Labeling Genetically Engineered Food

      Genetically Modified food is derived from Genetically Engineered Organism (GMOs). Those GMOs have had specific changes in their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. Hence the fundamental nature of the organism is changed, sometimes in ways that would never occur in nature. Genetic engineered food involves the insertion genes of insect, fish, animal into plants. GM food brought an impact on food supply, the cost in manufacturing and consuming, and the nutrition value inside food. In Proposition 37, it requires the labeling of food sold to consumers made from plants or animals with genetic material changed in specific ways. And it prohibits marketing food as “natural.” I think labeling is useful to help consumers to decide whether they would like to buy food that are genetically modified.

      People have a right to know what is in their food, no matter we buy it or not. It is because there are a lot of stuffs we do not know that are in our food. And we are actually eating them. Therefore, for us to know about the food ingredients, we may have a better understanding on what is in our food, also how the GMOs affect us. In a video produced by the Just Label It Campaign, the producer interviewed several people on labeling GM food. All of them are saying yes to it. The reason why the pregnant woman told the interviewer is because she wants to know whether GM food they are eating is harmful or not to human body, especially babies. Moreover, around 90% of American wants the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to label Genetic Engineered food. For some, labeling is due to health, safety or environmental concern. Others believe that the right to know is a core American value. Lack of labeling of GM foods neglects the rights of citizens in a free society, since it depends on information on the content of the food when we are choosing the food.

Dr. Ron Epstein

      Another premise on agree labeling GM food is to avoid negatively effects on human body. There are no long term studies supporting that genetic engineered food is totally safe for human body. We should take the health issue into concern. In the article “Why Genetically Engineered Food Should Be Labeled” written by Dr. Ron Epstein in SFSU in 1996, he claims “Most press reports of genetic engineering stress its incredible potential for good, mostly in terms of "conquering" disease.” For example, some kinds of strawberry have been genetically modified by adding some genes from peanut. Although those kinds are not as common, there is still a risk that someone who have peanut allergy will take that if it is not probably labeled. It will lead to a huge problem that involves health issues. Not only some allergy to certain kinds of food, some genes from plant that are used to produce pesticide, are inserted to some food under genetic engineering process. It is really discouraging for customers if they do not know the ingredients of the food they are eating and they are affected by those GMOs so badly. Therefore labeling of GM food can help them to be aware of those food allergy and other health issues.

      Genetic Engineered food should be labeled also because of the religious reason for some people. It is because the way to make GM food is to insert genes from animals or plants to another species. Therefore, for some people, like religious vegetarian, they will not eat food that has been modified by some genes from animal, insect or human. Due to genetic engineering, most of the physical nature of foods we can find in grocery store is changed. So if I am a vegetarian, when I go to grocery store and want to buy some food, can I still consider the plant I am looking is a plant? That may sounds weird, but it is true, imagine those food under genetic engineering are not labeled, with certain kinds of genes from different animals, people like Jews may be affected because they have restrictions on food.

Some people are against to the Proposition 37 focuses on the importance of the cost and farmers. From the website noprop37.com, they propose that if Proposition 37 passes, the state annual expense will raise few hundred dollars to $1 million dollars. However, does it mean we do not have the right to know what is going on with our food? No! I think if we are consumers, it is the best to know as much as we can when we are trying to buy something. In 40 other countries like China, most countries in Europe, has passed the law of requiring labels on GM food. Even though they passed the law, the price of food is not affected by the law. So what is the reason to proscribe people to know what they are eating? I think it is because some manufacturers say no to the law is because they know the fact that they will be deeply affected in certain ways like economic or reputation if the law passes. So they can keep their profit as much as possible.

It does not mean all GMOs are harmful to human body. Due to the success of genetic engineering on food, our food source are sufficient, also we have more nutrient food in our daily life. However, enhancing our understanding on food we are eating is really important. No one wants to be another victim under genetic engineering. As more and more countries has joined to propose law to disclose as much information on food for the public, why not United States?