The Bioethics Behind Organic and Genetically Modified Food

Abstract

Over the years, there has been research done on many foods and their link with our health. This is one of the reasons why the demand for safe, high-quality and healthy foods are greater than before. People get paranoid when they hear stories about certain foods being linked to a cancer or health disease. There are also people who also question the safety of organic foods. Some skeptics are asking whether there is any real difference between organic and non-organic foods. To guarantee something as being organic, certain standards have been put in place by the various organizations. These standards must be met by food - be it plant produce, meat or poultry - labeled as "organic". Organically grown foods, therefore, that are sold in stores and groceries should have organic Seal. Of course, we cant always be too sure if people really are following that strictly implemented rule. So you may be wondering in what other ways we can determine organic food safety. We already know that organically grown foods are those grown without pesticides, artificial fertilizers, insecticides and other synthetic chemicals. But even organic farmers have admitted to using some fertilizers and herbicides sparingly. They use these chemicals as their second line of defense. As consumers, we actually have the right to inspect, investigate even, the foods we put on our table. If we are pro organic, it wouldnt hurt to delve deeper as far as the source of these organic foods go. Some other factors which determine organic food safety are the following: 1) if the food is grown in soil whose humus content is increased through the addition of organic materials, 2) if the mineral content of the soil where the food is grown was increased through the aid of natural mineral fertilizers. Hence, this article addresses the bioethical issues in organic food and tries to address the issues pertaining to the genetically modified food. Emphasis will be given to the genetically modified food, as the world are debating the decision what facts are important to include to support their particular view point on the genetically modified foods.

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