Unpacking the GMO Controversy: From Cultural Foods to Global Policy

Cultural Foods and Their Deep-rooted Significance

Every culture enjoys food. All cultures have at least one specific National Dish they call their own. Tastes and certain smells can jog our memory, taking us back to a certain period in our lives. It’s factual that we need food to survive. Food also brings us pleasure, comfort, and security. It’s a means of hospitality and religiously symbolic. The preparation of our indigenous foods is often described as being an art form. Our indigenous foods are passed down from generation to generation and make us unique in our native traditions and cultures.

A ruling by the United States Supreme Court in 1980 allowed living organisms such as seeds to be patented. This court ruling affected us as Americans and globally. Global food changed significantly due to this latest ruling. This game-changing ruling paved the way for major corporations by empowering them to control our seeds and crops. Decades ago, farmers saved seeds for re-harvesting and re-usage from harvest season to season. The above court ruling became detrimental to our American farmers by putting them at risk of losing their farms due to the high cost of having to re-purchase seeds.

Monsanto’s Roundup Ready Seeds: A GMO Game Changer

Monsanto is globally known for developing a ground-breaking product called “Roundup Ready” seeds. These seeds are genetically modified (G.M.) and resistant to herbicides. The United States permitted major corporations such as Monsanto to patent their originally technologically advanced seeds. Ultimately hurting our farmers economically and propelling them into bankruptcy. Other key corporations have been noted to “buy” these seeds. Allowing major corporations to “buy” seeds is detrimental to our farmers, as they now are forbidden to re-sow G.M. seeds without purchasing a license fee in order to re-use these seeds.

The Heirloom Foods Phenomenon: Nature’s Response to GMOs

Heirloom foods are fruits and/or vegetables that are organic, asymmetrical in shape, and unrefined. These foods are also known to be much tastier and flavorful. These unique foods are customarily grown on small-scale farms with resiliency to pesticides, diseases, and inclement weather conditions. Local farmers’ markets and organic, gourmet shops carry these distinctive foods.

Kraft is a major American corporation that specializes in a variety of beverages, cheese, dairy foods, snacks, and convenience foods. Its most popular product is macaroni and cheese, and Kraft Heinz is its parent company. Studies show that Kraft employs over 23,000, and their demographic is geared towards high-income, Caucasian, and lower to middle age consumers.

Federal Oversight on Food: USDA and FDA at the Helm

To ensure the public’s safety and health, the federal government regulates food production, providing nutritional and dietary education, guidelines, and a safety net providing food for children and adults with low incomes. The United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are two of the largest government organizations, and they oversee food itself, food handling, food packaging, dietary education, and food services. The USDA is the executive department of the federal government responsible for creating guidelines based on scientific research in order to ensure a good diet. In addition to advice on diet, the USDA provides food for children and low-income people.

Under the USDA, there are three sub-departments: the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Center for Nutritional Policy and Promotion (CNPP), all of which serve to promote the most wholesome American diet. Both the FNS and SNAP provide nutrition programs and emergency aid. The CNPP also provides dietary information that is backed by scientific research. The USDA also has at least a dozen smaller organizations with specialized goals. For example, The National Organization Program (NOP), formerly the Organic Foods Production Act, was established in 1990 and formed the rules and regulations that oversee all USDA organic products, including production of handling, labeling, and enforcement of all organic agricultural commodities sold inside the United States.

Another example of how the two main federal agencies work together in regulating the food industry is the production of a food product ready for retail. The regulation of most food and its packaging is performed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products containing meat and poultry are specifically regulated by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture. Together, these two agencies (FDA and FSIS), under the USDA, oversee the manufacturing, distribution, and labeling.

In addition to federal government controls on food, state governments also regulate the food industry (locally) by licensing food plants, enforcing federal and state standards for various food products, food plant, and warehouse inspections, regulating the sale of dairy products, and establishing labeling requirements on food products. Government agricultural programs also impact the food industry. These programs affect prices and supplies and are under congressional and administrative review. Notably, food produced overseas by U.S. companies is also subject to the laws and regulations of the countries where they are marketed.

The Slow Food Movement: A Global Reaction to Fast Foods

In 1986, in Rome, Italy, a McDonald’s (fast food restaurant) was planned to open near their historic landmark, the “Spanish Steps.” This infuriated the Italians, inciting a revolt against this impending proposal. Italians are deeply proud of their heritage and indigenous foods.
Keeping their traditional foods alive is very important to their culture. Due to this proposed action, a protest movement was formed called The Slow Food Movement.

