In today’s modern america, there are millions of people to be fed. So it’s not surprising that mass produced meats and crops are a staple in our diet. And in order to keep these food supplies stable and sufficient, Genetic engineering came in to save the day. GMO’s (or Genetically Modified Organisms) make up the majority of not only our store-bought diets, but millions of thee products that we buy. These modifications are put in place to keep bugs and disease out, freshness in, and make our favorite foods more accessible than we ever imagined possible. But as with any technological advance, there is a line to be drawn. It is proven that some of these changes can cause more harm than good: causing epidemic outbreaks, creating ecological unbalance, and having very questionable health regulations.
Americans haven’t all turned completely to the mass production of big-company farms. Many grow at least some of their own foods: 83% of people surveyed reported raising their own vegetables at one point or another, about 30% reported raising their own meats. However, in more urban and densely populated areas, these numbers would dwindle. People living in most settings can make visits to farmers’ markets or friends who raise meats and crops. Another 34% of those surveyed reported making periodic visits to farmers’ markets. These are very effective ways to know exactly where your foods are coming from and what’s in them, but the challenge is maintaining this sort of lifestyle. People surveyed were quoted as saying that they simply “cannot afford to buy everything locally or from trusted stores,” and that is a major part of the issue. Locally grown foods do tend to be more expensive, and raising your own foods is pretty high maintenance. So in most cases, store bought, mass-produced, and genetically modified foods are a necessity.
There wasn’t a single person surveyed who didn’t buy at least some of their foods from a large-chain grocery store.This means that these people are exposed to at least some genetically modified foods. These people are inevitable exposed to some very controversial chemicals and genetic anomalies that would surely never occur in nature. One of the more questionable modifications in today’s food products is growth hormones. It’s no secret that humans as a species have grown over time. Scientists recognize that the modern man has grown around four inches just in the past century. though there has yet to be extensive study on the subject, there are some theories that state that this growth can be attributed to the same growth hormones that are in our meats. There are people who think that we are feeling the full effects of the growth hormones that are intended to make our livestock more appealing. let that sink in. Mankind could be growing thanks to growth hormones intended for cattle. Mass produced foods are also prone to outbreaks of epidemics such as salmonella, which has effected 16% of those surveyed.
Genetic modification doesn't just cause issues with people. There are just as many, if not more issues within the ecological struggle with GMO’s. Big-name companies that manufacture and patent a specific genetic code get very protective of their seeds. If any farmer gets caught with a trademarked seed, their crops and farmland could be confiscated, leaving the farmer out of work and potentially bankrupt. Not to mention, these seeds are technically all invasive species. They take over gargantuan plots of land, because the companies who own them harvest them in mass amounts. And once these seeds are planted, they become difficult to contain. Their genetic coding was designed to boost their disease resistance and size, meaning that it would be very easy for a genetically modified plant to take over any native plants, or any other farmer’s fields. All in all making GMO’s very destructive, and pinning many individuals against their advancement.
There is always the option to petition GMO’s, but that would require an acute knowledge of which companies use the most GMO’s, because not all of these products are labeled. The mass amounts of grey-zone around the legal aspects of the mass-produced foods and the largest companies have somehow managed to overlook the importance of labeling. Of the people surveyed: 100% said that they would support GMO labeling. There seems to be a general consensus that people deserve to know what’s behind their food and where it comes from. Even if it isn't always what we want to hear, it’s better to know, right?
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