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...
References
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Duke, S. O. (2018). Herbicide-Resistant Crops: Agricultural, Economic, Environmental, Regulatory, and Technological Aspects. Milton: CRC Press.
Ecowatch. (2018, May 4). Proposed GMO Food Labeling Could Leave 100 Million Americans in the Dark. Retrieved from https://www.ecowatch.com/gmo-food-labels-qr-codes-2565811298.amp.html
FoodSafety. (2014, January 15). U.S. Places 21st in Ranking of World Food Systems | Food Safety News. Retrieved from http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2014/01/u-s-places-21st-in-ranking-of-world-food-systems/
Friedland, A. J., Relyea, R., & Courard-Hauri, D. (2012). Essentials of environmental science. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.
Howlett, M., & Laycock, D. (2013). Regulating Next Generation Agri-Food Biotechnologies: Lessons from European, North American and Asian Experiences. Florence: Taylor and Francis.
Janssens, L., & Stoks, R. (2017). Stronger effects of Roundup than its active ingredient glyphosate in damselfly larvae. Aquatic Toxicology, 193, 210-216. doi:10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.10.028
Sheppard, K. (2013, October 17). Monsanto Hires Former Senator As Lobbyist. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/16/monsanto-blanche-lincoln-_n_4110750.html
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