Purpose Statement: To inform my audience about the dangers of GMOs.

Thesis Statement: Today GMOs are a large part of the American diet and most Americans dont know it, therefore it is important for us to educate ourselves and others on the food we eat.

I.

Introduction: A. You are what you eat. B. Today Im going to be talking you about, GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, their plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses, or other plants and animals. C. Most people in the United States don't realize that they've been eating genetically engineered food since the mid-1990s. More than 60 percent of all processed foods on U.S. supermarket shelves contain ingredients from engineered soybeans, corn, or canola D. Ive done a lot of research on GMOs and was surprised myself on how little I knew about the food I was eating on a regular basis. E. The main dangers of GMOs are there are many unknown long term environmental health risks and there is no enforced GMO labeling.

Now that we know what GMOs are, let me share with the first danger of GMOs

II.

Body: A. Main Point 1 1. There are many unknown long term environmental health risks of GMOs. 2. Supporting facts a. Are GMOs safe? b. As far as we know GMOs are safe for humans. However, GMOs have not been adequately tested for their possible long-term environmental impact. c. Worldwide 40 to 50 percent decline of honeybees in the past year. d. GMOs perpetuate the need for larger amounts of pesticides, thus worsening the development and spread of herbicide resistant weeds. e. There are a lot of concerns with insect evolution. Certain crops may hasten the evolution of insects impervious to the pesticide. f. Gene flow concerns. g. "Genes flow from crops to weeds all the time when pollen is transported by wind, bees, and other pollinators," says ecologist Allison Snow. "There's no doubt that transgenes will jump from engineered crops into nearby relatives."

Now onto my second main point. B. Main Point 2 1. There is no enforced GMO labeling 2. Supporting facts

a. Food corporations are not required to label their products as containing GMOs. b. Many states are considering GMO labeling laws. c. Connecticut and Maine have passed labeling laws, but the rules do not go into effect until other states establish the same requirement. d. The Grocery Manufacturers Association trade food corporation spent $22 million to defeat a law, California Prop 37, requiring labeling of GMOs. e. Big food companies push to label GMOs natural. f. Big food companies want to ban labeling efforts. In conclusion there is still much to learn about GMOs III. Conclusion: A. There are many unknown risks GMOs pose to our environments and the increasing effort to prevent GMO labeling is very concerning. B. Remember you are what you eat.

Works Cited Ackerman, J. (n.d.). Food: How altered?. Retrieved from http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/food-howaltered/ Anderson, K., Pohl Nielson, C., Robinson, S., & Thierfelder, K. (2010, February 02). Estimating the global economic effects of gmos. Retrieved from http://heartland.org/policydocuments/estimating-global-economic-effects-gmos Chan, C. (n.d.). 'frankenfood': There is no escape. Retrieved from http://thebottomline.as.ucsb.edu/2013/10/p-frankenfood-there-is-no-escape Cordeiro, B. (2013, August). Do gmos cause cancer?. Retrieved from http://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/issues/2013august/gmoscancer.html Kennedy, B. (2012, August 23). California gmo food labeling vote could shift u.s. food supply. Retrieved from http://www.environment.ucla.edu/news/article.asp?parentid=15535 Main, E. (2013, November 18). Big food wants feds to ban gmo labeling. Retrieved from http://www.cornucopia.org/2013/11/big-food-wants-feds-ban-gmo-labeling/ Upton, J. (2013, December 20). Big food companies want to call gmo foods "natural". Retrieved from http://grist.org/big-food-companies-want-to-call-gmo-foods-natural/