Why We Should Label GMOs

Ever since California introduced GMO labeling legislation (and Californians voted the legislation down, narrowly), GMOs (genetically modified organisms, or rather, genetically modified food) have been a hot topic in the news. Most recently, President Obama signed a large-scale budget bill that included the Farmer’s Assurance Provision. This provision protects farmers and growers when a previously approved and deregulated biotech seed becomes the subject of lawsuits. Basically…if they have planted a seed, it ensures that they will be able to harvest and sell the grain from those seeds, regardless of any lawsuits or controversy surrounding the seed. However, the controversial rider would also protect the biotech companies like Monsanto (hence the nickname, Monsanto Protection Act) from litigation.

Regardless of how you feel about the Farmer’s Assurance Provision, there is currently no scientific evidence to show that genetically modified seeds are harmful to humans. Yes, some may argue that GMOs have only been around for a decade and that there isn't enough evidence to make this definitive conclusion, with much research having been performed during that decade, there still is no evidence that GMOs are harmful.

Unfortunately, many don’t understand what GMOs really are and believe that GMO foods must be treated with chemicals – which isn’t true.

The reality is that GMOs are just another result of innovation, like so many others. Genetically engineered crops that are more resistant to disease and insects can help us grow more food and potentially even allow us to have LESS impact on our planet.

So why should we label GMOs?

Because by avoiding the problem and refusing to label GMOs we are feeding into the stigma that GMOs are a bad thing. On top of that, Americans WANT to see labels on their food, from USDA organic labels to GMO labels. A recent HuffPost/YouGov poll shows that 82 percent of Americans believe GMO foods should be labeled.

By not labeling foods, you are boosting fears that GMOs are unsafe. However, by providing consumers with the information they want and letting them make the decision would likely result in an increase in awareness and knowledge and, at the very least, a reduction in the false conclusions that currently surround GMOs.

The bottom line is that people are afraid of what they don’t understand and that by refusing to label GMOs, manufacturers are only adding fuel to the fire that says GMOs are unsafe. By being more transparent, they would instill greater confidence in the consumer.

Obviously it would take the right label to reduce the public opinion that GMOs are dangerous. A warning label would kill sales for any foods that are genetically engineered, as it would feed into the stigma that they are unsafe. A label that simply states that the product contains genetically modified ingredients would likely have minimal impact on the buying habits of consumers.

Don’t believe me?

It’s actually been proven in other parts of the world. Elise Golan and Fred Kuchler, in “Frontiers of Economics and Globalization,” examine the role that mandatory genetically modified (GM) labeling versus voluntary labeling has played in countries with small GM markets and those with large GM markets. They concluded that the labeling of genetically modified and non-genetically modified foods has negligible effects on consumer purchasing.