Preview

Gmos and Organic Food

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
367 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Gmos and Organic Food
October 30 2012
Similarities and Discrepancies between GMOs and Organic Products encompass analyzation

Why spend more money on organic food? Why are GMO products lasting longer? These are commonly asked questions which will be explained. By the definition of GMO products, they encompass alimentary products grown from seeds that have been genetically altered. Organic products are those that are grown under the traditional way, without any intervention of Bio-engineering, and also without the usage of chemicals, known as pesticides. The Author, Michael Pollan in both, “Omnivore’s Dilemma” and “In Defense of Food” makes an extensive and detailed analyzation of the production of food now days. The big corporations (farms) are now known as manufacturing factories; where practically all the elements of their production process are strictly controlled. This highly technological system reduces the nutritional value of their products and in many cases their flavor as well, but it guarantees high volumes and longer shelf life of the products. An example of a food that would be known as a GMO would be tomatoes, which would be less healthy and again it wouldn’t taste the same as an organic one.
Organic products are grown by small farmers according to old farming techniques. These products do not need the addition of micronutrients like GMOs; they maintain all the nutritional values and the original taste. Unfortunately, small farmers can not satisfy the demand that the market needs, let alone, the prices are higher. For example, if you were to sell organic tomatoes, you would have to need to sell them locally. If a company such as organic valley were to be ship organic products from California to New York, with them having shorter expiration date, they would end up going bad. It would be hard for everyone to have the budget to buy and eat organic food; even expensive restaurants don’t use organic food. So, what is better? Feeding a large growing population

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    I gained different knowledge about organic food along with the benefits of it. Non-organic food contain pesticides and plenty of food additives. 100% Organic is made with none of that it’s made all naturally so for example its made with no food supplements and no pesticides. In the food and recipes feature stories section John Reganold, a professor of soil science at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, states, "If you 're talking about pesticides, the evidence is pretty conclusive. Your chances of getting pesticide residues are much less with organic food.” For example in a regular industrial farm where they plant crops they use pesticides along with food supplements for it to grow faster and for it to taste better. Now in organic farming where they grow crops or raise animals there are no pesticides or food supplements used in to make them grow faster, it was…

    • 1755 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Food Police Summary

    • 2195 Words
    • 9 Pages

    They aren’t better tasting, nor do they have anymore health benefits than nonorganics. Organics do tend to use fewer pesticides, though they do still use them, and pesticide related health risks are not nearly as imperative when compared to other problems out there. Depending on yields and how much farmers are using conservation tillage practices that traditional farmers are already using, there is a chance that organic farming could possibly be somewhat better for the environment. We should all keep one thing in mind: organic foods just cost more. The absurdity here is that the food police have made food into a “status-seeking game” while at the same time wondering why exactly the poor don’t consume enough nutritious food. Even teachers at our kids’ schools find places in their schedules to bring up eating organic, buying local, and recycling. New York Times asked one mother about her child’s schools’ push to “go green” and she said that, “the social pressure her children felt regarding recyclable products was palpable.” She had caught her child’s teacher’s attention when she chose to use plastic bags inside of a lunchbox. She said, “That’s when the kids have meltdowns, because they don’t want to be shamed at school.” This type of “status-seeking” consumerism occurs when we purchase things just to better our reputations. Instead of avoiding this type of attitude, the food police encourage it (Lusk, The Food…

    • 2195 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    When people look at an organic product, the first thing they are most likely to notice is its cost. Which, under normal circumstances, is remarkably higher than average products. Since people have the misconception that the word "organic" on food labels means "all natural," they accepted this phenomenon as a necessary price to pay for a healthy life, but it merely indicates that the product is minimally processed and is preservative free. The true reason behind the intimidating price of organic product is because organic production prohibits the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides as well as genetic manipulation of plants. These standards require greater labor input from organic farmers to provide a purer product, and at the same time help to protect our environment.…

    • 818 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ever wonder what truly goes in to the food that is produced and sold in our grocery stores. You would be surprised as to what is used to grow the food we eat. Conventionally grown foods can use trace amount of nicotine and arsenic to keep food pest free. Conventionally grown food can be pumped with hormones that allow the crops and animals to grow larger or produce more fruit and vegetables. By using all of the artificial products in conventionally grown food we change the flavor, size and color of fruit, vegetables and animals, including their byproducts. People may not realize what is used to grow these huge vegetables and chicken breasts. Organically grown food is not only tastier but also has more health benefits when compared to conventionally grown food. We will discover the benefits and disadvantages to both organic and conventionally grown food. This will provide the reader with tools to make a decision on to whether to use organic or conventionally grown food.…

    • 961 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In his essay “The Organic Fable,” Roger Cohen argues that there is little to no difference between organic foods and regular foods. He says, “Organic has long since become an ideology,” says it is branding, not science, and says we need genetically modified food anyway to feed more people. He also says it is an, “obsession of an upper middle class,” and compares buying organic foods to, “paying to send your kids to private school.” I believe, though, that his argument is biased and inconsistent, because of his existing dislike for organic foods and his praising of organic foods at times in his essay.…

