Donahue 1

Noah Donahue

Aughenbaugh

English 12

3 February 2017

GMOs are Good, Skeptics are Bad

GMOs are fought over a lot whether they are safe or unsafe. Skeptical people refuse to

believe any science that backs up the claims they are safe. GMOs have been recorded over and

over again that they cause no harm in humans or the environment; they help more than they hurt.

GMOs are safe for humans to consume; numerous studies have been conducted to support it, no

links to human health problems have been found, and the fight against GMOs is false and based

on fear.

GMOs in general are safe. They reduce the need for farmers to spray pesticides because

the crop produces its own protein. They produce more than the traditional non-GMO counterpart.

In a world that has a growing population traditional farming cannot suffice The US FDA has said

that GMOs are safe. Government regulations are strict for food. GMO crops are able to survive

droughts by storing more water within themselves. They produce their own insecticides to

protect themselves from hungry insects. They die if they eat the crop but humans are not affected

by the natural insecticides. Chemical analyses have been conducted enough times to prove that

GMOs show to harm in any way. And with the differences between GMOs and non-GMOs

there is very little. Some major food companies such as General Mills are beginning to label their

products if they contain GMO traces. 75-80% of all foods contain GMOs and they are in every

aisle at grocery stores so there is almost no avoiding GMOs because corn and soy are huge

GMO crops as they are in almost every food product.

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They say that GMOs can cause certains diseases along with cancer and autism in

children. It is false, there has been no evidence that GMOs are linked to any form of human

disease. Reports have backed up the claim of no links. Skeptics are straight up lying to people

just to continue the fight. Claims GMOs are linked to causing obesity in people is farther from

the truth. Obesity is caused because of the lack of exercise and very poor diet. GMOs are not

produced to be poor in nutrients they are actually more healthy than the normal crop counterpart.

Papaya was infected with a ring virus for years prior the being changed. A scientist took a

virus protein coating and placed it into the papaya and the papaya became immune to the ring

virus. Skeptics were saying that the fruit developed protein was toxic to people. People were

eating the ring virus long before the genetic modification and no effects were reported. The

protein produced by the papaya was identical to the one in the ring virus. The Environmental

Protection Agency looked over the conclusions and confirmed that they are safe for

consumption.

People are fearful of GMOs. They feel like they dont know what they are eating. 57%

of Americans say that GMOs are unsafe. (Saletan) States are beginning to require companies to

label produce GMO or non-GMO; however, President Obama signed a bill that makes it a law

that companies label foods GMO. Skeptical people fear unknown risks from GMOs. They are

saying that GMOs can overtime change peoples DNA which cant happen. Proteins produced

by crops are not toxic to humans or animals. Skeptics hope that people feel overwhelmed by the

science and follow them in the fight against.(Saletan) The fight against GMOs is false and has

no science to back up their claims of GMOs being harmful. Fear of the unknown is a major

contributor to why people do not want to eat GMOs but nobody reads the reports. They reject all

logic and research and go by their gut feeling. Despite all the research done they will not change
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anyones opinions. In a survey NPD conducted in 2013, when asked to describe in their own

words what GMO means based on what theyd heard or read, the most common response NPD

got was, I dont know. (Malcolm) People are ignorant. They will not read or research

anything they just want to hear what they want to hear. Perhaps if these ignoramuses actually

took the time to learn about the truth they would know that there is nothing wrong about GMOs.

It is nearly impossible to avoid eating GMO foods. GMOs are taking over but non-GMOs seem

to be surpassing them in sales.

Sales for non-GMO foods have increased significantly over the past few years.

