Running head: GMO LABELING

GMO Labeling Mary Claire Greco Wright State University

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Introduction Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, change a crops genetic make-up to help the plant avoid disease, death, and other vulnerabilities while also helping the plant to improve its productivity. Increased plant productivity leads to increased agricultural yield, which is a benefit for farmers worldwide and also helps to mitigate world hunger. And while the use of GMOs seems like a no brainer, its presence in many grocery items is becoming a hotly contested issue. While some consumers have no idea that many of their foods contain GMOs, others who know more about their use are raising concern. Regardless, this is an important issue for all consumers who purchase grocery items with this new advancement because many of the effects of GMOs are still unknown. The use of GMOs has an obvious effect on farmers and consumers, but it also has an effect on other industries like the medical field. Medical professionals, such as nurses, doctors, health advocates, and dietitians, need to know about the whole patient in order to recommend the best course of action, and that includes the patients diet. When the patient is able to thoroughly explain their diet including the consumption of any GMO foods, a medical professional has a more holistic understanding of the issues which, more often than not,

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leads to a more accurate diagnosis. This can be a critical factor in understanding gastrointestinal issues of the patient. Not only is it important for a nurse to be educated on the effects of GMOs in general, it is also important for a nurse to know if GMOs are a part of a patients diet. Part of the reason the latter isnt well reported is because GMOs arent labeled on all food products. This highlights the necessity of GMO labeling, so that nurses and health care professionals can better diagnose patients. Understanding the Effects of GMOs In order to fully understand the importance of GMOs and how they affect the human body, health professionals must first understand the genetic modification process. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are created in a lab when a gene from one organism is inserted into another organism in order to improve it. Genetics can be modified in several ways; one-way is through selective breeding: a plant or animal with the desired trait is chosen to produce or breed more of that plant or animal. Recent technology has allowed laboratories to actually move a single desired trait or gene. This allows plants to be made with resistance to insects and disease (Sanderson, 2007); that is what GMOs are.

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This research began in 1980 when deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) research began. Scientists were able to manipulate the genes and create new breads of microorganisms with more desirable traits. Upon this discovery, scientists saw that it also had applications in agriculture with GMO potential. Researchers harnessed GMO potential and implemented the use into increased crop survival. The creation of GMOs in 1980 is the most recent breakthrough in the biological sciences, as the ability to harness and control genes of organisms has many possibilities including crop enhancementthe focus of this paper. No particular study has shown that the genetically modified foods are unsafe for consumption, but there is still not enough known about GMO seeds and their effects on people to feel safe in those findings. Seralini and his coworkers did a two-year study in France on GMO safety using rats. The study was published in November 2012 in the journal of Food and Chemical Toxicity. To conduct the study, rats were given GMO corn feed, and were then compared to those who were not given GMO corn feed. By the end of the trial (a total of 90 days) fifty percent of the male rats died and seventy percent of the female rats died. After the 90-day trial, there was an even greater increase in rats with cancer who received GMO fed. Drastic results such as these show food safety departments that research done by GMO producers cannot be

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trusted and studies need to be conducted by independent researches to decrease the bias of results. A research institute in Poland tested this question: Will genetically modified feed change animal tissue, normal flora, or DNA? To conduct the experiment the animalshens, pigs, and calveswere divided into four groups. The first was a control group, and the other three groups were given feed from three different types of GM feed. The animals were given the feed for twenty-five weeks. Next, the scientists used Polymerase Chain Reaction, or PCR, to increase the gene sequences in all of the animals, allowing them to predict what the GM feed would do to the animal tissue over a longer period of time. The experiment concluded that all animals passed with a satisfactory performance; there were no significant statistical differences between the control group and those given GM feed. It is still important to note that, Analysis of digesta samples from different parts of the gastrointestinal tract indicated that relatively small fragments of reference genes and/or transgenic sequences were detected in all samples of bird gizzard and stomach content of all species, but also in the pig duodenum (Sieradzki, 2013). No significant amount of gene transfer was found. But some parts of genes were in the animal tissue that ate GMO feed. This makes you wonder how safe GMOs are to eat, if genes can transfer from your food into your own genes. The

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initial reason for genetically modified crops was to increase crop yields by avoiding plant death, and while this is an important goal, genetically modified crops put peoples health at risk. Where the United States Stands Most of the developed nations consider GMOs to be unsafe. Countries like Japan, Australia, the Eastern European Union, and sixty other countries around the world have many restrictions on the use of GMOs; some have even outlawed them. According to Forbes Magazine, the Food Safety Authority has made their restrictions against GMOs based on scientific studies similar to the ones noted above. Forbes Magazine goes on to explain that, In all food safety reviews, rat feeding studies have been considered by officials to determine whether or not foods and food ingredients should be allowed in the food chain(2012). In the United States it is differentthey approved GMO use. One of the departments regulating GMO use is the Food and Drug Administration or FDA. In 1997, FDA established a voluntary consultation process with GM crop developers to review the determination of substantial equivalence before the crop is marketed, such as assessing the toxicity and allergenicity of the gene product and the plant itself (Amendola, 2014). If the results of the GMO companies are satisfactory to the FDA and

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meet a certain standard, then those foods are allowed to be placed on the shelves of U.S. grocery stores. The big difference between the United States regulation and the regulation in other developed counties is who is conducting the studies. Most Eastern European countries and even Asian countries like Japan have based their decisions of GMO regulation on independent studies. The United States has based their decisions on studies conducted by the companies using and creating GMO products, which is obviously prone to bias. If a consumer wants to know if GMOs are in a product, GMOs may be labeled or may not. It has become well known that the food industry and consumers are pushing companies to label their GMO products. The move for labeling is being fronted by consumers who want to know exactly what is in their food. Companies are against GMO labeling because it will cost them money to re-create and label all GMO products. They are also concerned that consumers will be less likely to buy their products if they know that they contain GMOs. Theresa Eisenman, a spokeswoman for FDA, said that the "FDA has received citizen petitions regarding genetically engineered foods, including the labeling of such foods the agency is currently considering those petitions and at this time has not made a decision, in whole or in part, regarding the petitions (Amendola, 2014). Consumers are placing pressure on large food companies, causing

