Genetically Modified Food Labeling: Consumers’ right to make informed choices
Most foods available in the market are either genetically engineered or they have at least one ingredient from GMO (Genetically Modified Organism). However, most of these food products are not labeled properly as they are considered as safe as non-GMO food. Nonetheless, consumers have the right to get this information when they buy their food. The only way to do that is to impose mandatory labeling of Genetically Modified(GM) food. GMO food should be labeled to enable consumers to make informed choice when they buy their food.
In 1983, the first genetically engineered plant was introduced in the world, and China became a pioneer to induce “Virus resistance tobacco” to the world market in the early nineteen-ninety’s. The Food and Drug Administration of the United States gave a green light to “the transgenic flavor saver tomato” in mid nineteen-ninety’s (Bawa and Anilakumar 2035). Since then, in the United States, food stores stockpile their shelves with close to 60-80 percent of genetically engineered food and yet most of them have no label that shows they are modified (Wohlers 73).
The importance of GM food has been publicized rigorously by the producers and sponsored …show more content…
Thirty-seven countries put in place a regulation that requires all genetically engineered food with a threshold of 0.9-1% content to be labeled. Ten countries with threshold content of 1% and beyond impose mandatory labeling. Fifteen nations have mandatory labeling for certain genetically engineered food (1184). Furthermore, Kling argues that the minimum content of genetically modified ingredient is a critical point in the debate on GM food labeling. For example, Vermont proposed 0.9% which is similar to the EU. Japan’s law stipulates the minimum content of 5% and California’s draft law says no GM at all
Most foods available in the market are either genetically engineered or they have at least one ingredient from GMO (Genetically Modified Organism). However, most of these food products are not labeled properly as they are considered as safe as non-GMO food. Nonetheless, consumers have the right to get this information when they buy their food. The only way to do that is to impose mandatory labeling of Genetically Modified(GM) food. GMO food should be labeled to enable consumers to make informed choice when they buy their food.
In 1983, the first genetically engineered plant was introduced in the world, and China became a pioneer to induce “Virus resistance tobacco” to the world market in the early nineteen-ninety’s. The Food and Drug Administration of the United States gave a green light to “the transgenic flavor saver tomato” in mid nineteen-ninety’s (Bawa and Anilakumar 2035). Since then, in the United States, food stores stockpile their shelves with close to 60-80 percent of genetically engineered food and yet most of them have no label that shows they are modified (Wohlers 73).
The importance of GM food has been publicized rigorously by the producers and sponsored …show more content…
Thirty-seven countries put in place a regulation that requires all genetically engineered food with a threshold of 0.9-1% content to be labeled. Ten countries with threshold content of 1% and beyond impose mandatory labeling. Fifteen nations have mandatory labeling for certain genetically engineered food (1184). Furthermore, Kling argues that the minimum content of genetically modified ingredient is a critical point in the debate on GM food labeling. For example, Vermont proposed 0.9% which is similar to the EU. Japan’s law stipulates the minimum content of 5% and California’s draft law says no GM at all