Title: “That Fresh
Look, Genetically Buffed”
Author: Andrew
Pollack
Publication: The
New York Times
Date: July 12, 2012
Summary:
A relatively small company named
Okanagan Specialty Fruits is working on a compelling breakthrough in the world
of food. Their fruit of choice is apples. They have genetically modified an
apple to eliminate bruising on its shipping and travels and to eliminate the
browning of apple slices. The problem is getting this amazing feat approved by
the people of the United States, government organizations, and other fruit
companies. Most Americans have been eating genetically modified foods since the
1990’s, but this was mainly processed foods. If this apple is approved, it
would be the first fruit on the market to be genetically modified. Okanagan is
holding a 60-day comment period for the people of the United States on what
they would do if the apples hit the market. Known as Arctic Apples, these
apples would be controversial to the exportation of this fruit to other
countries. Countries could be confused on what apples are genetically modified
or not, and refuse to buy the product from the United States. Even though the
apple gene is just an added gene from another apple, people are still
questioning the safety of the fruit. Okanagan sent the fruit to the FDA (Food
and Drug Administration), which is not necessary for the genetically modified
foods. With these new forms of apples comes the environmental factor; will other
apple farms receive the unwanted gene? A company in Washington State has started
the production of these new Arctic Apple farms, under a permit of course, so
the food will be ready by the time the apples are approved, hopefully. But,
once this gets approved and a lot of money is made, those companies who were
against the apples will not be against them anymore.
This shows an exagerrated image for a genetically modified organism.
http://www.sweettaterblog.com/2010/12/03/gm-apples-up-for-approval/
Opinion:
I
believe that we should allow the use of these apples, but more research needs
to be done. We need to know that the apples will cause no harm to the human population
or the ecosystem around them. Also, we must make sure that dependent organisms
are not affected by this change in apples, whether it would be directly from
the trees, or from the wasted apples that are bruised. America needs this apple
because many people like me do not eat an apple if it is brown or bruised
badly. Many Americans think this way, and that is why America should approve this
apple, for the good of the human population.
Questions:
1. Would you approve the production and selling
of these Arctic Apples? Why or why not?
2. Do you eat apples that are brown or
bruised? Why or why not?
3. Would you buy these apples if they were
approved?
4. Would you buy these apples from the U.S. if
you were an international country? Why or why not?
1. Would you approve the production and selling of these Arctic Apples? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteI think after more research has been conducted on the GM apple, then it should be approved to be produced and sold.
2. Do you eat apples that are brown or bruised? Why or why not?
No I don't, and I don't know, apples that are brown and bruised look gross and I would much rather eat a fruit that looks fresh.
3. Would you but these apples if they were approved.
Maybe, it depends if there are risks associated with eating it.
4. Would you buy these apples from the U.S. if you were an international country? Why or why not?
If I was an international country, I probably would not, because I would most likely be confused as to what GM means and if there are any health risks to eating that type of apple.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/09/17/161295119/if-gm-apples-dont-brown-how-can-you-tell-if-theyre-rotten
ReplyDeleteThis Article is how if this new apple does not brown then how will we know when it is rotten. It goes in to detail about how and the apple naturaly turns brown, and why with gene it wiil not do this in these apples
My opinion on this is that these apples should be allowed because its not a very big change, it is just mixing an apple gene with another apple gene. I think the reason that there is controversy over the usage of the GMO apple is that people are unsure of what will happen if something unplanned happened. There would be less controversy if the government made a set of rules and enforced them concerning selling, transporting, and using the new apple. Further research needs to be done but I think it would be okay to grow and sell the Arctic Apples. Personally I wouldn't buy this apple because I usually eat my apples before they turn brown.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Do you think that FDA will approve of the Arctic Apple, and allow it to be grown and sold? Why or why not?