Think back to the last meal you had; Now think about how much food you ate that was genetically modified (GM). About 80% of today's processed foods contain genetically modified organisms, also called GMOs. (Hemphill, Syagnik). If you've never wondered where the foods you eat every day come from, it's time to start asking questions. A genetically modified organism is a new version of a plant or animal created by modifying genes using biotechnology ("What is a GMO?"). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essayToday, more than 40 types of plants have been genetically modified and are available in the market (Network). An astonishing figure: 90% of canola, 88% of corn and 94% of soybeans are genetically modified (“What is a GMO?”). The FDA says there is nothing to worry about GMOs and that it is perfectly healthy to eat artificially manufactured foods. From their perspective, genetically modified plants are just as safe and tested in the same way as traditionally bred plants (“US Food and Drug Administration”). The FDA leaves safety testing to companies that produce GMOs, but the tests hide the hard facts about the dangers so they can take advantage of consumers. On the other hand, independent research not funded by these corrupt companies confirms that GMOs in foods are not as safe as certified organic foods. GMOs have been proven to cause cancer, harm the environment, and cause many other health problems (“The Truth About GMOs”). Banning GMOs would create a cleaner world to live in, without having to worry about the composition of the food you eat. Although a ban may not be possible in the near future due to large corporations profiting from GMOs, product labeling should be a requirement so that consumers can choose whether or not they want genetically engineered foods. modified. So why are GMOs so harmful? For starters, the FDA doesn't manage the safety studies of genetically modified foods; they leave it to the companies that produce them. However, the companies that make them want to make money in the simplest way possible, which is why their results show no signs of "danger". Independent animal research not associated with these companies shows health risks resulting from GMOs, including infertility, immune system problems, gastrointestinal problems, organ changes, and very large tumors (GMO OMG) . If you are happy to eat foods that can cause all these complications, then you approve of genetic modification. The dangers go well beyond health risks: GMOs also endanger the environment, food security and the agricultural system. Spraying excessive amounts of herbicides on crops can pollute the land, water and contaminate our food. Basically, the only people who benefit from genetically modified foods are the companies that make them. If they're not disclosing their studies to consumers who just want to know what they're eating, then there must be something worth hiding. (“Go against GMOs”). Labeling genetically modified foods is the first step toward banning them. Too few people, especially in the United States, are informed about the dangers of GMOs. Laws prohibitingThe use of these types of foods is not uncommon, in fact, over 64 countries around the world have banned their use (Faber). There is no plausible reason why GMOs should not be banned, or at least labeled. . Changing food labels to show whether or not they contain GMOs will not raise prices or force companies to spend more money producing labels. Companies like General Mills are constantly changing their labels and the price of the products remains the same (Faber). Adding labels would allow consumers who are hesitant to consume products containing GMOs to feel much safer. Labeling products to show that they contain GMOs would make big companies lose money, so they try to promote any pro-labeling law (Faber). Some argue that without biotechnology there would not be enough food for everyone. However, the production of non-genetically modified crops in Western European countries is just as effective as the cultivation of genetically modified crops in the United States. Other studies carried out in parts of Africa conclude that the use of traditional techniques improved labor production by 30% more than the genetically modified cultivation method (Cassidy). Today, we produce as much food to feed 14 billion people, for a population of 7 billion (GMOs). OH MY GOD). There are many examples of the dangers that GMOs in food can cause, but industries that produce genetically modified seeds are preventing any change. The largest seed company in the world that produces and sells genetically modified seeds is Monsanto. This company produces seeds resistant to herbicides and weedkillers, using biotechnology. Once the seeds are planted and cultivated, the food is therefore genetically modified. Most genetically modified crops produced around the world come from farmers using their seeds (Kimbrell). There are many unusual factors in the way Monsanto runs its business. To begin, they require each farmer to sign a detailed contract stipulating that they must repurchase new seeds after a year. It's obvious that Monsanto just wants to make money by forcing farmers to buy seeds even if they don't need more (GMO OMG). Citizens who try to take action against GMOs by making laws to label them are being stopped by lobbyists that Monsanto pays. The company spends an average of six billion dollars on lobbying each year. (Sarich). If GMOs are as safe as Monsanto and other similar companies claim, then why are they afraid to label food products? After the earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010, Monsanto donated 475 tons of seeds to Haitian farmers, in order to “help” them in this devastating period (Greenhalgh). Naturally produced seeds are important to the Haitian people; and it was for this reason that they protested and pledged to burn their entire donation. Coming from the people of the poorest country in the world, this outcry should say something about the ethics of GMOs (GMO OMG). If the people of Haiti will not accept the plethora of genetically modified seeds given to them in their most desperate times, then why do Americans eat foods made from these seeds at almost every meal? In the words of Chavannes Jean-Baptiste; the leader of the Papay peasant movement, “Monsanto's goal is to make money, not to care about the quality of the food people eat. Their., 3, 293-312.