Day GMO

GMO Presentations

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

A rising number of our foods in the United States come from GMO's. The abbreviation "GMO" comes with a bad connotation. There is a plethora of bad publicity surrounding GMO's in our food. Countries like Germany have laws that any food made with a GMO must say so on the label. There is no such law in the United States. Your food may or may not be made with GMO's. The word "Organic" is becoming more prevalent in the stores. We assume that "organic" foods are made without GMO's, but there are no laws dictating what constitutes "organic" or not.

Your Assignment

-Get into pairs

-Using your phone or other device, research some common GMO's found in food YOU eat

-Once you have picked a food or a specific GMO, sign up for it on this GMO sign up sheet (it will not work on a school computer but works on your phone or other device)

-No group can have the same GMO

-On the same sign up sheet you will also pick a country. No group can have the same country.

-Now that you have your GMO you need to work on a mini presentation and paper together

The Presentation

-You will get up in front of the class on Thursday and present your food. You do not need a powerpoint but if you want to make one you can. You do not need anything. All you will be doing is teaching the class about your food. Your presentation does not have to be long. Maybe 2-5 minutes. Tell us what the food is, how it was genetically modified, why it was genetically modified, and does it have any bad effects? Was it genetically modified to increase profits or to help people?

-Next you will have to tell us about the food label laws in the country you picked.

For example: Are there laws that packaged foods must have all the ingredients on the label? Does food containing GMO's have to say so on the label? And anything else you learned about your countries food labeling laws.

The Paper

-As a group you will turn in a paper that answers these questions:

-Are GMO's bad?

-Should the United States have to label foods that contain GMO's? Why or why not?

-What does the word "organic" mean? Are there any laws about using the word organic or can it be added to any food? What do you think? (What are your opinions?)