The Arguments Of Supporters And Opponents Of The Safe And Accurate Food Labeling Act

“By 1999, to avoid labels that might drive customers away, most major European retailers had removed genetically modified ingredients from products bearing their brand.” (Chayka 1). Today most people seem to be more concerned about what is in their food. The author shows his concerns about GMOs and uses statistics to help his argument. All of the author’s reasoning makes me concerned and worried about our food and the safety of everyone else. People’s health is important for this world to survive and live a healthy lifestyle. GMO labels should be honest about their food no matter what issue they may face. People trust these brands and most likely stick with it for most of their lives. The important part of food companies is being honest with their ingredients, not interfering or harming other food companies, and ensuring the safety of its consumers.

There are varied arguments that favor or are against compulsory labeling of genetically engineered food products. Those who argue for the labeling of such products argue that consumers have a right to know what is contained in their food, particularly food products for which there have been health and environmental concerns (Caswell 26). Compulsory labeling will permit consumers to identify and avoid those food products that may cause them problems. On the contrary, those who argue against mandatory labeling point out that

During the Ragtime era Upton Sinclair felt that people should be educated on what happens to their food a social issue that can be found happening today as people are demanding to know what’s in their food. Furthermore, Labeling Genetically Modified food is the best way to educate customers about what they are consuming. Polls conducted by professional news organizations, including the Washington Post, MSNBC and Reuters/NPR consistently show that over 90% of consumers want GMO ingredients labeled. As ABC News stated, “Such near-unanimity in public opinion is rare.” This study shows how many people are adamant to have GMOs labeling. Pam Pinto, owner of Act Natural Health and Wellness in Torrington Connecticut. “I strongly feel that GM food should be labeled.” Pinto said, “We should not be our Government's experiment.”

The advancement of technology has allowed our generation to genetically modify food for what is believed to be beneficial to consumers. The environmental and health effects of genetically modified foods have generated controversy about whether these foods are safe. With such advances, the use of genetically modified food is expanding, even though they 're unlabeled. Genetically modified foods should be labeled because of the possible health, environmental, and economic risks. Once a consumer knows what they are paying for, it is fair to produce and market such foods.

After presenting the arguments of proponents and opponents of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. This paper will now analyze each issue to determine the strengths and weakness of each side’s argument. One argument that proponents make about genetically modified food is that they are no different than natural foods. An argument that opponents make is that genetically modified organisms have not been tested enough because they are fairly new and some scientist truly don’t have an understanding of how it will affect humans bodies differently than natural foods. Proponents argue that genetically engineered foods have no needs for labeling; it would lead to consumer confusion. Opponents argue that consumers have the right to know what is in the foods they are eating and supporting.

Just like every other issue, there is more than one side to this one as well. Many people like the idea of labeling food packages. The Washington House of Representatives voted to pass a bill in April 2015 which does not make labeling GMO, or genetically modified organisms, products mandatory, according to CBS News and naturally many people were upset by this decision (House votes to block mandatory GMO labeling). Vermont 's democratic representative Peter Welch asked "What 's the problem with letting consumers know what they are buying?" To answer his question, the problem here is that there is a

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are genetic materials; which have been altered through biotechnology. Many crops sold around the world are genetically modified. GMOs undergo changes to fit a specific purpose such as pest-resistant crops. Despite the fact that GMOs are commonly used, there has been many disagreements regarding whether or not they should be labeled. Although GMOs have been deemed safe by the FDA they concluded that labeling GMOs are unnecessary, citizens disagree and suggest GMOs should be labeled because labels provide benefits and also allow people to have positive attitudes regarding GMOs; also not labeling GMOs infringes on an American citizen’s freedom and the labels could start a governmental public campaign

Goldman, Karen A. "Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods: Legal and Scientific Issues." Georgetown International Environmental Law Review 12.3 (2000): 717-60.

Out of the 61 countries of the world 40% consist of the world’s population have turned to labeling GMO products. United States and Canada are one of the few who do not have labeling mandatory. Genetically modified organisms are on the rise and countries are rapidly starting to make labeling mandatory. The reason being why Hawaii should make labeling mandatory is one GMO’s unsafe past in Hawaii and around the world. Two, GMO’s does not only stand as a risk to humans but threatens our environment. Lastly, we the people of Hawaii and United States of America have the right to know what is in our food that we are consuming. Due to the up rise of genetically modified organisms in Hawaii, the government should start taking action and make labeling GMO foods mandatory.

