Genetically Modified Foods: Are They killing Us?

Recently, there has been a huge uprise in reports from all over the world of new diseases that have affected much of the population today. Diseases such as obesity, Alzheimer’s, Celiac Disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and so much more have been on the rise. Researchers have suspected the culprit of these diseases to be our food. Along with the diseases, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) has also been on the rise. The more poor food we eat, the greater the potential harm to our health. One of the poor foods we consume is GMO: the altering of genes in food to produce desirable effects. These effects can range from an improvement in nutritional value, texture, flavor, and a longer shelf life. These

Many people are unaware that there have not been sufficient tests conducted that prove GMOs are entirely safe. Therefore, people ought to consider the potential health risks they are taking when consuming a GM food product. However, since most biotech companies such as Monsanto, Cargill, Dow, Bayer and others do not advertise that their food products contain GMOs, consumers are not aware that most of the foods they purchase have been genetically modified. It is obvious to suspect that these companies are benefiting from the public’s lack of knowledge. Consumers need to be made aware when they are purchasing genetically modified products. Genetically modified organisms can potentially cause harm to our environment and have a detrimental effect on human health.

A growing debate today is the effect of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, on our health and the stability of the environment. Emily Anthes, a journalist who mainly writes about current issues in science, posted an article on the New York Times titled “Don 't be Afraid of Genetic Modification”. In the article, Anthes presents a few examples of genetically modified animals that have been considered for consumption and the obstacles that the biotech companies who created them face. Anthes is discussing a very prevalent topic here. GMOs are here to stay, and it is important for people to understand what a GMO actually is.

How well do people know what they are consuming? Usually, the ordinary American does not think about, let alone research the foods they eat. Previous to all the technological advancements known of today, production of food only consisted of farming, hunting, and harvesting. Today, because of technology, the mass production of food was introduced, letting people have any kind of food, any time of the year. These advancements in the food industry led to the development of Genetically Modified Organisms, also knows as GMO’s. Although this may seem appealing, many researchers, and doctors believe that GMO’s carry a big health risk. Exhausting amounts of evidence show they are not as safe as the producers claim it to be. Aside from the health risks, there is also evidence connecting GMO’s with environmental damage.

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).

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).

Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, were introduced to the food industry in 1994. These advanced inventions are created “by injecting genetic material from plants, animals, or bacteria into a crop in hope of creating a new and beneficial trait” (Text 1, Lines 2-3). One of the most well-known GMO is a breed of corn plant that can produce its own pesticide, that helps be resistant to insects and the damage they bring. GMOs have been a heavy topic for discussion in the food industry lately, some say that GMOs are healthy and safe, while others disagree. The opposers of GMOs utilize evidence to state their case. They assert that there is enough food in the world, that they did not perform enough testing, and that there is evident health risks

There is a great debate going on right now on the subject of genetically modified foods, or GMOs. For some, the idea of GMO food is a good one because the modifications allow crops to become resistant to drought and infestations, letting more people have more regular meals. Some research even shows that the world produces 17% more food than it needs to produce to provide each current human with three squares per day (Healthcare Articles and Infographics, 2013)! Others look at genetically modified foods as a dangerous proposition. From allergic reactions to potential intestinal damage, many people wish to avoid GMO foods because of animal studies that have shown changes in internal cell structure, abnormal tumor growth, and unexpected deaths that have occurred (Healthcare Articles and Infographics, 2013). By 2050, farmers must produce 40% more food to feed an estimated 9 billion people on the planet. Either current yields will have to increase or farmland will expand farther into forests and jungles. In some cases, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) would offer an alternative way to boost yields without sacrificing more land or using more pesticides (Maxmen, 2013).

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

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are currently a huge issue all over the globe. GMOS are found in about 80 percent of produced foods. The technology to improve GMOS is new and includes plants and animals being produced from the altering of genes using biotechnology. Food is a very crucial part of a person’s life. The question that stands is “are they safe”? GMOS bring harmful health hazards to the environment as well as to people. People aren’t informed of where their food is coming from or how it threatens the ecosystem.

A genetically modified organism is a plant, animal, or any other organism whose genetic composition has been modified by recombining extracted genes from the DNA of one species and placed into the genes of an unrelated organism. According to many scientists there is little research and investigations done to support the idea that GMO’s are safe to eat but do pose a threat to the crops. Genetically engineered foods are still new and are advancing, this may show different results in health effects of GMO’s in the future. With more research into the topic of GMO’s we will be able to see the different effects that GMO’s have and better understand if we should be consuming them or not.

Genetically modified Organisms (GMOs) are the result of artificial genetic modification of organisms. Typically plants and livestock are modified to resist disease, herbicides, and pests (Tsatsakis, et al). Furthermore, the biotech industry is growing in sales as well. In 2012, biotechnology generated about 323.8 billion US dollars (Tsatsakis, et al). While scientists search for the safest possible methods of genetic modification, many people disagree with the use of GMOs, and some actively try to shut down Biotechnology centers for their practices. Likewise, it is argued whether GMOs are safe enough to consume in our food. While many experiments and studies suggest that GMOs have some risk, no matter the method, many actually ignore the facts given that show us GMOs are more beneficial than harmful to our society.

With new technology being utilized in the medical, agricultural, and economic aspects of daily living, numerous perilous concerns have risen against the proper usage and non-maleficence of these high-tech mechanics. For about a decade now, genetically modified foods have occupied the shelves of supermarkets and grocery stores across the nation. The ample amount of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have sparked many affairs regarding the impact they have on one’s health. The detonation of GMOs, according to the Institute for Responsible Technology, is “the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species (bacteria, viruses, insects, animals, or humans) are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal (Smith).” The timeline of GMOs is rather short, with the DNA being first discovered by Russian scientist Andrei Nikolaevitch Belozersky in 1935. It wasn’t until 1982 that the extracted DNA was approved by the FDA. Hamlin, a form of insulin derived from E. coli, is now permitted to be genetically engineered into produce and meat products. GMO induced foods hit the grocery store in 1994, and the industry rapidly expanded and became the dominant crop by 1999 (Shireen, 2013). A vast majority of processed foods contain GMO-induced ingredients; there is no getting away from them and their harms unless new regulations are set to prevent their sale.

In the past few years, people are becoming more and more health conscious through what they eat. However, a new issue that is causing concern is the addition of genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms are organisms whose genes have been altered by using engineering techniques. GMO are scientifically altered to kill insects and change the way the plants grow or taste. The effects of these mutations are causing serious health concerns throughout the world. Genetically modified organisms have been damaging our health and have been introduced into the daily diet with their altered chemicals. Consuming these genetically altered foods can lead to many health issues. The health risks of genetically modified organisms are too great to allow them to be accessible to people.

Over the past decade, genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) have been incorporated into the food we consume on a daily basis. This has been affecting the health and wellness of numerous people. GMO’ are special organisms in which the genetic material has been modified or changed for product quality and improvement. There have been many arguments as to whether or not GMO’s are harmful or if they come along with benefits. The first article "IN-THE KNOW ON GMOs," addresses several ways how to avoid consuming GMO’s and a step-by-step guide to becoming healthier, which was written by Melissa Diane Smith. The second article "Should You Worry About GMO’s," is an article about how GMO’s are constantly being consumed without us even knowing, and the hazards they cause. This article was published by Tufts University. Even though Smiths’ article appears to have less information and less complicated than the other, Smiths’ article is more credible than Phillips’.