Politics of Food position project

1. Hyun Hwang
Food Issue Position Project
SSC. 356 The Politics of Food
Is GMO safe to consume?

2. GMOs? • GMO stands for genetically modified
organisms
• The first genetically modified (GM) plant
was introduced in 1983
• The commercialization of transgenic crop
have been in our food supply since the
1990s
• In the US, the health and environmental
safety standards for GM crops are
regulated by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA), and the US
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
• Since 1985, the USDA has approved over
17,000 different GM crops pertaining
corn, soybean, tomato, potato, wheat etc.
(Bawa & Anilakumar, 2013)

3. Pros Cons
• GMO toxicity gives negatively
impacts on man’s health related
to organ health, mutation,
pregnancy and offspring
(Norris, 2015)
• GM plants present stronger
resistance to current pesticides
and herbicide
• Disruption of the food web may
occur in minor plants through
the altered pest usage
(Zhang, Wohlhueter & Zhang, 2016)
THE PROBLEM?
• GM Foods contribute to
alleviate the issue of
undernourishment, including
famine and hunger, around the
world due to the expansion of
population
• GM food production suggests
alternative to decreased arable
land on earth
(Zhang, Wohlhueter & Zhang, 2016)
• GM crops have been proven
safe through scientific testing
(Brody, 2018)

4. THE PUBLIC CONCERNS?

5. The public’s
MAJOR concern
about GM Food
is corresponded
to their
HEALTH

6. Destigmatizing GMO
(Norris, 2015)

7. MY POSTION
• It is okay to take GMO foods as those are approved by scientific testing and
food related agencies
• GM products create benefits that weigh heavier than its con sides in terms of
global feeding, environment preservation
• Through the GM foods, we could maintain the sustainable food system
• Our society needs a movement to destigmatize the GMO regarding negative
impacts on human health

8. THINK BEYOND…
:GMO REGULATION AND ITS LABELING

9. GMO REGULATION

10. NECESSITY OF GMO LABEL
• Mandatory testing and labeling in Europe with GMO
labeling
• Proponents of GMO labeling argue that information
insures product diversity and maintains consumers’
freedom of choice (welfare effect)
• Opponents insist the cost on the labeling firm and
GMO actually doesn’t cause that much adverse effect
• Under a mandatory labeling program, the label “Does
Contain” should be selected if the ratio of consumers
with GMO concerns to indifferent consumers is high,
while the label “Does Not Contain” should be used if
that ratio is small
(Crespi & Marette, 2003)

11. WHAT ATTITUDE SHOULD CONSUMERS PURSUE?
• We as a consumer should be aware of the real fact of GMO and
know how the process of regulation is under the supervision of
many agencies and policies in order to come to market and our table.
• Moreover, making the GMO labeling as a mandatory to ensure the
welfare effect of the public so that they can get a freedom of choice
whether or not to consume GM products.
• Lastly, our society needs to work on destigmatizing the myth of
GMO and provide the proper information to customers so that they
can choose the right decision.

12. Reference
• Bawa, A. S., & Anilakumar, K. R. (2013). Genetically Modified Foods: Safety, Risks, and Public Concerns-A Review. Journal of
Food Science and Technology, 50(6), 1035-1046. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3791249/.
• Brody, J., E. (2018). Are G.M.O. Foods Safe? The New York Times. Retrieved from
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/23/well/eat/are-gmo-foods-safe.html
• Crespi, J.M., & Marette, S. (2003). “Does Contain” vs. “Does Not Contain”: Does it Matter which GMO Label is Used? European
Journal of Law and Economics, 16(3), 327-344. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1025362808108#citeas.
• [Image of GMO in the first slide]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.deebeesorganics.com/a-science-based-snapshot-of-why-were-
gmo-free/.
• [Image of GMO injection to apple]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.earth.com/news/gmo-crops-real-problem/.
• [Image of GMO regulation]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/gmoanswers/2015/12/21/how-are-gmos-
regulated/#766381156255.
• [Image of Yes or No GMO]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://growlermag.com/mill-senate-passes-new-version-of-dark-act/.
• [Image of researchers result of GMO]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/will-gmos-hurt-my-body/.
• [Image of GMO label]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/ext/resources/images/g/m/o/l/a/d/e/d/d/d/3/GMOLabels_Embedded.jpg.
• Norris, M., L. (2015, August 10). Will GMOs Hurt My Body? The Public’s Concerns and How Scientists Have Addressed Them
[Blog]. Retrieved from http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/will-gmos-hurt-my-body/.
• Zhang, C., Wohlhueter, R., & Zhang, H. (2016). Genetically Modified Foods: A Critical Review of Their Promise and Problems.
Food Science and Human Wellness, 5(3), 116-123. Retrieved from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213453016300295?via%3Dihub.