Genetically Modified Foods

Genetically modified foods can be good and bad for humans and the economy. For example, if you do not cook an genetically modify foods it can cause us humans to become deathly ill. If the soil is not treated before the genetically modified seed is placed into the ground it can damage the soil and the earth around it.

In consideration of all the evidence presented, it is certain that genetic engineering technology presents certain dangers and health hazards that need to be thoroughly assessed before GM foods are absorbed into the global market. The assessment criteria for these products should also be revised with reference to case studies and reports highlighting potential harms of genetic modification (The Economist 19). Consumers should also be fully aware of the type of products displayed in the market in order to make informed choices.

Genetically modified foods have contributed to better foods in terms of food quality and human health.

Imagine going to the grocery store and seeing a seedless watermelon, but it is not the typical oval, it is square. Down the produce aisle, there are sweet, juicy strawberries; however, there is a warning label that says, “Do not consume if you have a nut allergy.” The world today is moving forward in the way that society produces our wholefoods. Genetic engineering, bioengineering, or biotechnology is the process of inserting the genetics of different plants and organisms into other plants or organisms to create new, more efficient DNA. However, is it truly beneficial to modify the world’s natural foods? The use of genetic engineering can disrupt the ecosystems that have taken billions of years to develop. Many years of research and work have gone into the subject of genetically modified foods; however, this new food trend could create or enhance food related illnesses and health problems, interfere with nature’s environs, and could even cause specific ethical problems for individuals that practice different faith. People should be aware of genetic engineering, how it works, and how it affects their lives.

Genetically modified crops are harmful to humans and the environment and shouldn't be used. Agriculture should proceed in harmony with nature and nature only. That is why some people have decided to buy organically grown food. From their experiences with organic food, they believe that the organic system can be economically practical. This system also provides a wide range of environmental and social benefits, and most importantly, it enables consumers to make a choice about the food they eat. According to Diana Brander, an American biology teacher, we should have the choice of the type of food we eat.

The last few years American’s have been the center of attention when it comes to an example of unhealthy living. In 2013 obesity became recognized as a disease in order to help aid the fight for a healthy future. Fingers are being pointed at every company and government branch possible on who is to blame for the current crisis. One thing people are able to agree on is that the food we are eating is the main cause of the health crisis in America. At the heart of this debate is the discussion on genetically modified organism, or GMO foods.

There are several controversial issues confronting us today; from Universal Healthcare (Obama Care) to Stem Cell research, to vaccinations, to genetically engineered (GE)/genetically modified (GM) foods. However, I shall look at genetically modified foods as the controversial issue for this article. I shall look at an article from the mass media about this controversial public health issue and place emphasis on the message the document wants to convey and address any biases that may be within. In addition, I shall provide additional data or facts from another article to see if it supports or refutes the controversial message. It is my intention that this article will provide some clarity on genetically modified foods confronting us in the United States and the world over.

The world we live in today is in no doubt constantly changing all thanks to the technological and scientific advancements. These advancements are what have led to the birth of molecular genetics which is the genesis of improvements in the field of agriculture. Food is a very crucial part of human survival, and while it may be abundant in many developed countries, the same cannot be said about the developing countries. A 2015 report by FAO on the state of food insecurity sates that there are about 795 million people sleeping hungry because of shortage of food with the vast majority coming from developing countries (2015, FAO). The rise of genetically modified food in the recent years however has helped to provide a solution to some of these food shortage problems. Generally genetically modified foods otherwise known as GMO foods are foods that result from crops whose genetic makeup have been modified or altered. This happens through a process that’s referred to as recombinant DNA that serves to give plants traits that are desirable with the use of molecular techniques. Some of the most bioengineered foods include tomatoes, corn, cotton, rice, papaya, wheat among others. While it has had many benefits and successes, GM foods still have risks and the question of safety always arises when it comes to discussions.

‘With genetically modified foods I believe we have reached the thin edge of the wedge, we are messing with the building blocks of life and its scary’ - Malcom Walker, Chairman and Chief Executive of Iceland Foods (Quotes from Scientists).

The issue of producing and consuming genetically altered foods is controversial. Changing the natural content of plants and animals has negative impacts. For instance, genetically altering the DNA of plants or animals have a possibility to create allergens into a food, which results in allergic reactions. Environmentally, genetically modified crops have disadvantages. Plants can be modified to be pesticides and herbicide tolerant. Hence, when plants are sprayed with chemicals, those chemicals contaminate the surroundings. Besides, the chemicals are toxic to some pollinators, this results in the reduction of pollinators, which contributes to the decrease in genetic diversity in crops. The reduction in genetic diversity of plants disrupts the

Genetically modified foods are present in our daily lives, yet there have been controversies on whether these foods are safe for consumption and whether we should aim to fill our diets with foods which lack these modifications. A fear which the public has concerning these products is that their health may be negatively affected through the consumption of genetically modified foods. These fears can be associated with the fear in the novel Frankenstein, coined as “Frankenstein-like”, because of the fear of the scientific progression and the results which may occur. Since the public has some “Frankenstein-like” fears that need to be addressed, the proper way to face the issue of whether genetically modified foods are safe or not is to

“70 percent of our corn farmland and 93 percent of soy farmland are planted with crops genetically engineered to resist pests and herbicides and increase crop yields. 60% of all the processed foods in the United States are genetically modified; a shocking statistic has the concern of many Americans. However, most people are uninformed about the beneficial impact that genetically modified food has on their diet. GM is the use of molecular biology technology to modify the inherited structure of organisms. Genetically engineered crops increase nutrients, drought tolerance, provide more food for growing populations, and resists diseases and pesticides. Genetically engineered foods are crucial to the improvement of economy, agriculture, society, and health choices. The creation of GM foods was one of the most significant breakthroughs in food industry. Genetically modifying foods is a key component that is harmless for the enrichment of our foods.

The failure of an arithmetically proliferating food supply to meet the demands of an exponentially propagating population has led many scientists and civilians to believe that a genetically modified food supply would be more than ideal. While genetically modified foods have proven to yield more food under cheaper costs, it has also yielded many problems. Concerned researchers believe that a “Pandora’s lunchbox” has been opened at the dawn of genetic modification technology. (PBS, par 33) Since genetically modified foods are foreign substances to the consumer’s body, the physical response to such foods are generally negative. Moreover, the temptation of an increased profit from a cheap rate of production for genetically modified foods has

Genetically modified foods (or GM foods) will be foods delivered from organisms that have had particular progressions brought into their DNA utilizing the systems for hereditary engineering. These strategies have taken into consideration the presentation of new traits and in addition a far more prominent control over a food 's hereditary structure than formerly managed by routines, for example, selective breeding and change breeding. Business offer of genetically modified crops started in 1994, when Calgene initially marketed its Flavr Savr deferred ripening tomato. GM livestock have additionally been tentatively created, despite the fact that as of November 2013 none are as of now on the market

In this century, human is claiming greater successes in technical science, especially Biotechnology field which has gained an enormous change during last 100 years. It is a truth that “The more your get, the more you want”, human is using biotechnology too much which are both advantages and disadvantages. One of them, Genetically Modified Foods (GMO) is one typical representative of being controversial .For some, it should be widely-used as a good-one to improve vegetable resistances when the habitats rapidly change. The statistic of Europe Company even point out that lack of nutrition and world's hunger could be solved by a great revolution by GMO. Another dangerous view to GMO by U.S Scientists and Senior U.S Government, there are many side-effects which take adverse impacts to human health, genome of species and environment. By strong harmful evidence on human, Doshi – Ph.D from Johns Hopkins University, it must be avoided to keep out high-risk problems of human health.