Food labelling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Food labelling - Essay Example Basically, a food label is meant to inform a consumer about how a certain type of food is appropriate or otherwise into one’s overall daily diet. It contains pertinent information about the nutritional value of food. Different jurisdictions usually have different laws and regulations governing their food labeling industry, but, most of them are generally similar. For example, all food labels are required to provide useful, accurate and complete nutritional information. Genetically modified foods (GMF) are those foods whose production starts from the introduction of precise changes in the DNA of the organism that the foods originate from. This is done through a complex process called genetic engineering. The genetic structures of foods can therefore be controlled, therefore introducing new traits in foods. Genetically modified foods were first sold commercially in 1994 (Davidson, 2008). The labeling of genetically modified foods is a fairly new and controversial concept. There are jurisdictions such as England where it is mandatory for all genetically modified foods to contain food labels. However, in other jurisdictions such as the United States, food labeling is not a mandatory regulatory procedure. The controversy arises from the fact that farmers and scientists are happy about genetically modified foods because of the advantages they bring to them whereas certain consumers view them suspiciously (McCluskey, Grimsrud, Ouchi & Wahl, 2003). The labeling of genetically modified foods has a number of advantages. First, the controversy surrounding the health issues associated with genetically modified foods gives consumers the right to know the type of food they are consuming and whether it is genetically modified or non-genetically modified. Therefore, GMF labeling will relieve the fear of consumers since they will be accurately informed