Genetically Modified Foods, Essay Example

Describe the article

The article “Should Companies Be Required to Label Genetically Modified Foods?” appearing in The Wall Street Journal, discusses the question of whether or not GM Foods should be regulated by being labeled in the store.  The issues is that genetically modified foods are still not completely understood scientifically.  For this reason, there could be unknown detriments to health in the future.  Opponents of labeling argue that the labels are a way to scare people out of buying these products.

Explain the article author’s position on genetically modified foods

The author of the article argues that people have the right to know what is in the food that they are eating.  Because genetically modified foods are fundamentally different than traditional foods found in nature, and because the DNA of the food has been altered, they could potentially pose a health risk to the public.  Furthermore, labeling the products creates a way to track them for any health related issues that might arise.

Opponents of labeling have argued that there is no proof that these products are unsafe, so they should not be forced to label their products, setting them apart from other products.  However, the author argues that the FDA does not label based on danger, but rather, based on the need of consumers to receive unique information concerning the product they are buying.  In this way, the author is arguing that consumers have the right to make an educated choice about the foods that they eat.

Do you agree with the article author’s position? Explain your answer

Yes, I agree with the author’s position.  Whether or not food has been determined safe, the fact is that it has not been determined either way.  At this point, it is not known whether or not the food is safe.  The burden of proof in this situation is on the companies to prove that the food is safe, not on the public or any other entity to prove it is unsafe before it should be labeled.  This argument is completely sidestepping the issue.  All food should have labels that articulate exactly what they are, where they came from, and what they consist of so that consumers can make educated decisions about what they buy.

References

Kimbrell, Andrew. (2015). Should Companies Be Required to Label Genetically Modified

Foods? The Wall Street Journal. http://www.wsj.com/articles/should-companies-be-required-to-label-genetically-modified-foods-1436757040.