'Gluten-Free+Water'+Shows+Absurdity+of+Trend+in+Labeling+What's+Absent

'Gluten-Free Water' Shows Absurdity of Trend in Labeling what's Absent

International Business Times February 4, 2018 Accessed February 5, 2018
 * 'Gluten-Free Water' Shows Absurdity of Trend in Labeling what's Absent**

Vermont was the first state to require labeling of GMOs in 2016. Photo: AP Photo (Wilson Ring) @http://www.ibtimes.com/gluten-free-water-shows-absurdity-trend-labeling-whats-absent-2649120

A dramatic growth in foods that are processed changed the history of the world and led to a system of mandatory nutrition labelling that occurred in the early 1970s. Mandating labeling has helped narrow the gap that exists when additional information increases human/consumer wellbeing. For example, knowledge that a food contains recommended daily values of a certain vitamin allows for the increasing of overall consumer wellbeing. However, the food labeling craze, in addition to the broad media coverage about the dangers of gluten, GMOs, and hormones, has led to absurd results, such as now available "premium" water that is free of GMOs and gluten, and is also kosher and organic.
 * Summary:**

This is clearly related to what we have been studying in AP Environmental Science as it relates to the topic of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the labeling crisis that has ensued in the past decade or so. In class, we learned about the positive effects GMOs can have with respect to the need for food in developing nations, and how nearly two-thirds of the food products on U.S. supermarket shelves contain genetically engineered crops, however most of these foods are not labeled as being genetically modified (Miller 273-274).
 * Relation to Class:**

My opinion is that while some labels provide useful information, other labels may contain misleading claims that exploit consumer knowledge by taking advantage of the willingness to pay for a premium water with labels such as "gluten-free" and "non-GMO." I, however, disagree that the new GMO labeling laws signal to consumers that genetically modified foods are bad. I simply believe that they allow the consumer to make an educated decision as to what one is ingesting and is putting in one's body.
 * Opinion:**

A law which is related to this issue, additionally cited in the article, is the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, which gave the Food and Drug Administration the authority to require companies to list certain nutrients, macronutrients, vitamins, micronutrients, etc. and other additional details on all food packages.
 * Law:**