Companies are feeling pressured to meet demand for non-GMO foods because that is what

people are wanting. There is a projected 65% growth in non-GMO food sales. (Packaged Facts)

There are certain foods that people do not want as GMOs. These are juices, sauces and

seasonings. As for the GMO sales it will increase about 13% in the same time as non-GMO

foods. GMOs are so good for the common people. At this point people should be relying on

GMOs to feed families and animals. Stated before about growing population GMOs are

essential for development. Increased yields are extremely beneficial for it. GMO crops are

cheaper than non-GMO crops due to the increased produce. Corn and soy are used in almost

every kind of food in the store. These two crops are GMOs. The high demand for these crops are

met from the increased yields from the genetically modifications done to them. Cotton is another

crop that is genetically modified. Everybody needs clothes so the demand for cotton is extremely

high therefore the GMO aspect of it is beneficial but nobody seems to be worried about wearing

GMOs.
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Those against GMOs are saying that GMO and their non-GMO counterpart are

significantly different in everything. They say their unpredictability makes them dangerous to

people along with tests for their predictability are difficult to conduct.

For those who want purity in their food, nothing will stop them from getting it. They

were trying to convince the public that the Bt protein was dangerous when plants produced it but

perfectly safe when produced by bacteria and sprayed by farmers. (Saletan) Meaning that

anything produced by plants is dangerous and anything sprayed is safe? Plants that produce

insecticidal proteins are toxic to humans. People avoid certain ingredients in food for their own

personal reasons such as allergies. There is no scientific argument to disprove the scientific

research done. They will always keep denying that GMOs are safe. It is a one sided fight.

GMOs will win, there is no evidence to degrade GMOs except for the skeptics making up lies

which will not stop GMOs.

Those saying GMOs are unsafe are just afraid of essentially nothing. Consumers are

looking for purity in their food, particularly for those that try to find that authenticity in their

food, the report is not going to phase them. (Malcolm) People are also beginning to grow their

own food. Growing their own food has benefits that GMOs do not have. By doing so they know

exactly what they are eating because they watch them grow over time and apply the necessary

growth products to the crops. Critics have nicknamed GMOs as frankenfood because of the

modifications done to them. But there is nothing bad about them. The United States government

says that GMOs are safe. The United States Department of Agriculture has stated this along with

the FDA. The government says they are safe so why do people continue to say they are not?
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People need to begin to let go of the fear of GMOs. No amount of evidence will

convince the doomsayers that GMOs are safe. You cant live your life clinging to such

unappeasable fear. Let it go. (Saletan) At this time its unacceptable people are still afraid of

nothing. Those scientists who worked with the production of the report werent surprised by the

conclusions. After years of testing and collecting data it is concluded that GMOs are completely

safe. Those who fight against the GMO market are notgoing to win. A recurring theme is that

GMOs are safe and skeptics are liars. It is an exhausting waste of time for those against GMOs.

It is time to accept the fact GMOs are safe.

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Works Cited

Achenbach, Joel.. Are GMO Crops Safe? Focus on the Plant, Not the Process, Scientists Say.

Washington Post, The 5: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 17 Jan. 2017.

Hadley, Malcolm, and TODAY USA. GMOs may be safe, but skeptics say otherwise. USA

Today

n.d.: Academic Search Main Edition. Web. 9 Jan. 2017.

Holt, Lester and Ellis Rehema. There's Big News Tonight For Everyone Concerned About

Whats In

Our Food, Especially Genetically-Modified Foods. NBC Nightly News (n.d.): Newspaper

Source

Plus. Web. 13 Jan. 2017.

Lilliston, Ben and Cummins, Ronnie. Genetically Engineered Food. New York: Marlowe and

Company. 2004. Print.

Packaged Facts: National Academy of Science Declares GMOs Safe, Impact on Non-GMO

Food

Market Unclear. PR Newswire US 19 May 2016: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 13 Jan.

2017.

Painter, Kristen Leigh. Obama Signs Bill Requiring Labeling of GMO Foods. Star Tribune

(Minneapolis, MN) 30 July 2016: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 18 Jan. 2017.

Rosen, Ben. GMO Crops are Safe, Say Scientists. Should They Be Labeled Anyway?.

Christian

Science Monitor 17 May 2016: N.PAG. MasterFILE Main Edition. Web. 17 Jan. 2017.
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Saletan, William. Unhealthy Fixation. slate.com.. TheSlateGroup, 15 July 2015. Web. 13 Jan.

2017.