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companies to change actions with GMOs in order to keep their consumers. General Mills removed GMOs from their regular Cheerios after receiving complaints from mothers not wanting to feed their children GMO-laden food (Amendola, 2014). Whole Foods announced that by 2018 all of their products using GMOs would be labeled as such (Amendola, 2014). Voluntary labeling by companies is moving forward because companies do not want to lose money because of lost consumers. Yet mandatory labeling is not enforced by state or federal laws. Three agencies in the federal government are responsible for GMO plants and foods: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). These departments are in charge of ensuring that what makes it to grocery shelves is safe to consume. Not only is the labeling of GMOs made voluntary by the FDA, but the testing for the safety of the GMO plants themselves is also voluntary, based on the fact that the plants are substantially equivalent. When GM foods are not substantially equivalent, then that must be labeled according to the FDA. This would be a GM food that causes allergic reactions or is significantly different from a nutritional perspective. The progress in mandatory labeling is also slow when considered state-by-state. Many individuals have tried to change their states legislation regarding mandatory labeling

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with little success. No state currently has laws in place to enforce the labeling of GMOs. Luckily, awareness of GMOs has significantly risen since the push for new laws by various individuals ("Gmo Facts," 2014). The Argument / The Importance of Labeling As with every argument, there are at least two sides. Those who want all GM foods labeled argue that it is consumers right to know what is in their food. Those who oppose labeling argue that it is an increased expense for companies to label, a cost which would extend to consumers. Even when a decision is made, there can be logistical problems in labeling GMOs as well as issues in regulating what needs to be labeled. The switch to GMO labeling will affect companies that produce processed foods the most. In the United States, soybean, corn, cotton, and canola are the most common GM crops and are key ingredients in most packaged foods. It is estimated that 60 to 70 percent of processed foods in grocery stores include at least one GM ingredient (Byrne, 2010). Those who argue for labeling mainly do so because of their belief in the consumers right to know what is in their food. This drive to know is strengthened when the individual has health and environmental concerns. If a doctor has identified and outlined a specific diet for a patient, exact labeling

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allows the patient to strictly follow their doctors order with the complete information provided by labels. Those who wish not to consumer animal products for religious and ethical reasons also support labeling. Some GM food products contain animal DNA that would be against some consumer practices (Byrne, 2010). Those who are anti-labeling make several arguments. The labeling of GM foods will scare consumers. It may lead them to think that GM foods will cause negative health effects. According to those against labeling, food that have substantial equivalence, contain no significant differences between the GM foods and the non-GM foods. Those who oppose labeling state that the United States already requires companies to label any significant nutritional differences in GM foods and in any GM food that may cause an allergic reaction. These cautionary labels are enough to keep consumers safe. GM labels would only be there to fulfill the desire of a small number of concerned consumers, but labeling would impose increased prices on all consumers. If a consumer wants to buy non-GM foods then they only need to buy certified organic foods, since that category of foods cannot contain GM ingredients. The last argument of the opposition is that those who are avoiding animal products due to religious or ethical reasons have no need to worry because currently no GM products on the market contain animal DNA; however, this is no guarantee for the future (Byrne, 2010).

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There are several ways that GM labeling has changed food companies in other countries. Understanding these changes could help predict what might happen in the United States if mandatory labeling occurred. Companies in Japan and New Zealand pulled GM food from their products due to a large outcry by consumers that led to profit loss. Labeling of GM foods seems like a simple answer to the problem. The process of labeling is not so easy because it is difficult to track and define what constitutes GMOs. Increasing the time it takes to produce food costs companies more money (Byrne, 2010). Conclusion In conclusion, GMOs should be labeled on all food products. The process of adding GMO labels is simple, the government will determine national standard for what is considered a GMO food and what is not. Then create guidelines for companies to label food properly. Consumers have the right to be thoroughly informed. An informed consumer can make better choices and follow any dietary needs outlined by their healthcare provider. The more information people have, the better they can care for themselves.

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References Amendola, E. (2014, February 6). Food industry seeks voluntary gmo labeling. Retrieved from http://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/health/food-industryseeks-voluntary-gmo-labeling/article_e729ce10-71b8-579e8b30-9f699942564b.html Byrne, P. (2010, September). Labeling of genetically engineered foods. Retrieved from http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09371.html FAS. (2013). U.s. regulation of genetically modified crops. Retrieved from http://www.fas.org/biosecurity/education/dualuseagriculture/2.-agricultural-biotechnology/us-regulation-ofgenetically-engineered-crops.html Gmo facts. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/ Sanderson, C. (2007). Understanding genes and gmos. (1st ed.). Singapore: World Scientific Sieradzki, Z. (2013). Assessing the possibility of genetically modified dna transfer from gm feed to broiler, laying hen, pig and calf tissues. POLISH JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCES, 6(3), 435-441.

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Toft, K. (2012). Gmos and global justice: Applying global justice theory to the case of genetically modified crops and food. Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Ethics, 25(2), 223-237. doi: 10.1007/s10806-010-9295-x. Willingham, E. (2012, December 07). What you need to know about gm food is half the story. Forbes, Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/emilywillingham/2012/12/07/what -you-need-to-know-about-gm-foods-is-half-the-story/