The debate over whether Americans should be aware of what their food is and where and where it comes from continues in “Food Wars: The Debate Over GMO Labeling.” Today, more than 70% of the food on supermarket shelves contains some level of genetically modified ingredients. At least 88% of corn, cotton, soybean and canola crops are genetically modified. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers GM crops “essentially equivalent” to conventionally grown crops and does not require overall labeling.
No studies have pointed to specific cases of illness from eating GMOs, but as Terra Organics owner Stephen Trinkaus explains, we don’t have enough long-term data to determine whether there have been fewer immediate negative effects or stemmed from our Foods that tinker with their ingredients on a genetic level. Allergies develop, cancer spreads—those things don’t show up right away, but could be linked to GMOs.
The goal of most GM food research and modification is to make them more tolerant to herbicides and increase crop yields—reasonable aspirations. Many of the products they contain are processed varieties — biscuits, chips, crackers, cereal. The current debate is not at all whether they should exist, but whether producers of these foods should be forced to differentiate their products from non-GMO products on labels where consumers make decisions.
The film sheds light on this issue by taking us to real farmers who grow our food, many of whom insist that GMOs pose no greater risk to those who eat them. There are also many points of view consistent with advocating the introduction of GMOs that have not yet been introduced – such as heart healthy oils in wheat are minor improvements that may come from new crop varieties that could well improve our des quality of life. No matter where you stand on the issue, Washington’s food fights are sure to put you in a better position to make your point.
