McCants 1

Jennifer McCants

Professor Morean

ENG 1201

November 7, 2021

Should GMO Labels Be Required in America?

Most people love a good origin story. An origin story provides a

backstory to help establish a narrative. Per definition, it helps to

inform the reader of the character’s identity and motivations of the

character at hand. There is no origin story so humble as that of the

seed. “Seeds are the basis for all plant life on earth. For millennia,

Farmers speaking to business man mankind has worked to continually improve the seeds used to grow
out in the field. Taken in MO, US in
1940. Photograph by: George Strock crops that feed and nourish communities and improve lives. Plant

biotechnology is yet another step in the journey to improve

agricultural production and feed a changing world” [ CITATION Cro21 \l 1033 ]. If a seed has a

story, consumers in America should be aware of any genetically modified organism (GMOs) in

their food by proper labeling.

To better understand this, one must start with the Green Revolution. Seed modification

has been taking place for thousands of years, but this revolution in America was fueled by a

genuine concern of food shortage. Norman E. Borlaug contributed to the “groundwork for

agricultural technological advance that alleviated world hunger” [ CITATION Bri21 \l 1033 ]. His

contribution to the Green Revolution also increased the production of wheat and rice. From
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America to Mexico, Borlaug’s success gained the attention of the Indian and Pakistani

governments. With this and many other impacts, he contributed to “improving the availability

and quality of food worldwide” [ CITATION Bri21 \l 1033 ].

One cannot ignore the great efforts made for the sum at large, and these efforts are

praised and continue even unto this day. Since these contributions are being made, why should

consumers in America be aware of any modification through labeling? Seed modification

impacts what people are putting in their bodies. While Americans are encouraged to eat in

moderation and eat the recommended portions daily, these are only recommendations. The same

intent should be put into labeling the food. Before the seed can hit the ground on thousands of

farms, it must first be bred in a lab. Also known as “plant breeding,” “genes contained in small

seed fragments are studied in the lab” [ CITATION Cro21 \l 1033 ]. The public has freewill to

research how their food is made. With an COVID-19 happening, this conversation of what one

puts in their body is ever increasing.

In the Summer of 2020, “Marci Baranski and Mary Ollenburger argue that although the

Green Revolution ought to be celebrated for what it did to feed the world’s growing population,

it’s agents often ignored the complex issues of the regions they hoped to “improve,” increasing

inequalities and failing to live up to the real promises of poverty alleviation” [ CITATION RET20 \l

1033 ]. With this insecurity present, there is no debate that GMOs are necessary for ensuring that

people can access basic food needs, while also rethinking the importance of GMO labeling. The

disruptions triggered by COVID-19 revealed that global food production and distribution

networks designed through decades of agricultural research and technology development are

contributing to major immediate vulnerability [ CITATION RET20 \l 1033 ].

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The seed also finds its way into consumers meat. “Alfalfa is a highly nutritious, perennial

legume that contains high concentrations of vitamins B, C, D, and E. Most of the alfalfa grown

in the United States is used as feed, particularly for dairy cattle. In 2013, approximately 18

million acres of alfalfa—with a production value of $10.7 billion—were harvested in the United

States” [ CITATION Wec17 \l 1033 ]. Alfalfa is the fourth largest U.S. crop behind corn, soybeans,

and wheat [ CITATION Wec17 \l 1033 ]. By animals consuming this highly modified crop, it

becomes a part of the animal. Alfalfa provides a portion of protein and energy. Modification

helps with feeding the large amounts of animals needing basic nutrients. The intent of ensure that

all are fed is still at work. Just like an ecosystem, where everything works together, companies

and farms should make it their proud priority to label foods with any form of modification.

There are those on the other hand that find the purpose of labeling pointless. At the

opening of his article about GMO labeling, Gregory Conko sets the tone with this statement;

“Ask a group of average citizens what they know about biotechnology, and most will tell you

they know very little” [ CITATION Con06 \l 1033 ]. But what exactly is biotechnology?

