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Benefits Of Genetically Modified Foods

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They wake up in the morning. They start packing their sack lunches for school, work or whatever they have going on that day. They start with packages of sliced apples and then add peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Do those people know that according to The Facts about GMO 's, "70-80% of the foods we eat in the United States . . . contain ingredients that have been genetically modified" (Grocery)? That means that 70 to 80 percent of those sack lunches are genetically modified. The World Health Organization defines genetically modified (GM) foods as "foods derived from organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally . . . through the introduction of a gene from a different organism" (Food). The majority of food is genetically modified and it is important for everyone to learn more about the food they are eating. Are genetically modified foods something to be afraid of? The truth is that GM foods can be good for us and they have numerous benefits to the consumer. GM foods are safer than traditionally grown foods. For example, GM foods are safer for the environment. Theresa Phillips, who has a Ph.D. in Environmental Biology, proposes, "Many industries stand to benefit from additional GMO research. For instance, a number of microorganisms are being considered as future clean fuel producers and biodegraders" (Phillips). GM foods have the ability to be absorbed into the soil ("biodegrade") and emit natural fuels ("clean fuel") that

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