What can we demand, as consumers, from these agricultural corporations, who so slyly sell us bioengineered products? Public awareness is key in order to provide the general public with the option to opt in, or opt out. Many steps can be taken in order to help inform one’s self, as well as the people around us. Only after that should an individual feel free to choose for himself. Here are ways in which individuals and institutions can help spread public awareness on GMOs.
Global status of GM Crops in 2004, source
1. Educational Institutions
By the time a child knows the food pyramid, he or she should also be aware of what kind of food they’re eating. Students should be taught as early as elementary school what potential risks occur from the consumption of GMOs. They are taught that drugs are bad, and that alcoholic is for adults, but they are not informed about the potential unhealthy side effects of the biologically engineered fruits and veggies they are packing for lunch. Early exposure to the risks of GMOs can help create a foundation for healthy eating and shopping.
This education should be further integrated into middle school and high school, ideally as part of the Health and Physical Education classes students are required to take. This is around the time that students are starting to make their own choices, and developing their own independence. Part of this process should include informing students of the potential dangers of their food choices. Of course, these information sessions should not be one-sided. Students should also be exposed to the beneficial aspects of GMOs, in order to give them a more informed choice of what they want to do. Educational institutions should provide the means for students to create their own opinions on GMOs, without creating a bias one way or another. If an individual is able to asses the potential risks, and still support GMOs, then he or she can do as they please.
2. Political Institutions
It should be the role of political institutions to protect consumers from the potential risks of GMOs. While many GMOs may be safe, it is impossible to determine long-term effects before mass distribution occurs. It should be the responsibility of political institutions, whether it be state legislature or the FDA, to protect consumers. This protection should come both in the form of labeling — so that consumers are able to make their own choices on what they want to eat, as well as regulating GMOs themselves, in order to avoid the same mistakes they made in the past (see “Health” for some examples of past GMO health risks).
3. Agricultural Corporations
Since Prop 37 failed to pass this recent election, consumers are still left unawares of what they’re eating. Opponents against Prop 37 claimed that it was merely a scare tactic to make consumers afraid of buying GMOs. While this may be true for uninformed consumers, it has been reported that studies in Guyana and Ghana have shown overall public support for GMOs in correlation with overall public awareness. If agricultural corporations were truly afraid of scare tactics, maybe their best bet would be to inform the public in the first place. This can easily be done through public awareness campaigns. If they truly believed in the benefits of GMOs, why not wear the label like a badge of honor?
4. Consumers
It’s important to see what’s in our food, source
Since public awareness of GMOs is not likely to be started through higher institutions, it is the responsibility of the consumers to be aware of their own purchases. While some individuals may not have access to scholarly sources, simple Googling cans till give enough results to provide a basic understanding of what GMOs are. Consumers should also remain skeptical about where they get their information, as both opponents and supporters of GMOs work on their own agenda. Try and look for alternative options to GMOs if you’re uneasy about what you find. While you can never truly know everything, giving yourself a basic understanding of the issue empowers you to make your own choices.