Are Genetically Modified Foods Safe? Essay

Ten thousand years back at the starting of farming, humans picked up traits, adapted and evolved due to selective breeding and artificial selection. Selective breeding modified human nature repeatedly throughout numerous generations. Many characteristic traits were determined by genes and today’s day and age scientists can use those exact genes to shift around ‘cut-and-paste’ an organism’s genes into another. By snipping those genes scientists can precisely select the exact trait that will be pasted into another plant, animal or bacteria, creating then a genetically modified organism. From that point on scientist developed, engineered and adapted genetically modified organisms, introducing them into our everyday lives seamlessly. Bacteria that can create medication-grade drugs, insecticide-producing crops, seedless watermelons and grapes and even a purple tomato that fights off cancer. As years passed by and the presence of genetically modified foods became more and more predominant, public awareness of the use and engineering of genetically engineered foods increased and calls for regulation rose to question. The negative perception of genetically modified food can only be changed by governmental and corporal transparency as well as media segments disseminating valid information to the public. After all, the term ‘genetically modified foods’ alone is capable of so much commotion and frenzy. However, the question remains on just how safe are genetically modified foods, what type of health hazards does it impose in a long-term standpoint, and lastly, how is it regulated?

People around the world have a wide range of questions and opinions about genetically modified organisms’ health impacts. How safe is genetically modified food? What is the purpose of genetically engineered crops? Several claims have been made, extensive research was done that extol both the benefits and the risks that genetically engineered crops have created a confusing landscape for the public. Scientists can modify a certain plant, introducing a new trait to it, making this particular plant more resistant to the elements, pests, droughts, reducing the amount of pesticides needed to produce better quality and at a faster rate. When researching about genetically modified foods some negative effects stand out, such as poor yields, strong effects on human and animal health, increased use of pesticides and herbicides, the creation of super-weeds, as well as negative impact on farmers and producers of crops that are not genetically engineered and chooses to remain on the 'organic' business. Some positive facts of genetically modified foods are the reductions of pesticide use; reduction of crop loss from pests and weeds, in addition genetically modified organisms prolongs crop longevity, giving producers more time to export their goods and also higher nutrition value. Not only just nutritional value, according to Belfast Telegraph, purple cancer-fighting tomatoes has been genetically engineered by British scientists. The fruit has already been shown to extend the lives of cancer-prone mice. In Italy in 2008, Dr. P. Perata crossed wild species of tomatoes and came out with a black tomato also. Now when comparing the GM black tomato to a non-GM black tomato, the genetically modified tomato was not just produced by curiosity, it was tested on cancer-prone mice and it was determined anticancer properties. The non-genetically modified tomato was not tested and the black rue on the tomato is just for cosmetic appeal. In the genetically modified black tomato, two genes were taken from dragon fruit and introduced into a normal tomato. While in the other tomato, it is unknown how many genes were crossed to come to a black skin tomato. Probably hundreds and none of those genes were tested. The genetically modified black tomato with anticancer properties is not on the market for sale, merely because of the fact that it is a genetically modified food. The cost of the release into the market is estimated at millions of euros. The ordinary untested black tomato can be bought in supermarkets around the world because no testing is required. So, the question remains, why is that so? Because one is bred by traditional method and the other tomato is not. But the media still disseminates that GMO’s are causing cancer.

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Amongst many positive and negative aspects of GM food, awareness grew more and more within society. Calls for regulation of GM foods became hard to ignore by the FDA, resulting in labeling requirements for GE food in many countries. Today 64 countries have mandatory labeling laws. (Lefebvre, 2019). Lack of appropriate information dissemination is a disservice to society because that directly impacts societies’ views on the matter. Media coverage on this technology is almost always bad. The media covers all sorts of strikes and angry people in the streets yelling “Say no to GMO”, always loud and very upset, therefore instinctively, the audience deliberates that there must be something appalling about it. Well, the NBFDS requires standardization for the labeling of products containing GM ingredients (Gostin, 2016). The NBFDS published a federal regulation which requires that, subject to certain limitations and exemptions, foods must bear a specified disclosure by January 2022 if it contains ingredients on the USDA’s list of bioengineered foods or are otherwise known to be bioengineered (Lowe, 2019).

