I have had an interest in genetically modified organisms, short termed GMOs, since my first biology class in high school when my teacher introduced them to me. GMOs are organisms that have been genetically altered/engineered in laboratories to carry modified genes that hold certain desirable characteristics such as herbicide resistance. Since then I've had GMOs in the back of my mind every time I go to the grocery store. The topic of labeling GMO's is highly debated throughout the United States. Personally I believe I have a right to know what food being produced for me is a natural product or has been altered in a laboratory. Though I don't know if I've had any personal experience with GMO's, I believe if I had the option to choose between purchasing a GMO or a naturally grown product, I would pick the latter as I do not want to eat something from a laboratory. I have researched genetically modified organisms many times for other research purposes and have written scientific papers on them, collecting a good amount of knowledge. Many research papers on genetically modified organisms are available to me which will further my knowledge on them. 

In the article, "The Case for Labeling GMOs" by Andrew Kimbrell, Kimbrell addresses the point that labeling of GMO's should be required for stores and gives evidence that over 70 percent of processed foods produced in stores contains genetically modified ingredients. Kimbrell states that in Washington state, food and chemical corporations together have raised over $20 million in order to defeat a GMO labeling initiative vote in 2013. Kimbrell makes it clear for the audience that if GMO labeling does not go into effect, then society will not know if what they are consuming is what it is perceived to be; society will be in the dark. People have a right to know if they are purchasing a natural product or a laboratory product, denying labeling is denying society's right to know. Kimbrell is an executive director at the Center for Food Safety, for which their goal is protecting human health and the environment. Since GMOs are not natural Kimbrell is going to have bias towards labeling GMOs for society. 

The article "GMO Foods should be Labeled, But Not for Safety: Bioethicist" by Arthur Caplan makes a point that GMO labeling is a good thing. Caplan gives both sides of the arguments over GMO labeling, showing that with either argument GMO labeling is beneficial. For those on the opposition of labeling, if the GMO is truly safe then labeling would just promote their GMO product. While those for GMO labeling would have the satisfaction of knowing what they are purchasing and consuming. Arthur Caplan denies the audiences beliefs that GMOs are not labeled because they are unsafe; no research has proven them to be safe or unsafe. Instead, he brings in another question into light, what is so bad about labeling GMOs? Arthur Caplan has a PhD in Bioethics and Health Policy and is a founding head of the Division of Bioethics at New York University Langone Medical Center. Mr. Caplan does not show bias in his article on GMO labeling as he brings both sides of the debate to light. 

In Carole Bartolotto's article "Why Genetically Modified Foods Should Be Labeled", she has a similar argument to Arthur Caplan, in that she states that if GMOs are safe than why not label them?  Since 1996 genetically modified organisms have been produced and sold in stores to society; why is labeling them an issue for corporations? Bartolotto also sheds light on the fact that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not personally perform a safety test on GMOs but in fact they just review the company's own preformed safety tests. Bartolotto denies the thought that GMOs must be safe since the companies don't label them in stores. She brings up instances where in some animal studies with GMOs the findings included symptoms such as immune system deficiency to infertility, along with the population of monarch butterflies decreasing with the destruction of milkweed. Carole Bartolotto is a registered dietitian with a master's degree in exercise physiology and a Master's degree of Arts. Seeing as Bartolotto is a dietitian she has bias for labeling GMO's as she wants to know what is going into her body. 

The argument of labeling GMOs is mainly between big food corporations and the people of society. Among all the articles I have researched there is one common question that is always popping up; why are we not labeling GMOs? Although Andrew Kimbrell, Arthur Caplan, and Carole Bartolotto have different reasons, they all are in agreement that GMOs should be labeled. I am in agreement with these authors, their articles have only strengthened my opinion. After further research, I am amazed that GMO labeling has not been approved as a law for the United States but laws have been placed in the European Union, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Russia and even China ("Labeling Around the World."). There are 64 other countries that have already established GMO labeling laws but the Unites States is still behind and in the dark. 

