A Response to Genetically Modified Food

The topic of genetically modified foods is one that is similar to the topic of processed foods, which I wrote an expository paper on. Although the paper was informational, if it were a position paper, I would have said that processed foods were not as safe as organic foods. The position Sebastian took on genetically modified foods was similar to the position I would have taken on mass-produced and industrialized foods. Sebastian claims that genetically modified foods are not safe because of allergen and health risk factors, as well as environmental risks. I agree with this position because chemical alterations in food are never guaranteed to be 100% safe. Since we are not all food scientists, we never know what modifications are truly happening to our food.

Genetic modification, which is inserting desirable genes form one organism into another, poses health risks. The first argument made was that allergen genes could be transferred from one organism to another. This could be potentially fatal to somebody who thought a food was originally safe to eat, and was not aware of the allergen. Personally having some food allergies and restrictions, this is troublesome to me. If I unknowingly ate food containing one of the allergens I have, medical problems could arise. As of right now, the main health risk in GM foods is allergenicity. In an article called "Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?", there were some claims of unknown health risks, but scientists could not make any specific correlations proving that genetically modified foods presented human health risks.

Although I believe that genetically modified foods have the potential to be harmful, similar to processed foods, they can be mass-produced. Since genetically modified foods can grow in harsher conditions, the production numbers can increase. I believe this could help solve the problem with undernourishment that is occurring (according to a “World Hunger” presentation given by Faculty Associate Julie Thurlow of the Nutritional Sciences department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, approximately 1 in 6 people throughout the world are undernourished). Genetically modified foods and industrialized foods can be mass-produced and yield bigger products than organically grown foods. However, the health risks that accompany genetically modified foods are too dangerous at this point. Similar to Sebastian's point of view, I believe the production should cease until safer methods are created. Chemical alterations can be helpful and/or harmful; until safer methods are created and used, we should stay away.

Celebrity Endorsed Product

Water is a product that is commonly used and obtained by people everywhere around the world. All living species need it to survive. So who knew it even needed to be endorsed? As if water wasn't popular enough already, the brand Smart Water is advertising celebrity Jennifer Aniston to endorse it.

Every time there is a Smart Water ad, Aniston’s face is present. The Smart Water ad reads: "PURE SPECULATION: we’re not ones to sip and tell, but Jen’s pretty into us (and our vapor distilled purity)". The concept of water being purified, having minerals added, and being electrolyte-enhanced seems a little over-the-top. What happened to regular water?

With that being said, endorsing Smart Water with Jennifer Aniston’s face was probably a smart move. She is a popular celebrity and is known by many people, based on the work she has done in the TV and film industry. Therefore, putting her face with the Smart Water ad is an easy way to attract attention. However, the product Jennifer Aniston is endorsing is water, so it’s hard to tell if she is an expert or is qualified to endorse it, mainly because anybody can drink water and verify that it's good for the body. She may not be an expert in the field of chemically engineering water, but she’s an appropriate choice to use in advertisements based on the fact that Aniston “truly embodies what smartwater is all about as she combines substance and style like nobody else”, according to People.

When I was thinking of a celebrity-endorsed product, the Smart Water ad with Jennifer Aniston was the first product that came to my mind. I wouldn’t necessarily say that people would drink Smart Water because Jennifer Aniston drinks it, but her Smart Water ads may come to mind when somebody is wondering what kind of water bottle to drink, which could lead to the desired outcome. Either way, people have to drink water. Whether they will drink it because of Aniston or because they are thirsty is difficult to know.

Debunking Health Claims

The claims that Metamucil makes about their various products all sound beneficial and healthy. Some of Metamucil’s biggest claims are “Helps lower your cholesterol; Helps your natural cleansing process; Provides a good source of natural fiber; Promotes overall well-being”. However, there are so many claims it seems a little too good to be true.

According to the experts on the Metamucil website, Metamucil can add large amounts of fiber to a diet, can help digestive health, and comes in many forms that are easily accommodating to different lifestyles. Along with this, Metamucil can help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. On the other hand, other experts claim “excessive amounts of Metamucil can result in a vitamin deficiency” and since it can act as a digestive aid, people can become dependent on the product. In addition to these claims, Metamucil is also used by some as a weight-loss product. This is because is contains fiber, which often makes the stomach feel fuller. People taking Metamucil may be inclined to eat less, causing weight loss.

Metamucil contains psyllium husk, which is "a natural plant fiber that is a great source of soluble fiber". The websites that contained the opinions of “experts” made similar claims about the fiber in Metamucil products, which leads me to believe that the claims made about the fiber in Metamucil are valid.

Since some people use Metamucil as a way to lose weight while others use it to increase fiber in their diets, the truth may differ depending on who is asked. I believe Metamucil works as a digestive aid and as a way to increase fiber in the diet because all claims made about Metamucil verify it contains lots of fiber, and the ingredients in Metamucil verify the amount of fiber as well. However, rather than taking Metamucil, I would recommend eating foods such as apples, plums, broccoli, peas, bran cereal, whole wheat bread, and beans. Incorporating more fiber-rich foods into your diet before taking fiber supplements is a safer and healthier option. By eating natural foods, there is no need to take Metamucil and risk developing a dependency on it.