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- GMO labeling reduces the demand for GM foods. The signal contained in the GMO label also affects consumer choice. Even a neutral GMO label may lead consumers to focus on the negative aspects of GMOs, pay less attention to price information, and become more reluctant to make a purchase in the product category.
www.ama.org › 2022/01/19 › how-gmo-labels-affect-customer-decision-making-with-food-purchasesHow GMO Labels Affect Customer Decision Making with Food ...
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Should GMO foods be labeled?
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Are mandatory labels for genetically modified foods a bad idea?
Should GMO labeling be voluntary or mandatory?
Sep 1, 2013 · September 1, 2013. 3 min read. Labels for GMO Foods Are a Bad Idea. Mandatory labels for genetically modified foods are a bad idea. By The Editors. September 2013 Issue. The Sciences....
In the ongoing debate about whether or not genetically modified foods should be labeled, some maintain that consumers should have the right to know all about what’s in their food. Others insist there’s no evidence that such foods harm health and that labeling isn’t necessary.
- Overview
- What are GMOs?
- Advantages of GMO foods
- Is GMO food unhealthy?
- What are examples of GMO foods?
- The bottom line
Although most notable organizations and research suggest that GMO foods are safe and sustainable, some people claim they may harm your health and the environment.
GMOs, short for genetically modified organisms, are subject to a lot of controversy.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), GMO seeds are used to plant over 90% of all maize (corn), cotton, and soy grown in the United States, which means that many of the foods you eat likely contain GMOs.
This article helps explain what GMOs are, provides a balanced explanation of their pros and cons, and gives guidance on how to identify GMO foods.
“GMO,” which stands for genetically modified organism, refers to any organism whose DNA has been modified using genetic engineering technology.
In the food industry, GMO crops have had genes added to them for various reasons, such as improving:
•their growth
•nutritional content
•sustainability
•pest resistance
GMO foods may offer advantages to the grower and consumer. These can include:
•Pest control: Many GMO crops have been genetically modified to express a gene that protects them against pests and insects. The Bt gene is commonly genetically engineered into crops like corn, cotton, and soybeans. It comes from a naturally occurring bacteria known as Bacillus thuringiensis. This gene produces a toxic protein to several pests and insects, which gives the GMO plants a natural resistance. As such, GMO crops don’t need to be exposed to harmful pesticides as often.
•Fewer pesticides: A 2020 study notes that GMO technology has reduced global chemical pesticide use by 8.3% and indirectly reduced greenhouse gas emissions because farmers don’t need to spray their fields as often.
•Improved survival and greater yield: Other GMO crops have been modified with genes that help them survive stressful conditions, such as droughts, and resist diseases like blight, resulting in a higher yield for farmers.
•Increased nutritional value: Genetic modification can increase the nutritional value of foods. For example, rice high in beta carotene, also called golden rice, was developed to help prevent blindness in regions where local diets are chronically deficient in vitamin A.
•Enhanced flavor: Genetic modification can enhance the flavor and appearance of foods, such as the non-browning apple.
However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and USDA maintain that GMOs are safe for human and animal consumption.
While GMO crops make farming much easier, there is some concern about their potential effect on the environment and their safety for human consumption, particularly surrounding illnesses and allergies.
Some of the potential concerns around GMO consumption include:
•Allergies: Because GMO foods contain foreign genes, some people worry that they harbor genes from foods that may prompt an allergic reaction. According to the FDA, researchers who develop GMO foods run tests to ensure that allergens aren’t transferred from one food to another. Research suggests GMO foods are no likelier to trigger allergies than their non-GMO counterparts.
•Cancer: Because cancers are caused by DNA mutations, some people fear that eating foods with added genes may affect your DNA. The American Cancer Society (ACS) has stated that there’s no evidence to link GMO food intake to an increased or decreased risk of cancer, and there is no evidence that eating GMOs will change your DNA. However, more long-term human research is still needed.
•Herbicide use: Most GMO crops are resistant to herbicides, such as Roundup, so farmers may use herbicides to kill surrounding weeds without damage to their crops. But Roundup and its active ingredient glyphosate are subject to controversy because animal and test-tube studies have linked them to various diseases. There is new evidence that glyphosate exposure may increase the relative risk of non-Hodgkins lymphoma by 41%.
Although GMO foods appear safe for consumption, some people wish to avoid them. Still, this is difficult since most foods in your supermarket are made with ingredients from GMO crops.
GMO crops grown and sold in the United States include:
•corn
•soybean
•canola
•sugar beet
GMOs are foods that have been modified using genetic techniques.
Most foods in your local supermarket contain GMO ingredients because they’re easier and more cost-effective for farmers, which makes them cheaper for the consumer.
In the United States, foods grown using GMO techniques include corn, soybean, canola, sugar beet, alfalfa, cotton, potatoes, papaya, pink pineapple, summer squash, and a few varieties of apples.
Although current research suggests that GMO foods are safe for consumption, some people are concerned about their potential health effects. Due to a lack of long-term human studies, more research is needed.
Jan 19, 2022 · The results show that presence-focused labeling (“contains GMO”) makes consumers (i) more sensitive toward the GMO attribute, (ii) less sensitive toward price information, and (iii) more reluctant to make a purchase in a category. Why?
Oct 30, 2019 · Specifically, we focus on the genetically modified (GM) text labeling for fresh produce (strawberries, apples, and potatoes) in the United States. Contrary to some previous studies, our results indicate that the absence-claim label (Not-GM) does not have a negative impact on the demand for related conventional products.
- D. Adeline Yeh, Miguel I. Gómez, Harry M. Kaiser
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0223910
- 2019
- PLoS One. 2019; 14(10): e0223910.
Jan 5, 2022 · The USDA says that the list of items on its website isn't exhaustive and that other foods with genetic modifications will be subject to the labeling rules. Companies with products that qualify as...
Feb 19, 2020 · The consequences of this labeling asymmetry aren’t surprising: People are concerned about the safety of consuming foods that contain GMOs or their byproducts. Questions naturally arise like,...
