Do you often wonder why we have the ripest tomatoes or the juiciest oranges? This is due in part to GMO's. Genetically modified organisms or GMO's are organisms in which their genetic makeup is altered in such in a way that does not occur naturally. Most of the food that people in the U.S. eat are altered by genetic engineering. GMOs have been around since the 1990s and are heavily rooted in our food supply. These foods can include but are not limited to yeast, bacteria, fish, plants and many mammals. The concern of many Americans is the fact that there is no labeling on foods said to contain GMO's and how they could adversely affect the health of Americans. Many companies go out of their way to make sure they put non-GMO containing on their labels but often times do not include them on GMO containing products. If someone were to walk into a Walmart they would have a hard time finding GMO free products but can easily grab a food product that contains them without even knowing it. Many people are actually unaware of what they are eating and how this can affect their bodies. Amy Harmon states, "supporters of labeling argue that consumers have a right to know when food modified with genes from another species, which they say is fundamentally different from the selective breeding process used in nearly all crops " (Harmon 2). That is why it is important to require mandatory labeling of food products containing GMO's so that the consumer will know what is in their food and how it will affect their health. .
Big name food chains such as Walmart and Shoprite should also push for proper labeling of these GMO laden products. Although Wal-Mart met in Washington to discuss genetically modified labeling it is still not enough. While Whole foods is providing the most prevalent selection of GMO free foods than that is where people will go. It became the first retailer in the United States to require labeling of all genetically modified foods in its stores.
