Over the last two decades, there has been a significant increase in food products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs are substances which have had their genetic material altered through unnatural processes. Since the advent of the first GMO in 1973, the modification of plants and animals through the introduction of a new trait or the alteration of a gene has significantly increased (Aleksejeva 5). With increasing genetic modifications of plants and animals for food products and the widespread presence of GM foods in the market, consumers are beginning to ask more questions about the health effects of these foods. Proponents of GMOs assert that foods produced from GMOs are as safe as the non-modified counterparts. After reviewing the evidence, however, I strongly suspect that the consumption of GM foods puts consumers at risk. To start off, the safety of GM foods has become more questionable over time, as an increasing number of studies associate the ingestion of such food with various kinds of allergic reactions, serious illnesses, and other conditions. Studies also indicate that chemical residue from the pesticides that the producers use on GMO crops is also dangerous to human health. Advocates of GMO attest that the foods produced from GMOs compared to the non-modified version are just as safe. A scientist by the name Arpad Pusztai released information of his research to the media stating the adverse effects that occur in rats that consume GM
Genetic modified organisms, or GMOs, are living organisms that, through the genetic engineering process, have been altered to withstand certain chemicals and increase the nutritional value of the product. In fact, the majority of the foods found at the grocery store are genetically altered. Genetic modification is becoming increasingly popular on farms throughout the United States and moving into other parts of the world due to their increasing yield capabilities and pest and weed control. However, this has been, and continues to be, an extremely controversial topic of discussion in the world of agriculture and biotechnology, as well as health food critics, because of potential environmental and health risks.
There has been much controversy about whether people should actually be eating these manipulated foods and crops. Although people ask if it is safe for human and animal consumption, they continue to do it without really knowing the consequences. Scientists and farmers use poisonous herbicides inside crops and foods. GMO’s are also the reason for “super weeds” and “super bugs” which can only be killed with more toxic poisons. Although the long-term effects for eating and using GMO’s are unknown, humans should exercise caution.
In conclusion, GMOs and pesticides are harmful and alarming to producers and consumers. They cause animals pain and harm humans when consumed. Many animals live short and painful lives, while humans now must suffer with long term diseases or damage to their bodies. Although some argue that Genetically modified produce is benefiting producers and consumers, I still argue that genetically modified organisms harm animals and
However, this position falls short of completely meeting the concerns of consumers, since various scientific studies have reflected negative health effects of GM foods, contradicting WHO’s position. Despite the observation of harmful effects on a minority, GM foods cannot be ruled as completely safe for human consumption.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding the use of genetic modification in foods grown for human consumption. Many opponents suggest that genetically modified (GM) foods can affect human growth and development, increase allergic reactions in persons with allergy sensitivity or cause allergies to develop in healthy people. Proponents of using genetically modified organisms to alter and improve foods claim that there are no health risks to humans and that GM foods are subjected to stricter guidelines and testing than “naturally” grown food. They also claim that genetic modification of food is necessary to produce more drought tolerant, insect and disease resistant crops that can sustain the earth’s growing human population. A recent survey conducted suggests that public opinion is evenly divided on whether or not GMOs should be used in foods for human consumption. This paper looks to discuss the pros and cons of GMOs in food and the reported effects, if any, on human growth and development.
Perhaps the most controversial element of the ongoing GMO debate involves the potential health risks to those that consume them. Dr.
Arvanitoyannis and "Safety Assessment and Countermeasures of Genetically Modified Foods," by Bin Du and Feng-Mei Zhu. With the two sources, I will provide the necessary information my audience needs to understand the health risks behind GM food along with the potential ways to counteract GM food, such as labeling before I attempt to present my claim to my audience. Lastly, in a source by Hiyam Al-Rousan, et al., will provide information that GM food is everywhere. Although we can pass a law to label GMOs, it would still be possible GM toxins and chemicals would still exist in label non-GM produce without a proper monitoring policy that checks if the labels on food are correct. All the sources will give more reason to why my audience should believe my claim and to continue
According to Jeffrey Smith, this process can cause the organisms to have unknown effects such as toxins, diseases, and nutritional problems (2006). Along with that, the health risks from consuming products containing GMOs are enough to turn people away. According to the American Academy of Environmental Science, “several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food consumption including infertility, immune dysregulation, accelerated aging, dysregulation of genes associated with cholesterol synthesis, insulin regulation, cell signaling, and protein formation, and changes in the liver, kidney, spleen, and gastrointestinal system”(2009). Finding out that GMOs caused all of these issues to animals, people will start to question the safety of the GM food products. This alone can scare the consumers and discourage them from purchasing products containing GMOs. However, that may no longer be a choice
In truth, people have been eating products made with GMO commodities for several years now – with no ill effects. Years of testing went into the development of GMO seed, which allows farmers to use fewer pesticides and herbicides on crops, and so increase net income. For consumers who remain unsure about the safety of crop protection chemicals, eating GMO foods should actually be reassuring news about the safety of the U.S. food supply.
