=email_share
Food There are many different controversies with respect to food, among them issues about long-run food security, about different health issues related to food including added salt and trans-fats, or on the positive side the value of highly-nutritious superfoods. But probably the biggest subject of public debate with respect to food these days relates to GMOs, or genetically-modified organisms. They are almost always banned in Europe, but in the U.S. not
Food Ethics One might think that there are not a lot of ethical standards and policies that could and do apply when it comes to the manufacturing and selling of food. However, that is far from being the case and this has been true for a rather long time. Whether it be whether the food is genetically modified, the country of origin for a food, when the food expires, how the
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
GMO Food The process of genetic modification of an organism Genetic modification of an organism is the process by which the genes of an organism are altered to introduce useful genes that are believed to help it to grow and thrive in any given condition. The genes contain DNA, a basic building block of all living organisms that is responsible for the presence or absence of certain traits or characteristics and modification
The specifications about label placement were "to reduce consumer confusion about food labels, to aid them in making healthy food choices" and the act as a whole was supposed to encourage manufactures to engage in healthy product innovation by giving manufacturers an incentive to improve the quality of the food and make more healthy food choices available (Wilkening 1993:1). However, no label can be comprehensive and the 1993 legislation reflects
Food Labeling Chaos Do an online search for references to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. What can you find out about this organization? Where do they get their funding? Who do they answer to? What is their mission? Who is on their board of directors? Based upon what you find, would you trust the nutrition information published by this organization? The Center for Science in the Public Interest is