The Pros And Cons Of Honey Bees

If a person from the 1940’s were to walk into a grocery store, chances are they would be utterly confused. The source of their confusion would be the labels that are on the food; rBGH and rBST treated cows, organic and natural are all terms that have become the norm over the past eighty years. The wellbeing of consumers, animals or the earth, does not seem to be a priority for food company heads, therefore change needs to occur in the regulations done by the FDA.
Walking down the grocery aisle today rBGH/rBST labels can be found on dairy products. The two hormones are essentially the same thing. These are both hormones used to spur milk production, making a cow produce more milk than it could naturally (Storrs).Therefore it is very common for
Pesticides and fertilizers are used to increase the yield of a crop. The pesticide Sevin is the third most used, yet it is deadly to honey bees (Goldmark). This is concerning especially with how low the honey bee population already is. Also, the bees pollinate the very crops that are killing them. Not only are honey bees suffering but humans are too. A majority of the pesticides found in children come from their diet (Griswold). In an ideal world there would be no trace of any pesticides in a person at any age, however, that is not realistic anymore. Some of the pesticides used have unknown consequences for long-term health (Lee). Yet these pesticides continue to be used and ingested. One of the most pesticide-laden fruits is apples (Griswold). Fertilizers are used to put certain nutrients into the soil to help a crop grow. As it rains the fertilizers absorb into the soil and run into the waterways. The chemicals in the fertilizers often cause algae blooms making it dangerous for all the species in that water
Organic can be defined as “any crop or animal product produced without the use of pesticides, man-made fertilizers, additives or growth regulators” (Griswold). However, no food can ever be guaranteed 100% organic. This is because chemicals may be in the soil from previous use of the land, contamination can happen at any stage of transportation, and chemicals can blow over from neighboring farms also contaminating the “organic” crop (Griswold). Going organic as a farmer reduces the effect the farm has on the environment. Not using the fertilizers or pesticides eliminates the pollution of land and water. Although buying organic produce costs an average of $4,000 more a year alone, eating organic protects against pesticide exposure in humans (Mientka). Many organic foods have the same or higher nutritional content than non-organic, and there is rarely a difference in taste or appearance (Griswold). This means that the treated foods have no advantage for consumers over the organic food. Yet the producers benefit. The exception of the size and the taste difference is genetically modified organisms, otherwise known as GMOs. These foods are genetically changed to become more durable to less than desirable weather, grow larger and sometimes to have a shorter growing