Position Paper # 1

“Should there be government regulations requiring genetically engineered foods to be labeled?”

   

    When people go to the grocery store and want to buy tomatoes for example, they should know if it a genetically modified or not. There are different types of genetically altering and different amounts of it, so the consumers buying the food should know.

    There are also a lot of risks of not labeling. The problems caused by lack of labeling of genetic engineering foods fall into three categories: health hazards, religious concerns, and ethical concerns. There is also a wide range of religious concerns, for example Jews who keep kosher food laws want to be able to make sure that genetically engineered foods do not violate their restrictions. Proven health hazards from genetically engineered foods already mentioned include the production of carcinogens, a rise in level of toxins, resistance to antibiotics, and allergic reactions. Many people who are not formally religious also have serious ethical problems, too much of the genetic engineering research and development that is currently going on and wish to avoid genetically engineered foods for that reason. Without labeling they have no way of avoiding them. Lack of labeling of genetically engineered foods shows an obvious disregard for the rights of citizens in a free society. The overwhelming numbers of people naturally want to know what is in the food they are buying. Labeling for all kinds of ingredients is already required. In many cases the need for labeling of certain kinds of ingredients is not as urgent as for labeling of genetically engineered foods. You cannot identify genetically engineered food just by looking at it. Without labeling citizens are denied what should be their fundamental right.

     There is a need for labeling genetically engineered foods for many reasons. There are many risks that involve not labeling and the consumers don’t want to be in risk. The government should regulate that all genetically engineered foods should always be labeled.