Enforce GMO Labeling!

Advocates of requiring labels of genetically modified ingredients in food have unfortunately been defeated time and time again.  Opposing sides such as companies like Monsanto, have been pressing Congress for a federal law that will confiscate states efforts. In 2013 President Barack Obama signed the HR 933 spending bill. This bill restrains federal courts from stopping the sale as well as halting the seeds being planted of GMO's.  This means that if someday we find out GMO's are extremely hazardous, there is nothing they can really do.  Labels that show whether certian foods contain GMO's should be required. In order to understand why labels should be required first we must understand what GMO's really are.

A Genetically Modified Orgasim, (GMO) is a plant or meat product that has had its DNA artificially altered by other plants or animals to produce foreign compounds. GMO's are generally used for resistance to herbicides and pesticides.  For example, you plant a crop containing GMO's, and weeds and certain bugs will be resistant to it.  They also can increase the production of certain valuable goods such as crops, by allowing the crops to thrive in environmental conditions that it's not used to, or outside of its species. This genetic alteration is experimental and cannot occur naturally. According to the Non GMO Project, 80% of conventional processed foods contain GMO's. Does this mean we should be worried?

Although there are some benefits with using GMO's, there are many risks.  Unfortunately, there has been no long term studies on the safety and effects of the genetically altered foods on humans. There have been some ideas floating around that they can cause allergies and even have negative impacts on the digestive tract.  The effects on human health is virtually unknown. There are also environmental hazards associated with the use of GMO's. According to an article written by Deborah B. Whitman, a study has shown that the pollen from B.t corn has caused high mortality rates for monarch butterfly
caterpillars. This is just one example that GMO's can be harmful to the preservation of certain species.

 Another concern to be made is the cross breeding of different species.  If a genetically modified crop that's engineered for herbicide resistance cross breeds with weeds, the transfer between the genes can result in unwanted super weeds that would then contain herbicide tolerance. GMO's also raise a big concern for farmers, especially if they aren't labeled, because the buyer will be unaware of which product actually contains GMO's.

What needs to happen, is the labeling of all products containing GMO's. Why? First of all, because we need to know. Just like the nutrition facts labeled on the back of products, we need a line that tells us whether the products contain GMO's.

It is our right to know what is being put into our bodies.  GMO's have not been proven safe, and the long term health risks are unknown.  Labeling GMO's will support local agriculure by allowing the consumers to make informed choices on the products they wish to buy.  Most of the world already requires the labeling of GMO's.  In an article written by Niraj Choskshi, it explains how Oregan will only be the second state to have GMO label laws.  As you can see in the figure below, most of the world requires this law.  We need to wake up! It is time for our country to enforce the labeling of GMO's on our products. It is our right to know.