What Are We Eating? Argumentative Essays Examples

Arguing Against GMOs Today

INTRODUCTION
In the modern era there are many controversial topics that spawn a great deal of heated debate. One of the most commonly “hot topic” issue involves the very food that we eat. Genetically Modified Foods are sources from ingredients that have been altered in some way genetically. These Genetically Modified Organism a, or GMOs, are found in the majority of the foods found at an average grocery store; from the soda aisle to the cereals and from breads to frozen foods. Primarily, GMOs make up the majority of foods whose base ingredients are wheat and, most commonly, corn. This includes the sweet corn syrup. Crops, like corn, may have been genetically altered to make the growth and harvest of the much needed crop more bountiful. To make this happen scientists alter certain genes, which allow the crop to produce its own pesticides, protecting loss of insect damage, perhaps to grow with a lower need for water, or can be grown in more inhospitable environments than ever before. There are many people who support the inclusion of GMO technologies because it is beneficial, especially in a time where world hungry is high. Experts argue that the world will need to produce more than 70% more than it does now to meet world demand by 2050 (Freedman, 2013). However, others disagree with the application of GMOs, claiming that such crops are “playing God,” that there could be unpredictable side effects, that the public was never truly educated on the use of such organisms and that, in general, the public is being forced fed foods that inevitably could be unsafe. The reality is that unforeseen consequences are exactly that, unforeseen. For this reason, there is no way to guarantee the safety of GMOs in the long-term and to generations in the future.

DISCUSSION

Are GMOs safe? It has been considered common knowledge that GMO crops can be a threat to natural environments around them. Introducing any new species or traits that manipulate nature can have serious repercussions on that environment. That said environmental groups have been in opposition of GMO practice for many years (Prakash & et. al, 2011). GMO scientists offer that GMOs are completely safe; however, while no medical conditions can be directly linked to GMO consumption there are statistics that do bring suspicions their direction, at least according to a number of experts. They explain that over the last several decades the health of Americans has continued to deteriorate. People are struggling with more serious illnesses, like cancer, diabetes, and issues like obesity. Those statistics have seemed to parallel and coincide with the increasing inclusions of GMOs in the foods that we eat. (Institute for Responsible Technol. 2014). Could it be that these genetically altered ingredients could be in some mutating or acting in the human body in negative and unsavory ways?
Many American who are opposed to the use of GMOs are bothered by the fact that GMO corn crops have been used for decades, and yet, the public did not really know it. This comes across to the people as if they are being tricked into consuming something they might not have accepted had they been warned (Freedman, 2013). This raises huge “red flags” concerning the safety of consuming these foods; something that they did not want the public to know. Consumers have responsd by requesting legislation that would require the GMO growers and distributors to label the foods that are originated from GMO ingredients. This gives consumers the opportunity to choose for themselves, whether they will purchase and consumer those products. However, GMO companies, growers and supporters argue that labeling infers a potential threat, which they do not believe exists (Institute for Responsible Technology, 2014). All the same, Americans should always have the knowledge of what products they are spending their hard earned money on and feeding themselves and their families.
GMOs are presented as safe because they may not pose an immediate threat. As of this moment, no one has become instantly ill or died from the immediate consumption of foods with GMO ingredients (Freedman, 2013); that does not speak to long term issues that could become a problem for people in the future. But if GMOs can have a negative effect on environment and ecosystems, then how could it not have a potentially negative effect on human beings in the future? When attempting to interfere in the very basic components of genetics, something science has yet to completely understand, let alone master, how can we not worry about the cascade, domino and unforeseen effects this kind of alteration could cause (Institute for Responsible Technololgy, 2014). Again, unforeseen means that they cannot be predicted, that said how can anyone truly hope to convince the masses that all is well and safe. They cannot. Ultimately, which means that the far-reaching, long-term side effects to human development and health in the future?
CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

Freedman, D. (2013). The Truth about Genetically Modified Food. Scientific American, 309(3),
1-3. Retrieved February 1, 2015, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-truth-about-genetically-modified-food/
Prakash, D. & et. al, (2011). Risks and Precautions of Genetically Modified organisms. ISRN
Ecology, 1-1.
February 2, 2015, from http://www.responsibletechnology.org/10-Reasons-to-Avoid-GMOs