“Genetically modified (GM) foods and those foods containing genetically engineered ingredients should be labeled.”
I strongly agree. Animal studies suggest that there are long term health risks with consuming GMOs (genetically modified organisms). The only feeding study done with humans showed that GMOs survived inside the stomachs of the people who ate the food. No follow up studies have been done.
Anecdotal records indicate that there are GMO links to allergies and illnesses. The health risks that have been suggested for research are: potential allergens, toxins, carcinogens, new diseases, antibiotic resistant diseases, and nutritional problems.
Currently commercialized GM crops in the U.S. include soy (94%), cotton (90%), canola (90%), sugar beets (95%), corn (88%), Hawaiian papaya (more than 50%), zucchini and yellow squash (over 24,000 acres).
Furthermore, products derived from the above, including oils, soy protein, soy lecithin, cornstarch, corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup among others, may cause these same issues. Other products include: meat, eggs, and dairy products from animals that have eaten GM feed (and the majority of the GM corn and soy is used for feed); dairy products from cows injected with rbGH (a GM hormone); food additives, enzymes, flavorings, and processing agents, including the sweetener aspartame and rennet used to make hard cheeses; and honey and bee pollen that may have GM sources of pollen.
My position is that GMO foods should be labeled so that people can make informed decisions about whether or not to buy these items. More information can be found at the website of the Institute for Responsible Technology: http://www.responsibletechnology.org/