Annotated Bibliography

Molly Burnip
English 101-056
October 25, 2007
Annotated Bibliography

Betts, Kellyn S. “Growing evidence of widespread GMO contamination.” Environ. Sci.Technol. 1 Dec. 1999. 15 Oct 2007
Betts provides information about the unintentional GMO contamination in the United States. The essay discusses DNA tests used to reveal whether common crops are genetically modified. Many of the crops containing GMOs were contaminated by cross pollination from nearby crops of genetically modified organisms. This cross pollination occurrence can create new hybrids, such as super weeds that are resistant to pesticides. The article is objective because it presents concerns of the public, as well as the reasons that companies cannot avoid contamination. The author uses quotations from marketing managers, the U.S. Agricultural Secretary, and research associates, and therefore covers many viewpoints. This article will be used to provide background information on GMOs and the accidental contamination of supposedly organic products.
Kluger, J. “Food Fight.” Time 154.11 (1999): 42-44. Biology Digest. 15 Oct. 2007 .
Kluger offers reasons to why protestors are making demonstrations outside of McDonald’s in France. The essay is a brief description of the modification of genes in plants that can resist frost, produce pesticides, and withstand herbicides. The rise of this technology has produced and increase in crops, but because it tampers with a personal item—food—there may be lawsuits that force companies to label products that contain these organisms. This article is not biased, but it recognizes the problems with GMOs, and offers labeling as a means for informing customers, rather than alarming them. The article uses quotations from politicians, studies from Cornell University, Germany’s Environment Minister, and the U.S. Agriculture Secretary, and is from TIME magazine, so it contains useful and credible information. This article will be useful in describing reasons for labeling products, and also defend the safety of the GMOs.
Enserink, Martin. “Ag Biotech Moves to Mollify Its Critics.” Science 286.5445 (1999): 1666– 1668. JSTOR. 15 Oct. 2007 .
Enserink offers evidence that British environmental leaders have branded genetically modified foods as health hazards, and that the fate of GMOs are in the hands of the consumers. Millions of hectares have been designated for GM crops; therefore, if the biotech food becomes unmarketable, billions of dollars will be wasted. Unless companies prove that these crops do not present a risk to human health. Labeling is encouraged as a way to show that the companies are confident in the safety of their products. The articles uses information from researchers, food scientists, and the president of a sponsor of genetic research. I will use this article to provide reasons for companies to label products for confidence as well as informing consumers.
Goldman, Karen A. “Bioengineered Food: Safety and Labeling.” Science 290.5491 (2000): 457- 459. JSTOR. 15 Oct. 2007 .
Goldman provides information on food acts and regulations that require foods to be recognized as safe before being marketed. They must pass legal standards and have no potential allergens or toxins. Mandatory labeling of the GMOs could become burdensome, because the transportation and separation of crops that are genetically modified and organic would require segregation and tracking complications. This article is backed by court cases, agencies and food acts that support GMOs. Although this article is subjective, it will provide the point of view of a person in support of the process, who does not feel the need to label GMO products.
Mason, John. “Scientists warn of GMO contamination FOOD SAFETY. (INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY).” The Financial Times 24 Feb. 2004. 15 Oct. 2007 .
Mason provides scientists’ insights that seeds of GM crops used for medicinal purposes could be accidently combined with mainstream food sources and threaten human health, but that the studies looked at the production and distribution (more easily contaminated) of the seeds, instead of the cultivation, harvesting and transportation. The study reported that because seeds are the basis of the food system, contamination of seeds will corrupt the food system. The article was based from a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists, but Mason presented this information while refuting the claims with other evidence. Although this article is biased, I plan to use it to provide information from studies that discourage GMOs, and the opposing opinions.
Pogash, Carol. “California County Debates Use of Gene-Altered Foods.” The New York Times 2 Mar. 2004. 15 Oct. 2007 .
Pogash reports on a local business woman, a former scientist, who proposes a plan called Measure H, which would prohibit the crop use of GMOs in a California County. Many communities in other states have already banned the crops. These proposals prevent organic crops from being contaminated by neighboring GMO crops by cross-pollination. The article uses information from scientists, the county’s Farm Bureau, and agricultural experts. I plan to use this article as support for labeling products, so consumers who want organic products can avoid GMO products.
Knox, Noelle, et al. “European laws requires labels on biotech foods.” USA Today 3 July 2003. 15 October 2007 .
Knox provides information on European laws that require manufacturers to label food with GMOs. U.S. consumers do not show as much concern for these products. Because the U.S. does not have these laws, a trade barrier would be created. Farmers claim that their GM soybeans are blended in a local grain silo with organic soybeans, so there is no guarantee that soybeans are not genetically modified. This article uses information from farmers, a commissioner for the environment, and a representative of a GMO company. I will use this article to describe the laws in other countries, as well as the potential risk in American exportation and economy if GM products are not labeled.
“South Africa; Researchers Find Traces of Modified Food in Local Maize.” Africa News 27 January, 2006. 24 October, 2007.
The author of this article reports that 75% of products in South Africa that claim to be free of GMOs. The food producers were not intentionally misinforming customers, but were making these mistakes because there are no guidelines in South Africa. These findings support the need for effective regulations to be made, because although it is legal, it misleads consumers. In the European Union, organic products must have no GMOs, but in the U.S., there can be 5% of GMOs to be organic, which also misleads consumers. Researchers and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications provide information in this article. I will use this article to provide reasons for labeling products, as well as regulations that must be made so that consumers are not mislead.