“Education about what you eat, every chemical ingredient and it’s impact on your body and health can change your future and that of your children. Don’t wait until it is too late” (Barling). Unfortunately, in modern society, it might be too late to gain awareness and understanding of every ingredient. In the last hundred years, the amount of processed foods in the average U.S. diet has grown a drastic 70% (Rysdall). Coinciding with the increase in processing, the amount of ingredients in products often exceeds more than twenty items. While snacking or eating a meal, it has become nearly impossible for one to fully understand every ingredient mentioned on the label. Along with the excessive amount of processed food in our diet, genetically modified organisms exist in over 90% of the products, making the majority of the average diet genetically engineered based (Rysdall). Genetically modified organisms, likewise called GMOs, are organisms whose chemical makeup has been altered, “manipulating DNA or transferring it from one organism to another” (Dimrock). Although the FDA currently declares GMOs as safe, recent studies have challenged this fact. Many studies from around the world present interesting cases where the correlation between failing health and GMOs is clearly demonstrated. However, the United States does not call for the identification of GMOs in labeling, declaring that they are equal to their non-GMO counterparts, despite the increasing amount of evidence opposing this statement. Due to the potential health risks associated with GMOs, consumers should have a choice of whether or not to avoid them which would be possible through the implementation of mandatory GMO labeling.
Throughout the late 20th and the early 21st century, genetically engineered foods have grown more and more prevalent, interacting and weaving into everyday life, often leaving the public ignorant of their presence. Biotechnology companies like...