    • 619 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Gmo Research Paper

    • 1726 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Someone out there has probably wondered why their tomatoes which they bought at a supermarket, taste different than the tomatoes at a farmers market. Well to answer that curious person, the tomatoes from the supermarket are most likely Genetically Modified. Genetically Modified foods (GM foods) are organisms in which genetic material (DNA) have been altered in a way that is not natural. Basically they are inserting genes of another species into their DNA, the process is known as biotechnology. 45 percent of corn and 85 percent of soybean are genetically modified. Fulton states that “some 70-90 percent of processed food is genetically modified and has been that way for years” (“Politics Heating Up Over…”). The first GM plant was produced in 1983, an antibiotic resistant tobacco. In 1990 the first GM cotton was produced, from then on scientists and farms have tied to make everything genetically modified. It is important for people to understand what they are eating and how it was made.…

    • 1726 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Speech of Gmos

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages

    You can see that genetically modified foods can’t be good for you. Now lets look at the ways organic foods can benefit you and where you can find them, if you are interested in living a more healthy lifestyle.…

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The controversial issue of genetically modified foods, commonly known as GM’s, has only gained the attention of millions, since it became a prominent and highly debated global issue. Genetically modified foods are created when the genes of an organism are engineered and modified to create a new or enhanced version of that organism. The process of using different genes from different sources to genetically modify foods led to public outcry and sometimes, praise. People in support of genetically modified foods claims it will enhance the quality of the food, improve the food’s resistance to pests and other harmful elements, lower food costs, and also increase food security for the future. However, those opposed to genetically modified foods claim…

    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Most organic food cost more than conventional food products. Higher prices are due to more expensive farming practices and more strict government regulations. Because organic farmers don't use herbicides or pesticides, many tools that control weeds and pests use more labor and man power. Conventionally grown food may be more cost effective, especially when you’re on a budget, but remember ‘you always get what you pay for’.…

    • 365 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What Are We Really Eating?

    • 1152 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Organic Food is the agricultural produce that farmers make on the country 's regulation and without agricultural chemicals and fertilizer .Organic Food is very safety for human body, and contains much more vitamins, calcium, and iron than non-organic one. organic food 's taste and smell are richer than that one. For these reasons, the popularity of organic food is developing. But when making it, it costs much to protect from harmful insect. Organic food has both a popular meaning, and, in some countries, a legal definition. In everyday conversation, it usually refers to all "naturally produced" foods, or the product of organic farming. As a legal term, it means certified organic. The distinction is important, as the two definitions can represent quite different products.…

    • 1152 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Organic vs. non organic

    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages

    There is a vast majority of food in our world today, when we consume this food we must stop to think about what exactly it is made of. In today’s society we are always looking for the best healthy foods that are available to us. We want good, nutritious, healthy foods so that we can live a long and healthy life. We live in a world where we have fast, cheap and processed foods all around us. Have you ever considered going a different route? Organic is a different way to eat, a way that could change the way you live your life. While all types of foods are beneficial to the body, organic and non organic foods differ in the way that they are farmed, grown, and packaged. This information can hopefully give you an insight to a better way of life.…

    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    I, initially, didn’t buy into the hype of organically grown food and saw it as another scheme companies had come up with to pilfer the paltry amount of money most individuals have in their pocket. To be frank, organically grown food isn’t nutritionally better than regular foods; in fact, some regular foods can be genetically modified to have higher concentrations of nutrients so organic loses in that regard. However, one of the main reasons why I advocate for organic food (if you have the means) is that its safer for your long term health and below are my reasons why.…

    • 272 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Since the 1980's scientists have been altering crops, including some of the food we eat (Fairly & Gaskins, 2000). Genetically modified food has always been a concern for many people. I find the concerns to be unwarranted because there has never been a negative health report due to the fact of consuming GM foods. Biotechnology gives us the best means for solving the world's food shortage now and in the future. Genetically modified crop plants are now grown on nearly 150 million acres in the United States alone, helping farmers to increase yields, reduce pesticide spraying, and save topsoil (Conko & Miller, 2011). What are we actually eating? Looking at ingredients on the back of a product was almost considered out of the ordinary ten to fifteen years ago. But now it is one of the most important factors in the decision on whether or not a consumer will buy the product. In all the research I conducted there was never a proven harmful effect from genetic engineering. However, the benefits are scientifically proven which gives genetically modified crops the advantage over traditional farming. The proposed ideas and research by scientist show that a lot more can be done with GM food other than eating it. Globalization of GM crops is becoming apparent as well as GM crop commercialization.…

    • 1786 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Organic Food has many different positive aspects whereas Non-Organic food has many negatives involving one's body. The Organic Food industry is a multi-billion dollar growing industry which attracts more and more buyers from all over. Over the years, Organic food markets and shops have risen to cater to those who prefer more natural and holistic foods. In the society we live in, many Americans are making less and less money. Not everyone can afford organic food, so they buy what they can afford. Non-Organic food is naturally cheaper because they pose threats to the human body. Non-Organic food is sprayed with pesticides and other hormones to preserve the food for longer periods of time. Working in a Organic Market, I’ve grown to learn the importance…

    • 136 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Anyone who shops for groceries has to make decisions on what food to buy and they usually do not think about where the food is coming from. When it comes to healthier food choices, most of the time these are being shipped from a farm. However, not all farming can benefit the consumer purchasing their products. One of the biggest debates is on modern farming and the usage of things such as chemicals and hormones to produce quality agriculture and crops. Many are concerned of how these treatments may affect their health. A solution to this issue would be for farms to switch over to organic farming. Organic farming is focused on using natural methods for fertilizer and pesticides, soil regeneration, water conservation, animal welfare, and farming in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Consumers should consider purchasing organic farmed foods because it’s nutritious, free of toxic chemicals, and affordable.…

    • 778 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays