Reference no: EM132197029
Evolution Salt Co. proudly put a label on its packages of Himalayan salt proclaiming they contained no genetically modified organisms. It shouldn't have been a surprise because salt has no genes. But Hayden Nasir, chief executive of the Austin, Texas-based company, said advertising the absence of GMOs was good business. If a competing salt next to Evolution's "doesn't say non-GMO on it, chances are somebody will bypass that," said Mr. Nasir, who said he also supports such labeling in principle. The U.S. food industry is under siege from consumers' growing demand for natural and less-industrially produced fare, with sales of everything from conventional breakfast cereals to Kraft Cheez Whiz suffering. Part of that skepticism has focused on GMOs, which, according to a vocal core of critics, damage the environment and may harm human health.
Exact data on how many products claim they are GMO-free isn't available, but the number is growing. Of the 33,000 newly launched products that market-research firm Mintel adds to its global database each month, 3.8% of food and beverage products included a GMO-free claim on the package last year, up from 1.6% in 2010. The Non-GMO Project, a not-for-profit organization that, for a fee, can certify that a company's product has no genetically modified ingredients, has logged a big increase in the number of fruit and vegetable sellers requesting its stamp of approval in the past two years, according to Megan Westgate, executive director. Sales of packaged produce with the group's Non-GMO label in the 52 weeks ended June 14 grew 30% from a year earlier to $1.1 billion. The group charges companies anywhere from several hundred dollars to several thousand to certify, depending on the complexity of a product's supply chain.
Describe the arguments for and against GMOs. How prevalent should GMOs in a product be to require a label? Justify your response.
Are GMO foods hazardous to humans or the environment? Explain.
Were the marketing actions of Evolution Salt ethical? Explain.
If companies are required to label GMO products, how far back in the supply chain should a company be required to explore for the existence of GMOs?
How much research should be done on GMOs before being certain of their safety?