Transcript Genetically Modified Organism Labels

Genetically Modified
Organisms: To Label
or not to Label?
By Robin Brown
Emily Gruman
Liz Andary
What are GMOs?

Organisms
genetically altered
through recombinant
DNA technology

DNA is spliced from
multiple organisms to
form one
“recombinant” DNA
molecule
Double Helix
Structure (Wikipedia)
http://www.pub.ac.za/res
ources/teach.html
What Are GMOs?

(Wikipedia)
A tobacco plant that has
been genetically modified
to express a gene that
was taken from fireflies
GMOs through Time

First GMO created in 1973

After years of testing and
research, GMOs were
introduced to farmers

In the 1990s, genetically
modified foods became
available in stores
http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2004/01/20040121_b_main.asp
Genetically Modified Food

Potential benefits
Resistance to harmful
conditions
 Higher yields
 Hardiness of crops
 Possible nutritional
benefits

http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=18
857&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
Benefits to Labeling

Consumers with
allergy risks

Tracking potential
contaminations
www.minton.co.uk/gmo.htm
Comparisons of
labeling laws
United States
GM Food is largely
available
 No mandatory
labeling
 No attempt to
separate GM foods
from conventional
foods

www.minton.co.uk.amo.htm
Europe
Past scares have
fueled a widespread
awareness about
consumer safety
 The right to make
informed choices
about their food
 International trade
laws

Brandenburg, Germany
“Greenpeace action against GE animal feed in a
field growing GE crops. Greenpeace demands that
two of Europe's largest dairy companies must stop
buying their milk from farmers who grow Genetically
Engineered (GE) maize to avoid potential
contamination of the food chain.”
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/photosvideos/photos?related_item_id=89396
http://www.pub.ac.za/resources/docs/cartoon_gmo_approve.jpg
Problems with Labeling
 Retailers
 Negative
consumer opinions
 Cost
 Additional
man-labor
 Food segregation systems
 Impact on farmers
Cost Impacts of Labeling
http://weeds.montana.edu/news/
KPMGlabelCanada.pdf
Conclusion
 Problems
outweigh the benefits
 Genetically modified food could solve
many problems
 Better things to be concerned about and
to spend money on
 Environmental
sustainability
 Alternate energy sources
References
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Bauman, Margaret. “Bill Aims to Require Labeling of Genetically Modified Fish”. Alaska Journal of
Commerce 20 Feb 2005: A12.
Branch, Shelly. “Kraft Foods Draws Consumer Ire For Its Use of Modified Ingredients”. The Wall Street
Journal 6 Feb 2002.
Crespi, John M., Marette, Stephan. “ ‘Does Contain’ vs. ‘Does Not Contain’: Does it Matter which GMO
label is Used?”. European Journal of Law and Economics: 327-344. November 2003.
Gaskell, George et al. “Worlds Apart? The reception of Genetcially Modified Foods in Europe and the
U.S”. Science. Vol 285. July 1999.
Golder, Geoff et al. “Potential Costs of Mandatory Labelling of Food Products Derived from
Biotechnology in Canada”. <http://weeds.montana.edu/news/KPMGlabelCanada.pdf>. 1-66. 11 April
2006.
Goldman, Karen A. “Bioengineered Food—Safety and Labeling”. Science: Vol 290. October 2000.
Hansen, Kirsten. “Does Autonomy Count In Favor of Labeling Genetically Modified Food?”. Journal of
Agricultural and Environmental Ethics: 67. 2004.
Haslberger, Alexander G. “Monitoring and Labeling for Genetically Modified Products”. Science: Vol
287. January 2000.
Miller, Henry I. “A Rational Approach to Labeling Biotech-Derived Foods”. Science: Vol 284. May 1999.
Nelson, Laura. “Labeling Laws For Transgenic Food Come Into Effect”. Nature: p. 788. April 2004.
Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology. “GM Food Safety: Are Government Regulations
Adequate?”. http://pewagbiotech.org/buzz/display.php3?StoryID=42. September 2003.
Williams, Nigel. “Agricultural Biotech Faces Backlash in Europe”. Science: Vol 281. August 1998.