When I think of all-natural foods, my mind is filled with thoughts of free range chicken, organic vegetables, and farm fresh eggs. I envision the farmer, tending his crops; the baker selling his goods. One thing that does not come to mind is Genetically Modified Organisms. Everywhere we turn, GMOs are popping up at an alarming rate. The scary thing is that many people are not even aware they are consuming these products. As of now, companies who manufacture GMOs are not required to label their products as such. These foods that are consumed by millions of people every day are still permitted to be labeled as "all natural." Producers of genetically-modified organisms should be required to list all product ingredients on their nutrition labels because people have the right to know what they are eating. Every day, thousands of people shop at their local markets and grocery stores in search of what to make for dinner. Quite often, people gravitate toward healthier, all-natural products. I, myself, feel better if I know that there were no chemicals used in the manufacturing of my food. However, that may not always be the case. While Americans are at home enjoying their whole grain wraps and veggies, they may also be getting a little more than they bargained for: GMOs. How is one supposed to make an informed decision, if they are not allowed to know what goes into their food?
Genetically modified organisms are fast becoming a way of life. Even a food as simple as an apple can be manipulated into something new. Walk down the produce aisle of any supermarket, and there are probably a dozen different varieties of apples, if not more. One such variety is the SweeTango apple. SweeTango apples are a hybrid fruit, not resulting from naturally occurring cross-pollination, but created in a laboratory at the University of Minnesota (Seabrook). The parent plants of a SweeTango are the Honeycrisp and Zestar apples,