GMO’s:Labeling of Foods and Other Modified Organisms

Brittney Miller & Sam Allen

Why the Controversy Over Labeling?

Consumers believe they have the right to know what is going into their food

Many people want to avoid certain products: animal products, gluten, GMOs

People believe that it sets off a false alarm to something dangerous

Labeling increases production costs, and possibly the cost for consumers

Pro-Labeling Arguments Labeling will allow consumers to identify

and steer clear of food products that cause them problems.

A majority of Americans support mandatory labeling.

There is a need to advance the science of risk assessment of genetically engineered foods.

Pro-Labeling: Andrew Weil, M.D.

Anti-Labeling Arguments Labels on GE food set off false alarms to

consumers. GE foods have not been proven more dangerous than conventional foods.

Labeling of GE foods would impose a cost on all consumers. For Example: In the European Union, Japan, and New Zealand, labeling GMOs has not resulted in consumer choice, rather, retailers have eliminated GE products from their shelves due to perceived consumer aversion to GE products.

Anti-Labeling Arguments Consumers who want to buy non-GE

foods already have the option to purchase certified organic foods.

The food system infrastructure in this country could not currently accommodate the need for segregation of GE and non-GE products.

Anti-Labeling Arguments Consumers who want to avoid animal products

need not worry about GE food because GE products currently on the market or under review do not contain animal genes.

Flawed language of the labels. For example, a bag of sugar made from genetically modified sugar beets would have to have a label saying “made with genetically engineered ingredient” though on the nutritional label and through the refining process there would be zero protein, or zero genetic content, in the final product.

How Does This Effect Me?

Global Map of GMO Labeling

Labeling Required

Bans Imports & Cultivation

USA Map of GMO Labeling

Maryland Initiatives In MD, just like everywhere else in the

USA, there is a lot of controversy over whether or not we should begin labeling for genetically modified foods.

Just like the rest of the USA, some of our senators are proponents of the bill and others are opponents. This isn’t something that can be solved easily.

Maryland Proponents Senator Karen Montgomery is sponsoring a

bill in which all foods containing GMO’s would have to bear an identifying label starting July 1, 2015

Ariana Kelly is also sponsoring a bill along with 14 other democratic cosponsors

Organic farmers are speaking up as well because, although organic certification bans the use of GMO’s, consumers are still questioning them as they are uncertain.

Maryland Opponents Maryland’s secretary of agriculture is

against it because he claims there is “no proof” that GMO’s are harmful to the human body

Colby Ferguson, government relations director for the MD Farm Bureau believes that passing the bill will only create a stigma on GE based food products- which is a lot of our food.

Many senators claim that they “like” the bill, but believe it is too impractical to approve

So What is Going on with the Bill in MD?

The bill was first introduced on February 7, 2014 and was postponed until March 10th for a vote.

The March 10th hearing was cancelled and no further action has taken place for any GMO Labeling bills.

If the bill passes, it will require that the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to implement the labeling, and proposed that it would be easier to just label everything that is GMO-free.

What Else is Being Modified Besides Our Foods?

Genetically Modified Animals:Glow-in-the-Dark Cats

In 2007, South Korean scientists modified the DNA of cats to glow.

Turkish Angora female skin cells + virus for red fluorescent protein placed into embryo

Genetically Modified Animals:Enviropig (Frankenswine)

Enviropig, or Frankenswine has been modified to better eat and digest phosphorus

Done by combining E. Coli and mouse DNA before insertion into pig embryo

Genetically Modified Animals:Spider Goat

Goats were engineered to produce spiders’ web protein in its milk

Manufactures Biosteel, things for artificial ligaments, and parachute chords

Genetically Modified Animals:Cow Gas

Cows have been engineered to be less flatulent

Produce 25% less methane to contribute less to the Greenhouse Effect

Genetically Modified Animals:Designer Babies

2001, Cytoplasmic transfer

Human babies showed DNA from three different parents

Discontinued because one child showed autism

Genetically Modified Animals:Cancer-Fighting Chickens

Produce cancer-fighting medicine in their eggs

Human genes added to DNA along with complex medicinal proteins

Eggs contain miR24: potential used to fight malignant melanoma, arthritis

Human interferon b-1a, antiviral drug resembling modern treatments for multiple sclerosis

Genetically Modified Animals: Atlantic Salmon

Produced by AquaBounty, growth rate 2x

Atlantic Salmon given growth hormone from Chinook Salmon allowing it to produce growth hormone year-round

Also added gene from ocean pout (eel-like fish) to activate hormone

It will not be required to be labeled as genetically modified and would be the first GE animal marketed for human consumption

Genetically Modified Plants:Scorpion Cabbage

Took poison from scorpion tails and combined it with cabbage

Limits pesticide use and prevents caterpillars from damaging cabbage

The toxin is modified so its “safe” for human consumption

Genetically Modified Plants:Pollution-Fighting Poplar

Poplar trees that can clean up contamination sites

Absorb groundwater pollutants through roots, breaks down into harmless byproducts

When tested, they removed 91 percent of trichloroethylene (most common contaminant)

Normal poplar trees only removed 3 %

Genetically Modified Plants:Banana Vaccine

Bananas, carrots, potatoes, lettuce and tobacco have been GE to produce vaccines

Virus altered and injected into sapling

Cells produce the non-infectious virus proteins as it grows

Once consumed, immune system builds up antibodies

Genetically Modified Plants:Fast Growing Trees

Grow faster, yield better wood, detect biological attacks

Reverse deforestation while satisfying the demand for wood and paper products

Not enough is known about their effects on the surroundings

Potentially spread genes to natural trees and increase wildfire risk

What Do You Think?