An Open Letter

Madelynn Fretto

Dr. Stephanie Brown

ENGL 306

9 December 2016

Persuasive Essay: An Open Letter

Dear People Who Are Against Genetically Modified (GM) Food,

            I know what you are thinking. Why would I want to put a genetically modified food in my body? After all, that sounds dangerous and like your food is being manipulated in a laboratory with unsafe chemicals. However, GM foods are not nearly as bad as they sound, so let us start with some basic information. A genetically modified food is considered a GMO, which is a “genetically modified organism” and the term that is most prevalently used in the media. GMOs are made by altering the genes in an organism, which changes the DNA makeup. Genetic engineering, which is a relatively new field, involves taking genes from one organism and directly putting them into another organism (Goldbas, 2014). Nowadays, GMOs are prevalent in the food industry and “are considered major biotechnical advancements in agriculture” (Goldbas, 2014). These advancements, which produce food that ends up in our local grocery store, include plants that are resistant to pests, herbicides, and viruses and have greater crop yields. An important advancement is these plants can be modified to be healthier and more nutritional, including having more protein and vitamins (Goldbas, 2014). There are laboratories creating meat that is healthier by increasing the omega-3-fatty acid content, which decrease the risk of stroke and heart disease, among other diseases (Siegel & Verity). This is one example of many regarding the added nutritional benefits that can come from GM food. A practical use for GM foods is that they have been used in developing countries to combat lack of food and help the people receive quality nutrition to live a healthier life (Goldbas, 2014). If these GM foods have been used in developing countries because of their nutritional value, why would it be different for the people of America?

*Paragraph Structure: The purpose of the following paragraph is to address the health concerns people have about GM foods. The main characters are GMO crops and DNA and the paragraph uses chained topic strings.

In regard to our health and safety, “every major international science body in the world has reviewed multiple independent studies…in coming to the consensus conclusion that GMO crops are as safe or safer than conventional or organic foods” (Entine, 2013). GMO crops’ safety is supported by the American Medical Association and World Health Organization (Siegel & Verity). There are also concerns about ingesting DNA that is laboratory-made, because this seems like this novel DNA could change our genetic makeup and cause harm. However, DNA is part of the food we eat on a daily basis, whether it is genetically modified or not, and this DNA “is generally degraded by food processing, and…no evidence was found that DNA absorbed through the GI tract could be integrated into human cells” (Entine, 2013). There are specific processes in the body that ensure outside genes from food are not added to our genetic makeup.

GM foods are more common than you may think, and it is not just processed food that is genetically modified. Many foods found in the produce section are genetically modified that you may not be aware of. In the United States, a large amount of soy, corn, canola, papaya, and squash are genetically modified. These crops tend to be modified for resistance to herbicide, such as “U.S. sugar beet production [which] is estimated to be over 95% genetically modified for herbicide resistance” (“GMO Education”). Some of the other common reasons this produce is genetically modified is to make better quality food that will last longer, such as potatoes that do not bruise or apples that do not brown. There are other foods that have some genetically modified ingredients, including bread, cereal, veggie burgers, tofu, and baby formula (“GMO Education”). Less obviously, corn is often genetically engineered, which is used to make cornstarch used in sauces, soups, and corn syrup. Various oils that come from GMOs, such as canola, cottonseed, and soybean, are used to make cereal, bread, and salad dressing (Siegel & Verity). There are also indirect sources of genetic modification in eggs, meat, and other dairy products that were produced from animals given GM food (“GMO Education”). Research shows “there is no difference in the makeup of meat, milk, eggs, or other food that comes from animals who’ve been fed [GMOs]” (Siegel & Verity). Genetic modification is pervasive in a majority of the food we eat and have eaten for years, even the “healthy” food choices, such as veggie burgers, salad dressings, and protein powder (“GMO Education”).

*Paragraph Structure: The purpose of the following paragraph is to address the concern that pesticides are used excessively on GM crops. The main characters are misinformation, GM crops, pesticides, and crop yields and the paragraph uses chained topic strings.

I know there are numerous concerns that people like you have voiced about GM food, which is understandable based on the misinformation provided by the media. This misinformation has caused a concern that pesticides are excessively used on GM crops. GM crops are grown using pesticides, but pesticides are also used on almost any type of crop, whether it is genetically modified or not. Pesticides are somewhat of a necessity for farmers, and yes, even “organic” crops have pesticides used on them. Pesticides are a necessary evil for farmers because without them, insects and animals would ravage the crops and yields would decrease dramatically. Yields are increased with the innovation of genetic engineering, where “some GMOs are specifically designed to reduce pesticide use, such as the Rainbow Papaya which resists the ring-spot virus and saved Hawaii’s papaya industry” (Katiraee, 2016). Though pesticides are not the healthiest choice to be used on produce, they help farmers with their crop growth so they can provide this food to us at our local grocery store.

