Ethical Dilemma Analysis Paper: Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

For the last two decades Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) have been produced and sold as normal products in and out of stores. GMO products were not required in the US to be reported on labels until recently when the federal government mandated that all GMO products be provided on labels by year 2018. In July of 2016 President Obama signed into law "The GMO Labeling Bill"  (Charles, 2016) which explains that all GMO products are required to have some sort of label showing that the products contains GMO.  The White House does fear that requiring the labels will make people think that GMO foods are not safe for consumption.

Many studies have been presented over the years showing that GMO foods are safe for human consumption and recently the Nations Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine conducted a study with concluding results again that GMO foods are safe for human consumption. The scientists wrote in the study that they found no substantiated evidence that foods from GE crops were less safe than foods from non-GE crops (Lynas, 2016) which means that science believes that there is no connection between GMO's and any major health concerns from the consumption of GMO. 

This study is meant to highlight three different topics. First focus should be placed on bringing awareness to the fact that labels for GMO products have not always been required here in the United States. If examined further you can understand that while food safety is being created food fraud by definition is also being created. Altering food or the ingredients, which go into the foods where there is a financial gain, is considered food fraud but there seems to have been a double standard when it comes to those who have been charged with food fraud and those who produce GMO altered foods. Next awareness should focus on facts that there has not been enough time passed or studies concluded on people looking for the evidence that consuming GMO foods might have some long-term issues associated with it. Then lastly the focus should be that consumers should be allowed to make an educated decision to purchase product which contain GMOs or purchase products that are non-GMOs.  

Read the study.