Should GMO foods be banned in the United States - Essay Example

Should GMO foods be banned in the United s? Introduction GMOs refer to bacteria, animals, as well as plants that tend be engineered either for research that is scientific or production through agricultural ways. Genetically modified organisms may have can be termed as health hazards in a number of ways. The harmful health effects caused by GMOs depend on the organism under modification, as well as the purpose for which researchers intend with the organism. Over the years, scholars and various entities have engaged in numerous debates regarding the negative impacts of GMOs on the health of human beings, as well as the environment (Schapiro 97). While some people support the consumption of GMOs, others are in total disagreement over consumption of GMOs. I will argue against the consumption of GMOs. In this regard, I will support the argument that GMOs should be banned in the United States. Discussion Based on numerous studies that have been conducted, the modification and consumption of GMOs poses immense health hazards, which surpass the benefits derived from these organisms. In most of the developed nations, GMOs are not considered as safe; most countries all over the world have also restricted the consumption of genetically modified foods by their citizens. Therefore, the United States should also follow suit and illegalise the consumption of GMOs (Zarrilli 45). Although the United States government has approved the consumption of GMOs based on several studies, most American citizens have refused to accept these organisms. This should be a wake-up call to the government and other concerned authorities who should ban the use of GMOs in the United States. It is apparent that most American citizens wish that manufacturers label GMOs. The purpose of doing so is to ensure that Americans know what they are purchasing so that they do not buy GMOs (Edelstein 118). Those who support the banning of GMOs in the United States cite a number of reasons why the government should prohibit the consumption of these foods. One of the reasons why GMOs should be banned is because they have high toxic levels. When humans consume natural foods, the probability of getting toxins from these foods can be termed as lower than when they consume genetically modified foods. When exotic genes are inserted in plants, there is a high possibility that these plants will become more toxic than they would be without the genes. As a result, the high levels of toxins can be harmful to the health of human beings. Since inserting a gene into a plant alters its production of toxins, humans will most likely suffer adverse effects when they take genetically modified organisms (Colgan 128). GMOs have high toxic levels since new genes have an impact on the metabolic pathway, which is a precursor to the production of high amounts of toxins. The other reason why genetically modified foods should be banned is because they lead to food allergies. In the United States, food allergy can be regarded as one of the most significant health threats that the government should fight. Genetically modified foods cause allergy when there is stimulation of an immune response by a harmless protein entering the body. This means that when the protein in the GMO emanates from an allergy causing source, there is a high possibility that some immune responses may take place in the human body. The allergic reactions from the consumption of GMOs form a strong basis upon which the United States ought to ban these foods (Garte 229). The other reason why the United States should ban the consumption of GMOs is because they have lower nutritional content than traditional forms of food. The value of nutrients derived from the consumption of GMOs tends to be lower than when a person consumes natural foods. There are limited nutrients that can be found in GMOs and the little it is may be difficult to digest (Lee 20). The nutritional value of a plant declines when there is injection of a gene inside the plant. With limited amounts of nutrients being produced by GMOs, there is a possibility that humans may suffer from cancer and heart disease. This is because the nutrients absent in GMOs can be helpful when it comes to preventing or curing these diseases. As such, GMOs can result to harmful health impacts, which may incapacitate individuals during later stages of their lives (Devlieghere et. al. 224). Apart from the impacts that GMOs have on human health, they also affect the environment in numerous ways. Since the advent of GMOs, the use of herbicides has increased considerably. This emanates from the fact that most of the GMOs produced have the ultimate aim of ensuring that crops can tolerate herbicides (Pollack and Gregory 116). The increased use of herbicides has resulted to environmental pollution; as the air is spoilt by harmful herbicides. The manufacture of GMOs has also led to the emergence of super weeds, which become a nuisance to farmers since they reduce crop production. Moreover, these weeds can only be removed through the use of harmful herbicides, which further cause pollution to the environment (Breckling and Richard 28). Essays done by various authors can be regarded as an indication of the harmful effects that GMOs have on the environment, and why they should be banned in the United States. One such essay is “Leaves of Grass” written by Walt Whitman. In the essay, Whitman outlines the likely impacts that technology will have on the environment. He contends “in the future, there will be no more pastures on which people can walk” (McKibben and Albert 62) Whitman also talks of the danger posed by pollution that can emanate from the use of GMOs. For example, he says that he will be unable to strip his clothes when he wants to visit the sea and meet his lover. This is an indication that rivers and other water sources will dry as a result of human action involving the use of technology to produce food. Whitman also brings out the fact that traditional foods are the best when he says that the earth produces sweet things. Aldo Leopold also wrote about the environment in his work entitled “A Sand County Almanac.” In the work, Aldo highlights the need to embrace environmental conservation and engage in meaningful ways, which could protect the environment from depletion. In a way, his work engages the reader to develop some hatred towards GMOs and efforts to modify foods. In addition, he states “there is a need to conserve the environment for future generations” (McKibben and Albert 266). The other essay that documents information that can be said to relate with the use of GMOs includes “Everything is a Human Being”, which is written by Alice Walker. As Alice Walker contends in the essay, “humans have exercised a lot of selfishness to the earth.” It is evident that humans have taken part in depleting some of the earth’s most precious resources. “The harmful ways that humans use to satisfy their desires have an impact on the earth” (McKibben and Albert 659). Human civilization with regard to the use GMOs can be termed as one of reasons why most of the earth’s resources have been depleted. The other essay that criticizes modernity, as well as the use of genetically modified foods, is “The Death and Life of Great America Cities” written by Jacobs. In this work, the author criticizes the designs used by architects in the modern times. Based on the author’s argument, most of the designs used in the construction of cities cannot be regarded as appropriate. “Modern forms of architecture can be regarded as the main reason why the environment is destroyed” (McKibben and Albert 359). In conclusion, it is evident that the use of GMOs should be banned in the United States. This is because the negative impacts of GMOs tend to outweigh the few benefits derived from the use of these foods. There are harmful health impacts of using GMOs. Moreover, the use of GMOs has adverse effects to the environment. Thus, it can be concluded that the United States should ban the use of GMOs. Works Cited Breckling, Broder, and Richard Verhoeven. Large-area Effects of Gm-Crop Cultivation: Proceedings of the Second Gmls-Conference 2010 in Bremen. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, 2010. Print. Colgan, Jeff. The Promise and Peril of International Trade. Peterborough, Ont: Broadview Press, 2005. Print. Devlieghere, Frank, Pieternel Luning, and Roland Verhe?. Safety in the Agri-Food Chain. Wageningen: Wageningen Acad. Publ, 2006. Print. Edelstein, Sari. Nutrition in Public Health: A Handbook for Developing Programs and Services. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2011. Print. Garte, Seymour. Where We Stand: A Surprising Look at the Real State of Our Planet. New York: AMACOM, 2008. Print. Lee, Maria. Eu Regulation of Gmos: Law and Decision Making for a New Technology. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 2008. Print. McKibben, Bill, and Albert Gore. American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau. New York, NY: Literary Classics of the United States, 2008. Print. Pollack, Mark A, and Gregory C. Shaffer. When Cooperation Fails: The International Law and Politics of Genetically Modified Foods. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print. Schapiro, Mark. Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What's at Stake for American Power. White River Junction, Vt: Chelsea Green, 2009. Print. Zarrilli, Simonetta. International Trade in Gmos and Gm Products: National and Multilateral Legal Frameworks. New York: United Nations, 2005. Print. Read More