            Another common concern is the regulation, or seemingly lack thereof, of GMOs and whether they are considered safe when they are sold to consumers. Thankfully, GM crops are reviewed and tested before they are put on the market to ensure there are no new allergens that could potentially harm consumers (Entine, 2013). The FDA is involved in the GMO process more than people may know, and their role is to review all genetically modified foods. The FDA has a program called the Plant Biotechnology Consultation Program where “the FDA raises safety concerns during the engineering process and helps developers identify the kinds of testing they should do” (Siegel & Verity). The FDA compares GM food to the equivalent unaltered food to see if there is a difference in nutritional value and safety, and if the GM food is harmful, the food is not sold in any stores (Siegel & Verity). One point I agree with is that GM foods should have labels stating every ingredient to avoid allergic reactions. This is a prevalent topic in the food industry because as of now, there is a lack of laws requiring that GMOs be labeled, which is what causes much of the fear-based reactions against these foods (Goldbas, 2014). As a person who cares about your health and what you are eating, you need to consider scientific facts instead of basing your feelings and opinions on what the media and public tells you is true.

            The topic of GM foods has often been negative, since the media and public opinion is that they are to be feared. Ingesting DNA that has been manipulated in a laboratory seems like this would alter our genetic makeup and harm our body. However, people need to be more educated on GM foods, and the topic of GMOs as a whole, so they are not living in fear of foods that are found in almost every aisle of a grocery store. The prevalence of genetic modification in the food and agricultural industries is high and numerous studies and credible organizations have supported the notion that GM foods are safe to eat. An added benefit is these foods can be modified to have increased vitamins and minerals and can be healthy options for everyday meals. Science can bring clarity to issues that are obscured by unsupported statements, and GM foods are something to be welcomed into our daily lives.

Sincerely,

A Person Educated About GM Foods

*Word Count (essay only): 1,300

*I would want to publish this letter in a health magazine, such as Shape, Women’s Health, or Men’s Health to target a health conscious audience.

            The purpose of my conclusion was to offer a persuasive takeaway and sum up my argument. My persuasive takeaway and argument was that GM foods are scientifically shown to not harm our bodies, and I wanted the reader to leave thinking that they are not scary foods that should never be touched. GM foods can have health benefits and I wanted to educate my readers on a topic that is often talked about in the media. I chose this form of conclusion because I wanted a succinct closing that acknowledged their fear, but then counteracted it with my argument and persuaded them to reconsider their ideals.

Explication

            My open letter uses a few of the different writing skills and analytic techniques we have learned over the course of this class. My letter was mostly focused on using rhetoric that was persuasive to my audience. I mostly employed logos, starting off with an argument that was based on scientific evidence. The intent of my argument was to acknowledge that people are fearful of GMOs, but then show them through reason and logic that GMOs are not harmful and the stigma should be removed. Many people simply repeat what they hear on the media, but I wanted to urge my readers to use logic and research facts before making such an opinion. You could also say I used ethos, because I was trying to convince my reader of my credibility as the author. I did this by citing the sources of my various statements so they would see that my argument was based on fact and not just something I made up or assumed. I acknowledged the rhetorical situation of my protest by addressing the audience and discussing the purpose of the letter. I addressed the audience by greeting them directly at the start of my letter, and acknowledging their various concerns they may have about GM foods. The purpose of my letter was clear from the start, which was to persuade people to reconsider their opinion on GM foods and show them that they can be beneficial and healthy.

            I consider the mode of protest of my audience to be ineffective. People against GMOs have been seen carrying signs and offering their beliefs on how bad GMOs are for us. I consider this ineffective because their protests are based on feelings and fears, instead of facts. I think their protest would be much more effective if they acknowledged the scientific benefits of GMOs that have been studied, but then offered their counterargument also based on scientific facts.

Works Cited

Entine, Jon. "2000 Reasons Why GMOs Are Safe To Eat And Environmentally

Sustainable." Forbes. Forbes, 14 Oct. 2013. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.

"GMO Education." IRT: Institute for Responsible Technology. Institute for Responsible

Technology. Web. 8 Dec. 2016

Goldbas, Abbie. "GMOs: What Are They?" International Journal of Childbirth Education 29.3

(2014): 20-24. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.

Katiraee, Layla. "9 Misdirected Arguments against GMOs That Really Reflect Modern and

Organic Ag Issues." Genetic Literacy Project. The Genetic Literacy Project, 16 May 2016. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.

Siegel, Kate, and Suzanne Verity. "What You Need to Know About GMOs." WebMD. WebMD,

LLC. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.