Americans deserve to know what they are consuming and they do not want to involuntarily be a part of the ongoing experiment for the side effects of eating or drinking genetically modified organisms. There are currently 61 countries that already label genetically modified organisms, GMOs, and these countries make up over 40% of the world’s population (Kingston). However, GMO labeling is not required in the U.S. Although a recent survey found that 92% of Americans want GMOs to be labeled on their food and drinks, the federal government refuses to establish food labeling laws (“Where GMOs Hide In Your Food”). A genetically modified, or genetically engineered,

Opponents’ believe that by using GMO labels “Costs Would Trickle Down” According to Davis “The overall costs to implement such a system would be very expensive and this will ultimately trickle down to consumer’s pockets, with prices increasing in grocery stores.” As a rebuttal, a GMO label gives American’s an informed decision about what they buy and if it I safe to

The year 2015 marks the twentieth anniversary of bioengineered crops and genetically modified organisms’ (GMO’s) being grown, harvested and sold across the entire world. The percentage of people who are actually aware of this frankenfoods existence, however, are small in numbers and for a very terrifying reason. Already, labeling laws exist in 64 countries, including Japan, Russia, Australia and Brazil, but are coincidentally nonexistent in North America as a whole. This lack of awareness is the exact reason as to why all genetically modified foods, such as the Flavr Savr tomato, should have mandatory labeling laws placed upon them, similar to those discussed in Proposition 37. To be educated of the negative effects modified foods have on the human body while at the same time being properly informed should be a basic right, not a choice. Hence why the mandating of proper labeling laws in North America is an extremely important subject of discussion for everyone who consumes any sort of food.

It's important to me that food labels are regulated and that manufacturers can't just put whatever they want on their packages. Like many people in this country, I have things that I cannot eat or choose not to eat, and so I rely on food labels to help me make my purchasing decisions. People who want to buy natural or GMO-free products should have the same assurance that products that have these sorts of labels are accurately representing the contents of their packages as people who buy gluten-free, organic, or other products where labeling is regulated. The FDA has been the authority trusted with previous labeling initiatives, so I believe they should also be in control of regulating labels related to genetically modified and natural foods.

As a registered voter and resident of California for over 35 years, I feel compelled to write to you regarding the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 which I feel is a very urgent piece of pending legislation. I have been managing my family's food purchases for many many years in my role as a homemaker. As a result, I am a savvy shopper, having learned how to beat the supermarket chain tricks over the years in order to purchase the best quality products for my family. It goes without mention then that I take food labels very seriously and am now concerned with state legislatures passing their own laws regarding the labeling of genetically modified foods. If this continues, we could end up with 50 different sets of labeling rules which would confuse shoppers and unnecessarily increase food prices. I urge you to vote in favor of H.R. 1599 to ensure that a voluntary federal labeling standard is in place before things get out of hand.

In 1994, the first commercially presented genetically modified food, the tomato, hit the markets in the United States. These genetically modified tomatoes are known as crops created for humans or animals to consume by using the latest molecular biology techniques. The process of it is very simple. The geneticist will need to find the desired gene in an existing organism first. Then the geneticist will cut out the desired gene, relocate it to the intended plant that will be genetically modified, and paste the desired gene into its genome. As soon as the new gene is introduced to the plant, the plant can be reproduced to make a new strain that will be passing down the gene from this generation to the next generation (Genetic Science Learning Center, par. 9). These genetically modified foods are created by the geneticists who hope that they can enhance the desired traits of the crops, such as increased resistance to pests or to improve the nutritional content. Despite being created for the welfare of the consumers, genetically modified foods are not all accepted by the consumers in the United States. “Monster crops, Mutant Meals, Suicide Seeds, Frankenfoods- these terms are meant to label the genetically modified products as some type of concoction developed by scientists gone berserk.” (Gay 38) People fear that these genetically modified foods are a hazard, for they are not naturally created by nature. As people tried to avoid buying or eating the genetically modified foods,