This movement was designed to support local, traditional foods while hoping to eradicate FAST FOODS (i.e., McDonald’s). In terms of advantages, the Slow Food Movement brings families together at one table, instilling family relationships. Traditional home-grown foods are healthier and more nutritious with no artificial ingredients. The Slow Food Movement promotes native, indigenous cuisines, decreases health issues, and, because the food is made with natural ingredients, is healthier, flavorful, and tasty.

Although eating healthier, natural foods is beneficial, this movement does present many disadvantages, as well. In our busy lifestyles, one does not have the time or energy to prepare natural organic meals. Plus, fresh, organic foods are more costly than store-bought, processed foods. Consumers cannot afford the high price of organic whole food products. Lastly, the Slow Food Movement requires more preparation and is much more time-consuming. At present, the Slow Food Movement has evolved worldwide, with over 150,000 members in approximately 150 countries. Their members and mission continue to grow today.

This concept is a major part of the Slow Food Movement. Conviviality means to partake in the many pleasures in the process of cooking, preparing, and eating meals. It also encompasses the sharing of meals with others at the table. Many native people enjoy the sharing of food and the company of family, and crusade to continue this manner.

Food Banks

• Taste NY: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has been instrumental in launching and developing Food Banks throughout New York State. In 2013, Taste NY was created, emphasizing the food and beverage quality and diversity that are grown in New York. As a result of this newly designed food bank, various events take place throughout New York City, along with the assistance of partnerships.
• Fresh Connect: A second food bank launched by Governor Cuomo is Fresh Connect. A big problem in New York City’s rural, low-income communities is accessibility to supermarkets. In resolution to this problem, Governor Cuomo established Fresh Connect. Fresh Connect makes fresh food available by creating local farmers’ markets that foster healthy, fresh foods that are easily accessible in underprivileged communities. Fresh Connect also increases our economy. “A win-win situation for farmers and for families across the state as we try to provide more access and easier access to locally grown, fresh farm products.”
• Food Box: (Fresh) Food Box in New York City makes the purchase of food more affordable by lowering its retail price to under-served communities.

Manager Certification

This certification offered via The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) extends a certification exam every five (5) years for all food management personnel. On-site training and exams for Manager Certification are easily accessible online.

• FINYS: Educating our farmers about selling/trading their locally home-grown foods to various institutions, schools, hospitals, etc., is FINYS mission. FINYS strives to keep our agricultural economy growing.
• GrowNYC: This specifically designed program is a valuable resource to New Yorkers, providing free informational services needed for improving our city and environment.
• Food Desert & Food Insecurity: Hunger is a big problem in our country today. This condition affects our low-income families who do not have access to supermarkets and/or food markets (Oasis). Lack of funds coupled with limited access to food suppliers is a major consequence leading to serious repercussions. Not knowing where your next meal is coming from can cause mental as well as physical anguish.
• SNAP: another food assistance program designed for low and no-income people living in the United States.
  It is federally administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Food and Nutrition Service. It was created to help low-income people purchase food needed for maintaining good health (i.e., fruits, vegetables, and whole grains).
• Single Stop: In 2001, New York City designed a program to provide food pantries, job training, and shelters to low to no-income families. In 2007, Single Stop USA was created to provide services such as health insurance, SNAP, and financial to our disadvantaged.

GMOs in Today’s Food Chain: The Need for Transparency and Education

It is a known fact that GMO and non-GM crops cannot co-exist. Countries around the world, such as Australia, Japan, and sections of Europe, have restricted, banned, and stopped the sales of GMOs.

The only two countries approving and granting major corporations to manufacture, sell, and profit from GMOs are the United States and Canada. Most people are not even aware of our foods consisting of GMOs because the United States does not require or mandate the use of “labeling. Recent studies declare that no negative effects have been noted with regard to the effects on human health. However, this may not hold true in years to come.

Scientists concur that GMOs can also be linked to developing food allergies. Most Americans are not informed and/or knowledgeable about GMOs, and therefore, our ignorance can be detrimental to our well-being. Also, experiments in Animal Testing have determined that GMOs can cause serious injury to their vital internal organs. I believe that it’s imperative to our physical condition that we stop using GMOs in our food supply and incorporate “labeling” on all of our food products. As consumers, we have a right to know what we are eating, what our food contains, and, more importantly, what our foods are doing to our human bodies.

References

1. United States Department of Agriculture. (2020, July 15). Overview of GMO regulations. USDA Official Website.
2. Food and Drug Administration. (2019). Annual report on food safety.
3. Robertson, S. (2020, June 8). The rise of heirloom foods. The Food Times.