Concerned parents and health-nuts alike cry out in alarm as they discover that their favorite cereal contains GMOs. However, these concerned consumers are rarely, if ever, well informed about what precisely a GMO is and what that entails, as well as where the scientific controversy regarding them lies. GMOs are not inherently harmful to humans and instead warrant an individual case by case evaluation. To understand why this is, it is important to know what GMOs are and why we have them, why the process of creating a GMO doesn’t make them harmful, where the confusion surrounding GMOs comes from, and ultimately that GMOs can’t all be thrown together and labeled as good or bad.
The term genetically modified organisms often conjure nightmarish
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Because richer nations don’t currently need GMOs it is easy to denounce them under any possibility that they could be harmful. Because developed nations are not as affected, they would rather just avoid and condemn GMOs seemingly without consequence due to any potential risk rather than actually analyze and evaluate the harmful effects. There are, however, consequences that often go unnoticed in poor nations where the efficiency of GMO crops is crucial to feeding their explosive population growth. Rather than blindly condemn all GMOs, it is important to clarify misconceptions about GMOs so that the debate can shift focus to the extent of screening and testing that should be conducted before approving a GMO product for human consumption.
Much of the public concern surrounding the safety of GMOs stems from the process of actually creating them. This is admittedly not a natural process, which is a surefire way to raise critic’s eyebrows in doubting their safety. However, there is no evidence that supports these myths. The Committee on Genetically Engineered Crops, The National Academy of Science, and the Board on Agriculture and Natural Recourses all agree after extensive testing and observation that there is no additional harm in the consumption of GMO food. The research conducted in animal studies, as well as chemical analysis of the crops, show no indication that GMOs are negatively affecting human health. The next allegation hurled at GMOs is that they may have
Over the past few decades a new controversy has arisen in the scientific community: should Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) be used in modern society. There are generally two sides to this debate: one being in favor of GMO use and the other against it. Pro GMO activists believe that GMOs can help address hunger issues and help reduce use of pesticides/insecticides while Anti-GMO activists state that it is a threat to the agriculture industry, and should be banned. Both sides have several valid points, however GMO’s are even more complicated from initial glance, and may not be as dangerous as some believe.
Perhaps the most controversial element of the ongoing GMO debate involves the potential health risks to those that consume them. Dr.
This article brings about a vital question to the forefront, are GMOs really safe? The article goes on to dissect all the myths about genetic modification and points out the fact that there has been no strict regulation on the production
When it comes to the topic of whether Genetic Modified Organisms (GMO) are safe or not, most of us will readily agree that it has become an issue. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of is it really safe to consume them. Whereas some are convinced that GMOs are safe and improve the production of crops, others maintain that GMOs are not safe and should be eradicated. I disagree that GMOs are safe for human consumption because as a recent research has shown they can cause severe organ damage and fatal diseases. GMOs should be banned and remove from all food sources until they are proved safe for consumption.
Meanwhile, a growing body of evidence connects GMOs with health problems, environmental damage and violation of farmers’ and consumers’ rights.
Generally Modified Organism better known as GMOs are becoming a popular topic of argument around the world. The question on everyone’s mind is whether GMOs are safe to consume and what effects they may possibly have. GMOS while becoming a topic today have been around for years now. Scientists have been genetically altering crops for years now and this idea has been around for some time. Nonetheless, GMOs are becoming the new wave of discussion among many. GMOs are needed today to help the food shortage but first studies need to be done to show are GMOs safe, the impact they have on the environment, and to show what are the pros and cons are.
“All the food we eat - every grain of rice and kernel of corn - has been genetically modified. None of it was here before mankind learned to cultivate crops. The question isn 't whether our food has been modified, but how” (Specter, Michael). Because there are various GMOs on the world, it is crucial that mankind doesn’t rule out all GMOs but carefully evaluates each GMO. More specifically the health risks, ecological risks, and societal benefits should be tested on each individual GMO. Not only, should the composition of these seeds be tested, but also the process of how these seeds grow. For example, the insecticides and pesticides used on GMOs should be tested prior to the release of these crops to the
Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have taken a new role in the world’s food industry. It is not uncommon for the majority of produce being sent out for the public’s consumption to be genetically engineered. The problem is, no one has proof that genetically modified food is safe to eat. In fact, evidence shows that there is a huge possibility that it is not. With neglected and insufficient testing, and the unknown side effects, GM food is likely to do more harm than good.
Genetically Modified Organism’s (GMO) have been gaining public spotlight as scrutiny over their safety has recently been popularized. A GMO is defined as “an organism whose genetic material has been altered by means of genetic engineering,” (Dictionary.com, 2015). The debate for both sides of the argument have been detrimental to the other and have yet to be copiously presented without a bias. While any organism can be genetically modified, the unrest between consumers and producers is centered around GMO crops because of the potential impact they could have on human health (Bushak, 2015).
Scientist developed GMOs to increase crop yields, make crops more resilient to pesticides as well as increase profits. Most GMO crop were created to be pest resistant, or to survive herbicide use, which will grow more crops, make more money, and feed more people around the globe. The world has been consuming GMOs for over two decades. Still, the question remains “Why are GMOs bad?”The government has yet to commit to answering that simple question. The FDA doesn’t have the power or the means to test or confirm that any of our GMOs are safe or unsafe for human consumption, while eighty percent of the food supply in America contains GMOs, and while many companies voluntarily label their products are GMO free, there are currently no labeling requirements
Ever since GMO’s were first introduced in the mid 1990’s, there has always been a controversy as to whether or not consuming them is safe and healthy. As concerned American consumers who do not agree in the use of them, the effects GMO’s have on our health is a real issue and concern. One of the reasons we don’t want GMO’s used in our food or anywhere in general is because the risk of health issues they can cause. Since GMO’s were introduced into society, little research has been done on the effects they can have on people so no one knows if they are or aren’t harmful. GMO’s have multiple different effects on human health, such as; decrease in nutritional value and increased toxicity (Gertsburg, 2010). The
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) is an ongoing controversial issue. GMOs are plant or animal DNA that has been altered to something one would not generally find in nature. The big controversy with genetically modified foods is the unknown. GMOs made their way on the market in 1994, since then there have been speculations with its long-term health effects on humans, and the environment. There has been a split between the consumers, corporations, scientist, and the government because consumers believe they are being lied to. According to the article, “Scientific Controversies as Proxy Politics” by Daniel J. Hicks he states, “88% of scientists said that genetically modified foods are safe to eat, but only 37% of the public agreed” (67).
Virtually all commercial foods are Genetically modified(GMO) in the United States. GMO’s have been estimated to be in 75% of all processed foods in American supermarkets. These processed foods range from soda to juices, fruits to candy, and even to cereal to condiments. However, with the world population reaching a peaking 71/2 billion, countries all over the world have begun adapting to GMO methods to feed their growing population, but nevertheless there are countries like Japan and Europe who have denounced GMO foods for being unnatural and taboo, and thus giving GMO foods a bad reputation. However, a genetically modified crop starts out as a seed that had its DNA altered in a laboratory to enhance desirable traits such as weather resistance, herbicide resistance, and an increase in nutritional value. Genetic engineering is known for creating plants with the desired trait very quickly and with amazing accuracy. For example, plant geneticists can detach a gene responsible for drought resistance from one plant and put it into another plant. This new genetically modified plant will now gain the trait of drought tolerance. Compared to the traditional breeding methods used by farmers, this is less time consuming and quite accurate. On the contrary to the mainstream idea that GMOs are injected with harmful chemicals, the truth is that no chemicals are sprayed or injected to GMO’s to create genetic modifications. GMO foods have no scientific proof of having any dangerous risks
Genetically Modified Organisms, often called GMOs, are genetically altered organisms generated in a synthetic environment, such as a laboratory, that offers alternative methods for manufacturing foods. Subjected to much debate, GMOs have steadily acquired prejudice stigmatization by the public of America; however, the beneficial and adaptive features of GMOs, including high yields, quality nutritional values, and sustainability, far out way the preconceived risks. GMOs compose over 70 percent of manufactured food products in America, which provides significant relevance towards this controversial topic. GMO’s have gained the support of credible scientific organizations, such as the American Medical Association and the American Association
When it comes to the use of GMOs, public opinion is sharply divided. Many consumers have expressed resentment toward the use of GMOs, usually due to doubts about their safety. However, studies conducted over several decades have shown that there are few health and ecological