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GMO Food Labeling

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Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Ethics

Synonyms

Genetic engineering and food labeling; Genetically modified organisms; Transgenic crops and food labeling

Introduction

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms made using recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology, also referred to as genetic engineering or gene-splicing. This technology involves using individual genes from a source organism to modify the living DNA of a target organism from a different species, which can be an animal, plant, or microorganism. Producers are thus able to overcome the species barrier, a natural limitation of traditional methods of genetic improvement such as plant hybridization. First developed in 1973, transgenic techniques have been used to create disease-, pest-, and herbicide-resistant crops, faster-growing animals, and plants with enhanced nutritional properties (NAS 2010; Blatt 2008).

Countries vary widely in how GM food products are labeled and regulated. Over 40 nations currently require all foods with GM ingredients above a certain...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy and Religion, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5015, 39406-0001, Hattiesburg, MS, USA

    Prof. Samuel V. Bruton

Authors
  1. Prof. Samuel V. Bruton
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Correspondence to Samuel V. Bruton .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Michigan State University Dept. Philosophy, East Lansing, Michigan, USA

    Paul B. Thompson

  2. University of North Texas Dept. Philosophy & Religion Studies, Denton, Texas, USA

    David M. Kaplan

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Bruton, S.V. (2013). GMO Food Labeling. In: Thompson, P., Kaplan, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Ethics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6167-4_320-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6167-4_320-2

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  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6167-4

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