Is Labeling of GMOs Accurate?

With each passing year, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are gaining prominence, so it is important to understand exactly what they are and some of the related issues. For a plant to be considered GMO, some sort of genetic engineering has to have gone into its husbandry; the most common crops linked to this label are canola, corn, cotton and soybeans. The most frequent modification produces a resistance to the toxic effects of herbicide. The purpose of this is to help farmers produce more crops with less work. In 2006, 102 million hectares included genetically modified crops worldwide, and the number has only grown since. The United States has recently approached 60 million hectares.

One issue that has arisen with GMOs is that there are no natural boundaries. After planting, they can contaminate conventional crops growing in nearby fields. Organic farmers with land nearby often have to incur significant costs remedying the damages that happen when genetic trespass occurs. When wind and water runoff carry spores and seeds, the GMOs enter other fields. There, they generate genetically altered plants, but the farmer who owns that land does not realize that genetic pollution has taken place.

Mixing crops together during harvest is another source of GMO pollution. If farmers lease combines at harvest time, and the combines have not been sufficiently cleaned, GM grains remaining from previous jobs can pollute the new crop. Even one particle can contaminate an entire field. One suggested response has been to develop GMOs with sterile offspring, although that suggestion has not yet borne significant effort.

There have not been any long-term research studies about the safety of GMO crops for people to consume. GMO corn has special engineering to generate pesticides inside its very own tissues and receives Environmental Protection Agency governance as an insecticide. However, at the grocery store, it sells without any labeling in the United States, even though 61 countries representing almost half the population of the world currently require labeling, including China and the European Union. This is one of the primary reasons that, even though no studies have yielded results showing long-term harm from GMOs, that groups are pressing for legislation in the United States requiring labeling. One example that turned out to be a poor choice was the combination of Brazil nuts and soybeans, which manufacturers had to abandon because of an excessive number of allergic reactions. As a result, a number of natural retailers attempt to keep products with GMOs off the shelf, a process that admittedly would be easier with labeling requirements.

Situations of food quality are just one instance that makes microbiology quality assurance so vital. Because of the existing lack of governance of GMOs in the United States, consumers have some risk when it comes to consuming foods that may or may not cause harm over time. There is significant room for microbiology firms to step in and alleviate much of the unease surrounding this element of the food market. Until some resolution comes to the labeling issue, this sort of operation can be a major bulwark between producers and the consumer.

Contact Biolumix to learn more about microbiology quality assurance testing.

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