Through scientific research there have been no substantial findings of harmful side effects on eating foods that have been genetically modified. In his article,” National Academy of Sciences Report on GMOs”, Steven Novella states that “It is especially compelling that over the last two decades, animals and humans exposed to GMOs have not experienced any relative increase in any major disease” (Novella). With over 20 years of observations and conclusions, there has been no evidence to support the argument that GMOs are harmful to humans or animals. Furthermore, Alan McHughen, in his article, “A Path Forward”, says “Every major scientific body in the U.S. and around the world has reviewed independent research related to GM crops and food and has concluded they are as safe as food and crops developed from other methods in use today” (McHughen). Thousands of reports and findings
With the increased amount of publicity, genetically modified organisms have recently been under harsh scrutiny and criticism. Consumers around the world are concerned whether or not consuming these newly modified organisms have any long term or short term health effects. “An exhaustive new study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, found “no substantiated evidence of a difference in risks to human health between current commercially available genetically engineered (GE) crops and conventionally bred crops,”(Hall). This experiment showed that there are no alarming effects for consumers to worry about when consuming genetically modified crops. Genetically modified crops have been consumed for over twenty years now without causing any increase in health problem in the populations that consume them. These products are some of the most tested and safest agriculture products out there today. All of the testing done on genetically modified crops and their safety is monitored by the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), and the Food and Drug Administration(FDA). Across the board with so many different agencies committed to reviewing testing of GMOs these products and organisms are undoubtedly safe
GMOs are safe and beneficial for human consumption. GMOs have been rigorously studied to ensure their safety. In a summary of hundreds of reports compiled by Angelika Hilbeck, she concludes that “on the basis of their studies, that a number of varieties of GM products (mainly maize and soybeans) are as safe and
There is a lot of controversy has occurred with the arrival of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), especially the production, consumption, and sale. Many people are concerned, or not convinced, that the consumption of GMO foods by humans may or may not create health risks. Would you ever think of eating genetically modified food in your daily meal? If you 're like most people, you 'll be puzzled to know that most fast food places like McDonalds and Burger King, and even your local grocery market have bioengineered food which are genetically modified. While some may see GMOs as controversial, there are some advantages with having higher expected crop yields and feeding more countries with this type of food. The disadvantages have been debatable by many people on whether or not GMO foods are safe for human consumption and has been a dynamic topic for quite some time.
GMOs are plants or animals that have undergone a process; scientists alter their genes with DNA from different species of living organisms, bacteria, or viruses to get desired traits such as resistance to disease or tolerance of pesticides. Majority of fruits and vegetables we eat contain GMO’s. This injection causes the produces to become larger and grow at a faster rate. According to some scientists it’s ok to consume GMO. According to Victor Tutlyan, the author of Genetically Modified Food sources (Tutelyan, Victor. Genetically Modified Food Sources Safety Assessment and Control. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Academic, 2013. Pages 24-30.) He believes consuming such harmful chemicals can and will do harm to our body. As a matter of fact, I read that consuming GMO’s can lead to food allergies, increased toxicity, and decreased nutritional value and anti biotic resistance. They recommend us to watch all the labels of the foods we buy; it clearly states what foods are contaminated with GMO’s to keep us
In order to fully understand the risks of GMOs it is important to first understand how GMOs are made and where they are found. Genetic modification aims to create better foods so they add genes that are more nutritious, have a longer shelf life or taste better among other trait modifications. In his article “Genetically Modified Foods” Thomas R. Degregori describes genetic modification