1002_Group_P2

Position Paper – Part Two

Name: Maddy Dall, HB # 1002, Page 2

Instructions: Please use this form as an organizer for writing your portion of your group position paper. You will be writing the second part of the paper. You should clearly and thoroughly identify possible solutions and the final solution that your group has decided on to solve the problem that you are addressing. You may use your own research and the research from other members of your group. Be sure to follow the MLA citation format that you used when completing your JRP. Your portion of the paper should be a minimum of one page in length.

III. There are many possible solutions to this problem. The possible solutions are:

In order to understand our solutions, some background information must first be known. Genetically modified foods are food products that have been tampered with in some way so that the plants or animals naturally have a gene that acts as a pesticide, causes the organism to grow more than would occur naturally, ect. Studies have shown that rats fed genetically modified foods had organ damage after prolonged consumption of such products, and females given genetically modified soy beans that later gave birth, saw their babies die within three weeks. This is due to the pesticides on plants that are harvested. The pesticide never fully goes away, and is consumed with the product. Genetically modified foods whose genes have been altered in some way have also shown harmful side effects. Gene splicing, how GM foods are created, has been shown to cause gene mutations in the organisms that eat this food. They cause new allergies, and diseases. How can one avoid eating GM foods? It is very difficult to do so since companies that produce genetically modified foods are not required by the FDA to label their products as such. The FDA also does not have strict regulations on GM food products. For instance, a company growing crops can spread pesticide on its products again and again as they see fit. This pesticide absorbs into the plants and stays there. Pesticide is poison, and if it can kill insects, it can harm humans. Pesticide should never end up in a human body, but it does because there are no regulations that prevent it. For another example, there is no regulations on how genetically modified foods can be made. Flavor Savor tomatoes are created by splicing and combining the genes of a tomato, a flounder, and E.Coli bacteria. E.Coli is a dangerous bacterium, and could be potentially harmful, even if just its genes are in food. To restrict food modification, our group would propose laws that would put strict guidelines on the creation of genetically modified foods. The laws would state that food creation and preparation would be heavily monitored by the FDA, so that only a certain amount of pesticide could be used on crops, if any at all. Food could not be bred to be insect repellant. Both plants that are sprayed with pesticide and plants that are genetically modified to be naturally insect repellant have showed that they can damage internal organs and cause health defects in offspring, and regulation would keep this more or less at bay. Regulations should also include banning the addition of bacteria DNA into foods. This could prevent diseases and allergies caused by the bacteria DNA. Another solution would be to require labeling to be put onto all genetically modified food products. This would let consumes know what it is that they are eating, since not providing labeling is violating a consumer’s right to information. This will also allow genetically modified foods to be available to those who cannot afford organic food, and have to turn to genetically modified foods to still be able to purchase them. It lets customers make an informed decision, while still making the cheaper GM foods available. Some will argue that genetically modified foods can end world hunger. However, the same food that saves people from starving could also make them sick. Yes, genetically modified foods are more convenient, but what price are we willing to pay?

IV. The solution I (we) propose is: (This section will become you proposed legislation. Be sure to include what agency will implement your law, proposed cost if any and effective date). You must also state how your bill fits within the limits of the Constitution.

May it be enacted by the federal government that all companies producing genetically modified foods or genetically modified organisms be required to put labeling on genetically modified food products labeling them as such. These labels should also be accompanied by a list of ingredients to inform consumers of what they are eating or purchasing. This law will be enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and will be effective immediatly. The cost will be whatever it costs companies to put extra labeling on their products. This bill fits within the Constitution because it fulfils the right to information.