It is difficult to avoid products containing GMOs. Everything from soda to cereal, fruits, even cotton. One worthy illustration that is very applicable is fruits. Strawberries, berries, avocados, for instance, genetic breeding allows them to remain ripe and plum throughout numerous weeks of shipping and dark storage. From a consumer standpoint, it can become extremely complicated trying to figure out which food is natural and which food is genetically engineered. Overall, an easy way to think about it, if it is ‘junk food’ chances are it is genetically modified. Only nine crops in the United States are currently being genetically modified. Corn, canola, soybeans, cotton, sugar beets, alfalfa, Hawaiian papaya, zucchini, and yellow squash. However, several of these are used as ingredients in processed foods, junk or fast foods.

One of the population's common objectives against GMOs is gene flow, meaning genetically modified crops would mix with traditional crops and produce new, unwanted characteristics to them. Correspondingly, genetically mutated plants incautiously mixing with other genetically mutated plants in an endless cycle. Who is to say scientists will not lose track of the original form of that particular plant, causing then the complete extinction of that exact plant.

Among ample researches, articles, case studies, it is still challenging to come to a conclusion from a customer point of view, the question if GMOs are safe for human consumption remains, numerous scientists are against it and countless are in favor of. Some countries prohibit the production of genetically modified food and some other countries exponentially consume those products. There is no consensus on whether bioengineered foods are safe for human consumption according to Hilbeck (2014): “The joint statement developed and signed by over 300 independent researchers, and reproduced, does not assert that GMOs are unsafe or safe. Claims of consensus on the safety of GMOs are not supported by an objective analysis of the refereed literature”. Leaving the ultimate choice up to the consumer.

When making the decision on whether or not to purchase bioengineered food, the consumer might have a series of questions arise, such as how GMOs are digested and broken down by the human bodies. A human intestine’s ability to digest food is impaired by certain toxins in GMOs, causing intestinal permeability. “The results of most studies with GM foods indicate that they may cause some common toxic effects such as hepatic, pancreatic, renal, or reproductive effects and may alter the hematological, biochemical, and immunologic parameters” (Dona, 2009). If bioengineered foods really do cause all these diseases, naturally the FDA would have many policies in place to regulate the GMO market. Nonetheless, when it comes to regulations it is actually incredibly frightening to keep researching about it, the consumer is left uncertain of what is being bought at the grocery store. FDA overlooks GMO crops, there are currently no laws regulating genetically modified organisms at the moment in the US. Hopefully with this new federal law being imposed by the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, it applies to food manufacturers and importers, and also retailers who package and label food for retail sale or sell bulk food items.

Lastly, if one was to opt-out of a GM food diet, it is very understandable because other countries currently prohibit the production and marketing of genetically modified foods. This alone is a major red flag for the countries that still continue to incorporate these aliments in its store’s shelves, like the United States. If it is unknown or unproved that bioengineered foods do cause health issues, the production of such should be suspended until scientists are certain and come to a universal consensus that it is safe for long term human consumption. Labeling of genetically modified food is the right thing to do merely because the population has the right to know. Furthermore, another point that is worth mentioning is the currency value of non-genetically modified foods. If one chooses to eat a genetically modified food-free diet, it can directly be dictated by that person's acquisition power. Non-genetically modified foods or sometimes labeled as organic are priced much higher, making that certain lifestyle out of reach for lower-class families. FDA should step in to regulate safe genetically modified food production based on research and hard evidence. With that the consumer will not be left with an enormous question mark when deciding whether to consume or not genetically modified food or its derivatives. This war that is happening is unknown to many, to support or not genetically modified foods is a decision that has to be knowledge based. Conversely it cannot be denied that this technology was created to help human kind, with the exponential population growth, to make agriculture sustainable and at the same time to protect the environment.

References

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