Biotechnology is the use of biology to solve problems. In this case, biotechnology is a

technological approach used in genetic engineering. This allows scientist to “tailor an organism’s

DNA at will” [ CITATION Bri21 \l 1033 ]. In Conko’s argument, he brings to the light why

mandatory labeling is a stretch: cost. While production companies have the right to voluntarily

label their foods, the cost as mentioned by Conko would be high. He wasn’t talking about a fiscal

cost. He states that it wouldn’t be simple to just change the labels. To provide the consumer with

(factual) information and ensure exactness in labeling, “an elaborate system of separation and

record-keeping would have to be imposed so that every single ingredient or additive in every

food product can be traced through every step of the food chain” [ CITATION Con06 \l 1033 ].
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This means that every hand that touches the seed would have to document for traceability and

this is a timely cost. In various proposals for labeling, one penalty for failure to label a product

that has bioengineered ingredients could result in criminal penalties. Even information overload

is considered a cost. Consumers, most likely, will not shop according to labels. Therefore,

making the call for labels a costly stretch.

Consumers have been eating GMOs in one form or another and Global News sits down

with Dr. Pamela Ronald and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois to discuss why it’s ‘meaningless’ to label

genetically-modified organisms. Dr. Ronald shares that while consumers have concerns and

maybe even fears that bioengineering foods are dangerous, she rebuttals that, “modern genetic

approaches are no more risky than conventional approaches” [CITATION Log19 \l 1033 ]. Dr.

Charlebois from Dalhousie University specializes in risk indication in the food supply system

[CITATION Log19 \n \l 1033 ]. Dr. Charlebois makes mention that farmers have always been

updated concerning any biotech, but the consumer has been forgotten.

While labeling has been voluntary in America, Maria DeGiovanni highlights the

challenges that mandatory labeling could cause. Argued as a scheme, DeGiovanni concludes

that, “Americans who care about their food’s contents will not be fooled by dubious labels, and

even those who do not care will be subliminally coaxed into buying non-GMO products”

[ CITATION DeG17 \l 1033 ]. However, it’s not a as far fetch as some would think. In Canada,

they have been able to solve the food labeling issue some deem challenging. Keeping in mind

that the labels are to help consumers make well informed choices, Canada has a resource pool for

both consumers and industry/professionals. The Government of Canada has given access to the

general principles for labelling. For example, industries are allowed to use asterisks to direct the

consumer’s attention additional information. The labeling requirements are simple; all
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information must be accurate, truthful, and not misleading [ CITATION Gen19 \l 1033 ]. They

even provide the consumer with help to understand how to read the labels. This is no different

than WIC (Women, Infant, and Children) how they provide general education about nutrition.

Also in Canada, foods that have any modification to them are sections off in their grocery stores.

By 2022, America will be required to label their food. Law has been passed. Labeling

Law [ CITATION s7616 \l 1033 ] was passed on December 21, 2018. Companies will be required

to comply by January 1, 2022 (Organic Trade Association). There should be great confidence in

America’s ability to properly label foods with GMOs and make the information simple and

concise for consumers. BE symbols will represent any foods that have bioengineering. There are

two labels; bioengineered and derived from bioengineering. Consumers can access the meaning

of the two via ams.usda.gov.

One can now see and read a seed’s story, and it’s most recent chapters. Those who work

in the laboratories and partner with the farmers can be considered the author and publisher. That

leaves the American people—the consumer—to have access to the information about the history

or origin of the ingredients in their food. America should provide GMO labels to foods with any

form of modification. Modification has a signature, and it should be providing the American

people with a label.

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Works Cited

Amaral-Philips, Donna M. "Role of Alfalfa in Livestock Feeding Programs in Kentucky." n.d.

University of Kentucky: UKnowledge. 1 Nov 2021.

<https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1213&context=ky_alfalfa>.

Berry, Donna. Preparing for GMO Labeling in 2022. 21 January 2021. 31 October 2021.

<https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/17559-preparing-for-gmo-labeling-in-

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General principles for labelling and advertising . 15 Jan 2019. 10 Dec 2021.

<https://inspection.canada.ca/food-label-requirements/labelling/industry/general-

principles/eng/1392324632253/1392324755688?chap=2#s1c2>.

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<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlVnEY_1CSU>.

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