ASTEPHENSON1
Alex Stephenson
Dr. Gleason
College Writing
March 25, 2016
Overrated
Is Genetically Modified food overrated? Do facts and evidence prove this point? Well, Genetically Modified food or GMO food is developed from the altered DNA of an organism. This engineered food was first introduced to the public and placed on market in the early 1990s. Since then, GMO has presented concerns throughout the country of the United States of America and it is my job to present a sound structure for this argument of concern.
The leaders of the United States of America need to recognize and take action on the concern of the public, regarding GMO food. People have a deep concern for GMO food. They have a right to be concerned about something that is potentially harmful to the population of the United States of America. They are concerned for the safety of GMO food. They are also concerned about the loss of money that can happen, when investing in GMO food. There are many concerns for GMO food. However, the only way to prove this statement, is to successfully refute the opposing viewpoints other people may have, regarding GMO food.
The first opposing viewpoint of Genetically modified food, is the viewpoint of saying that the majority of the people think GMO food is safe. People do believe that GMO food is safe. A Poll says 40% of men believe GMO food is not safe (Langer, Gary). That means 60% believe GMO food is safe. This poll clearly states that the majority
Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, are foods that have been prepared through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology. Although GMOs have been all over the world for numerous years, it wasn’t till just lately that individuals have become more concerned with them. Though, countless industries and corporations that produce genetically modified organisms, like Monsanto, attempt to make believe that the foods they harvest are healthy and valuable for the environment; though that may be correct at first glimpse, numerous anti-GMO protestors are certain that these corporations trick people into believing corrupt information. In this essay, we will uncover the pros and cons of these foods and ultimately, come to the assumption that GMOs may have letdowns for
In the essay “Genetically Modified Food: Watching What We Eat,” by Julie Cooper, she argues against the rampant use of genetically modified food (GMO) without any current form of regulation. Cooper discusses the possibility of health risks to those consuming foods with altered genes and the food’s capabilities to have far-reaching health risks. She continues with a discussion as to how and why the creation and use of the GMOs have become so unregulated. She then discusses the response, which is the public’s cry for their right to make informed choices. Other topics discusses are the political, environmental, and corporate ramifications of the rise of GMOs.
“When you light a candle, you also cast a shadow.” – Ursula K. Le Guin. No matter what good some people believe they are doing, everything seems to come with a consequence, and the question is whether or not the good overpowers the bad. Many experts argue that Genetically Modified foods are actually beneficial to, not only people, but animals, plants, and the world overall. Some experts even state that, not only are they beneficial, but that they also protect the environment and aid food productivity. Most farmers actually recommend GMO’s because they are easier to grow, maintain, and tend to be more profitable; however, countless other experts have come to realize that GMO foods are untested, unsafe, and unhealthy. Studies indicate that
The health concerns seem to be what garner the most disapproval of GM foods. In “A Lonely Quest for Facts on Genetically Modified Crops,” Amy Harmon, quotes an anti GM activist, Ms. Willie, who says that “these fruits and vegetables are not natural.” Consumers argue that they don’t know what is going into these foods chemically, and the health risks over time are unknown. In “The Threats from Genetically Modified Foods,” Robin Mather cites the findings of Professor Cummins of the University of Western Ontario, Cummings announced to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that "there is evidence that [biotechnology] will impact directly on human health through damage to the ileum… [which] can produce chronic illnesses such as fecal incontinence and/ or flu-like upsets of the digestive system" (43). GM foods have been placed unlabeled in grocery stores for years. If one chooses to purchase the goods, one should
In the past decade genetically modified foods have been have made a world of stir about whether these foods are beneficial to our society or if they are actually hurtful.There is plenty information that is available to help support both sides of the issue but for every positive thing there is also a negative consequence.With genetically-modified foods being a trendy topic and being like all great debates it has its prons and cons, so it all comes down to whether the good will supercede the bad, or vice versa.
Are GMO foods safe to eat? There are many factors that lead people to believe
There are several controversial issues confronting us today; from Universal Healthcare (Obama Care) to Stem Cell research, to vaccinations, to genetically engineered (GE)/genetically modified (GM) foods. However, I shall look at genetically modified foods as the controversial issue for this article. I shall look at an article from the mass media about this controversial public health issue and place emphasis on the message the document wants to convey and address any biases that may be within. In addition, I shall provide additional data or facts from another article to see if it supports or refutes the controversial message. It is my intention that this article will provide some clarity on genetically modified foods confronting us in the United States and the world over.
the rise in advanced technology, Genetically Modified Foods were engineered and created. Not only were they new in the sense that it provided an easier source of growing, but it also brought ,with it, a new controversy across the world. Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs) are created by moving a gene from one animal to another. An example of this would be moving the gene of an Icefish to a tomato to give the tomato a longer shelf life. GMOs were intended to help increase food production and help foods last longer however, GMOs have become very controversial because of their potential health and environmental effects. GMOs could have detrimental effects on the population and on the Earth.
Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMO’s, are organisms that have had genes from a different organism implanted into their own genetic code in order to produce a new result (“Genetically engineered foods”). This practice has elicited polar responses across the globe, for a multitude of reasons. Besides the obvious reason, being the morality of changing an organism's DNA for human benefit, one frequently noted problem is the monopolization of GMO’s by the company Monsanto, whose name is nearly synonymous with GMO’s due to their involvement with these crops. Monsanto has been at the center of many controversies regarding GMO’s, and is even considered to be ranked third to last for reputation among all major American companies (Bennett). Most
GMOs, (genetically modified organisms) have been a topic of interest in the social eyes for years. Since they’ve been created, many people have voiced and written about their opinions on GMOs, and whether they are dangerous or not. Created to expand the genetic diversity of crops and animals, many don’t know whether GMOs are good or bad, and neither do researchers. Though there hasn’t been any evidence claiming whether GMOs are good or bad, it has certainly not stopped the public from creating their own opinions. Since no one knows the truth behind GMO, it has opened a window of opportunities for companies including Monsanto to voice their support of GMO, while other companies like the Non-GMO Project voice their
“Should We Care About Genetically Modified Foods?” by John N. Shaw appeared in Food Safety News issue of February 1, 2010, as a feature under the health section on the controversy between the pros and cons of genetically modified foods (Also known as GMO, genetically modified organisms). The main idea of this article is to inform people of the benefits of GMOs . The author, John Shaw received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with a minor in Marketing from the University of Arkansas in 2007, where he was a “leadership scholar.” In addition to his studies, he has worked as a research assistant with Food Law LL.M. Director Susan Schneider, interned with Wal-Mart Government and Corporate Affairs division, the Arkansas Attorney General Public Protection Division, and with United States Senator Blanche Lincoln. John has a passion for Food Law, sports, and outdoors. In the article, he states, “ I submit that I am no scientist; merely an interested student.” According to the article, he is passionate and has done sufficient research about the topic to support his argument.
Many people are unaware that there have not been sufficient tests conducted that prove GMOs are entirely safe. Therefore, people ought to consider the potential health risks they are taking when consuming a GM food product. However, since most biotech companies such as Monsanto, Cargill, Dow, Bayer and others do not advertise that their food products contain GMOs, consumers are not aware that most of the foods they purchase have been genetically modified. It is obvious to suspect that these companies are benefiting from the public’s lack of knowledge. Consumers need to be made aware when they are purchasing genetically modified products. Genetically modified organisms can potentially cause harm to our environment and have a detrimental effect on human health.
Others think that GMO’s are not the answer to ending world hunger. According to a study in Melbourne, Australia by John Brumby, “ There is irrefutable evidence that GM foods are unsafe to eat. Working with more than 30 scientists worldwide, I documented 65 health risks of GM foods. There are thousands of toxic or allergic-type reactions in humans, thousands of sick, sterile and dead livestock, and damage to virtually every organ and system studied in laboratory animals” (Eating GM foods is a Health risk). He talks about how GMOs are somewhat not safe for human consumption. John Brumby also states in his work that, “GM corn and cotton have genes inserted that produce a pesticide called Bt. If the gene transferred from corn snacks, for example, it could turn our intestinal flora into living pesticide factories. Farmers on three continents link Bt corn varieties with sterility in pigs and cows, or deaths among cows, horses, water buffaloes and chickens” (Eating GM foods is a Health risk). This also means that GMOs are infectious to crops, and that it can have a very negative effect on our bodies, that we might not know
In this article it explains if genetically modified foods are safe or not for consumers to purchase. It is important to realize and understand this situation because it is a substantial debate and dilemma if foods that contain growth hormone should be allowed out there in the market places. In the article the author gives examples and points of each argument so that people can decide if genetically modified foods are ethical or inaccurate in general. The article explains the positive and negative effects of each argument about having generically modified foods. Some negative examples in the article is that engineered foods could possibly affect the overall health of humans because of technical modifications of GMs somehow becoming toxic to humans because of different genes put in different kinds of foods and people are simply becoming super afraid of the fact that they are consuming GMOs every time they eat it. The positive examples that the article gives is that one or two genes that are in different foods want effect or harm people and that the government has full control over these situation and people should stop becoming afraid. From what the authors says it is agreeable and it can help the economy more and the benefits are more important then the risks overall. There are some legitimate concerns around the business/legal real of GM crops, but in the terms of human safety and nutrition, the census is in and GM crops are safe (Quinn
In a health conscious world today and advance food technology people are beginning to wonder ‘what is it that we are actually taking in’. This is where the word GMOs starts being tossed around. GMO is the abbreviation of Genetically Modified Organisms, but if crops and livestock are fine naturally why should they be modified? This is where the myth of GMOs being harmful to the human body become present. The public grows intimidated when they know that their food has been modified, leaving the people with a state of mind of hatred. The belief that the public gets when they sense that their food seems abnormal, especially being modified to meet the needs for a better future, will make the public imagine it as a very dangerous intake for any source of life to sustain.