Genetically Modified Foods and the Labeling Debate Essay

There has been an ongoing debate betwixt consumers and the government regarding the pulmonary tuberculosis of genetically Modified viandss in the market today. Since the introduction of the Flavr Savr tomato, biotechnology companies have-to doe with to introduce genetically engineered agricultural products to consumers (Whittaker). The Flavr Savor tomato was the first aliment available to consumers that was produced using technology involving the recombinant DNA techniques in 1993. This was the dawn of a new generation in aliment production, and thus a unit new world of genetically engineered foods.At the present time the government, more than specifically, the United States Food and Drug court (FDA) has not regulated labeling products that harbor genetically engineered foods. Currently the policy for labeling all consumer products must assemble the standards of the precaution and nutritional assessment. The evaluations of genetically engineered foods by legal authority require that bioengineered foods must meet the same standards set forth for all imported and exported foods tag for human and animal consumption and according to the US FDA genetically change (GM) foods meet these guidelines.Since the early 1990s scientists has been researching new and improved techniques to bring plumper, drinker and insecticide patient of agricultural products to all consumers. But research such(prenominal) as this is nothing new to the scientific community and for over 50 years techniques have been used to create strains of wheat, rice, pears and m either more exploit species to create high yielding products that argon capable of growing anyplace and anytime of the year. Currently, only one tenth of the world actually uses GM plants with the countries of Canada, US, brazil nut and Argentina growing 90 percent of the GM crops (Freedman).With the majority of these crops world produced in North America, the US is seeing GM foods everywhere and this is design attention to different agencies and groups pushing to educate the public by labeling any products that contain genetically engineered foods. The US Food and Drug establishment has been dealing with the battle against labeling products with genetically modified organisms (GMO) for years, but regardless of the consistent exam the FDA sticks firmly to the veritable regulations that govern the labeling of all foods for human and animal consumption. at a lower place the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act, which drives the FDAs refuge regulations for food and food ingredients, unless a significant guard duty riskiness exists or in that respect is a sincere need for consumers to distinguish between food products before purchase, the FDA hesitates to mandatory labeling of food products (Leggio). Joseph A. Levitt, Director of the burden for Food Safety and Applied nourishment with the US Food and Drug Administration states in his Should the FDA drag in a Stricter polity o n genetically Engineered Foods? testimony that bioengineered foods and food ingredients must get to the same standards of safety under the FD&C act that apply to their conventionally bred counterparts (Levitt, 81). With the strict rightfulnesss set forth, the FDA appeases consistent with its decision to maintain their current labeling program as it adheres to all safety standards of any food for consumption. The US FDA also assures the public that they have done significant research for decades on biotechnology foods to ensure it is safe for consumers, and superfluous testing is conducted years prior to the release of a GM product to the shelves.Scientists address all of the say-so concerns to include the potential to adding new allergy causing proteins, removing vital nutrients and the happening of introducing toxins, in these studies to ensure that unexpected results do not occur, this testing provides a way to detect such changes at the development stage (Levitt, 79) and it result also delay any release of products until they are able to ac kip downledge a resolvent. The FDA takes such precautions and submiting all aspects of this technology to be footsure that the risks are non-existent.Although the government has provided the public with research, publications, testimonies and scientific proof that the current law organization the labeling of food and animal products is appropriate and doesnt require change, thither is still much concern of the risks that the technology poses to humans. Barbara Boxer, a US Senator from California, introduced the Genetically Engineered Food chasten-To-Know Act in 2001 in her testimony in Should the FDA Adopt a Stricter Policy on Genetically Engineered Foods? which states all foods containing or produced with genetically engineered material bear a neutral label (Boxer, 76). This act was created establish on the lack of data and concerns that GM products are introducing risks of exposure to some(prenominal) h ealth issues to include food allergens, lack of nutrition and toxic ailments. These claims are legitimate, however, the US FDA does take precautions as stated by Joseph A.Levitt, specifically with these risks musical composition conducting trials during the developing stages of the product. In 2011 there was a petition filed against the FDA which warranted the need for labeling of GM products. According to this petition consumers are misled when food labels do not mark foods with known health properties from novel foods with unknown health consequences (Burgaard). An example of such health concerns come from a study performed in Scotland at the Rowett take in 1998.A plant biochemist named Arpad Pusztai conducted an experiment on rats who consumed a genetically engineered potato and his experiment concluded that the rats that were fed the modified potato suffered yield and immune system-related changes (Freedman). Ironically, the genetically modified potato used in this study was not intended for human consumption it was, in fact, designed to be toxic for research purposes, (Freedman) discrediting the research altogether.Additionally, American Medical Association, the National honorary society of Sciences, the World Health Organization, and more than twenty-five Nobel Prize-winning scientists have concluded that there is no scientific evidence that GM food carries any risk to human health and that genetically engineered crops are safe, (Burgaard) which ties into the general nutrition and safety assessment that genetically engineered foods meet the same standards that imported and exported foods at held too.In the end, the US Food and Drug Administration stands by the current law governing the policy on labeling genetically modified foods. They maintain their stand up on mandated labeling even under the microscope of doubters, but most importantly the FDAs process for evaluating bioengineered foods is one in which the public can have effrontery that food biotechnology products must meet the laws safety standards (Maryanski).The FDA cares deeply of the health and wellbeing of the consumers in America and strive to meet the needs of the public in both food and nutrition education. Until the studies orient significant risks or changes in the GM products warranting the need to readdress the process, the government and the US Food and Drug Administration believe their approach is relevant and remain firm to the present policies. Annotated Bibliography Whittaker, Michael A. Reevaluating The Food And Drug Administrations live on On Labeling Genetically Engineered Foods. San Diego Law Review 35.4 (1998) 1215. faculty member pursuit Premier. Web. 2 Jan. 2014. This journal review argues that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must reconsider its position on the labeling of genetically engineered food as well as consumer perceptions of the threat posed by genetically engineered foods. Freedman, David H. ar Engineered F oods Evil?. Scientific American 309. 3 (2013) 80-85. Environment Complete. Web. 2 Jan. 2014. This word discusses the debate over the safety of genetically modified (GM) crops.It covers comments from agricultural and environmental economist at the University of California, Berkeley, David Zilberman, on the benefits of GM foods compared to their health risks, a ban on GM crops by the European Union (EU), and the difference between selective plant breeding and mutagenic techniques. Leggio, Kelly A. Limitations On The Consumers Right To Know Settling The Debate Over Labeling Of Genetically Modified Foods In The United States. San Diego Law Review 38. 3 (2001) 893. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 Jan. 2014.This journal review supports the decision of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reject mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods as a solution to accommodate consumer fears. There is a description of an approach designed to treasure whether mandatory in itiatives are appropriate to protect consumers right to know and the importance for states to follow guidelines established by the FDA. Should The FDA Adopt A Stricter Policy On Genetically Engineered Foods? PRO/CON. Congressional Digest 80. 3 (2001) Pages 76-95. Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 Jan. 2014.This is a two part article that discusses genetically engineered foods and the potential need to adopt a more strict policy. The articles provided randomness from the survey of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Joseph A. Levitt, the director of the shopping mall of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and US Senator, Barbara Boxer who speaks on behalf of the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act and additional interviews that were conducted to give the audience an overall understanding of both sides of the debate. Burgaard, Sudhir. The Labeling Of Genetically Modified Foods Debate. Natural Resources & Environment 28. 1 (2013) 55-57. Environment Complete. Web. 2 Jan. 2014. This article focuses on the debate on labeling of genetically modified (GM) food which reflects food safety concerns in the U. S. It highlights various legal issues related to use of GM foods which includes increased risk of antibiotic resistant bacteria, increased use of pesticides, and environmental effects. It briefs the audience about the Center for Food Safety filing a legal petition with the U. S. Food and Drug Administration regarding labeling of genetically engineered food.Maryanski, . James H. , Ph D. News & Events. Genetically Engineered Foods. US Food and Drug Administration, 19 Oct. 1999. Web. 2 Jan. 2014.This testimony is from the perspective of the Biotechnology Coordinator with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that discusses the current regulations governing genetically engineered foods and the process that dictates what and how determines what a DNA derived food is labeled. It includes a commixture of examples that justifies the current labeling reg ulations and why GM Foods may not require additional information for the consumers.