Genetically modified food components first appeared in processed foods primarily between 1996 and 1999. This food modification was made feasible by a single Supreme Court decision that allowed the patenting of living things for profit. Since then, there have been countless applications for experimental genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the US and around the globe. Despite the fact that genetically modified creatures are created with the intention of improving quality of life, they are seriously harming society's well-being. They are detrimental to people, pets, and the environment. The detrimental impacts of GMO technology are discussed in this essay. Genetically modified foods are unfit for human consumption
Food Allergy
Firstly, the genetically modified foods trigger production of new allergens. On average, 5% of children and 2% of adults experience food allergies. An allergic reaction occurs when harmless proteins find their way into an individual's body and trigger an immune response. If the protein incorporated in a GM food is derived from a source known to cause human allergies, the likelihood of this product eliciting an immune response heightens.
Presence of toxins
Another reason that genetically modified foodstuffs are unfit for human consumption is increased toxicity. Plants produce elements, which are toxic to humans. However, the plants that people consume produce toxins of negligible levels, which cannot pose any health hazards. Inserting exotic genes into plants causes them to produce higher levels of toxins, deemed lethal to humankind. What happens is that the new gene interferes with a metabolic pathway during the insertion process, triggering the plant to produce more toxins in response.
Based on scientific studies, genetically modified food products leave residues in human body mechanisms, creating potential long-term health problems. In one instance, research carried out in Canada found traces of pesticides- resulting from GMO foods- in fetal, maternal and non-pregnant women's blood. In 2002, two years after the mass scale introduction of GM soybeans, there were increased reports of birth malformations caused by exposure to glyphosate sprays used during pregnancy. The situation continued to get worse in areas, where glyphosate-based herbicides were being utilized. At present, there is sufficient evidence linking glyphosate to an array of birth malformations including stillbirth and premature births.
Lower nutrient value
Genetically modified foods have less nutritional value than their traditional counterparts. The reason for this is that some of the foreign genes hinder the availability of particular nutrients. For instance, phytate, a compound often found in seeds and grains, has a tendency to bind with minerals; hence, making them unavailable.
The Genetically Modified Salmon is Unhealthy
In 2015, FDA gave consent to production of the first genetically engineered animal- a salmon that critics dubbed Frankenfish, citing its adverse effects on health and the environment. Referred to as the AquaAdvantage salmon, the fish contains a growth hormone, which boosts its growth rate. Very few people have information regarding the health and safety testing of the ‘frankenfish,' and this raises a lot of speculation. One concern that individuals have is the effects to human health, which will crop up after consuming fish containing growth hormones.
Another concern involves the environmental impact. If the genetically engineered salmons were to escape and breed with the natural counterparts, it is likely that salmon population would be wiped out. If you are considering staying on the safe side by steering clear of the GMO salmon, you may not have much of choice. Fish companies producing this product are not required to label the salmon as genetically altered.
Genetically modified organisms harm the environment
Out-crossing
One of the environmental impacts that GMO technology has resulted in is out-crossing (Krimsky et.al. 45-46). To put it simply, out-crossing is the transfer of transgenes from crops that are genetically modified to the ordinarily-cultivated plants or similar crop species. Usually, this transfer occurs by means of insect pollination or wind.
The World Health Organization cites that foreign genes come into contact with and contaminate other plants. It leads to the hybridization of genetically modified plants with non-GMO plants. If the resulting hybrid plants were to thrive, the entire ecosystem would be radically altered.
More importantly, out-crossing causes a considerable threat to food safety, given that the contaminated species have an indirect link to the food chain. In one incident, traces of a GM type of corn that is only approved for making livestock feed, was found in corn products meant for human consumption.
Increase in Use of Herbicides and Pesticides
One of the primary reasons for developing genetically modified organisms is to enhance the production of herbicide-resistant plants. Farmers are well-aware that their crops have a tolerance for herbicides. This, in turn, encourages them to overuse these chemical-laden products; thus, causing more harm to the surroundings (Krimsky et.al. 47-48). Also, some of the genetically modified crops are designed to generate their own pesticides. This approach adds more pesticides into farm fields.
Unintended harm to non-target organisms
In 1999, a laboratory study issued in Nature revealed that pollen from B.t. Corn- a type of GM corn, caused a high mortality rate of monarch butterfly caterpillars. These caterpillars are said to feed on milkweed plants, and not corn. However, if pollen from the B.t. Corn found its way into a field of milkweed plants; the caterpillars end up consuming it.
GM Foods are not the solution for world hunger
Contrary to what many believe, genetically modified foods are not the answer to global hunger menace. In early 2015, the Environmental Working Group produced a report citing how the massively produced GMO products are used. According to the report, the production of meats requires higher quantities of crops for feeding livestock. GMO crops which are mainly used to feed livestock include corn and soybeans. As the demand for meat increases, so does the need for GMO crops. Corn is also one of the core sources of bio-fuels like ethanol. The findings revealed that the greatest investment of GE crops has been in feeding livestock and producing bio-fuels rather than feeding the starving population.
One of the major benefits of genetic modification is that it can provide seeds that are resistant to pests, drought, and diseases, and which result in higher yields even under poor climatic conditions. The only hitch with this strategy is that GMO food production is pricey and has an umbilical chord-like reliance on its investors for development. There is a patent on genetically modified seeds, as well as the toxic herbicides that they are designed to resist (Ic.Galegroup). What this implies is that farmers who grow GMO crops are under a contract to re-purchase new seeds from the copyright holder every other year. This practice deviates from the tradition of setting apart some of the harvested seeds for replanting. Add to this the costly equipment required for application- most of which remain inaccessible and unaffordable for the less developed countries. In the end, the GMO food production approach benefits only a small proportion of the population. Consequently, this farming model has demonstrably failed as even a partial solution to the increasingly deprived, overpopulated and hungry world.
Ethical Concerns
Aside from its failure in addressing the hunger problem, the production of genetically modified products is regarded unethical (Ic.Galegroup). Opponents of the genetic engineering technology argue that tampering with the natural environment by mixing up genes from various species is morally wrong. Think of what the GM experiments do to the animals being experimented.
The Positive Side of Genetically Modified Organisms
In as much as genetically engineered technology has caused undesirable effects, it has also conferred multiple benefits. Without it, many of the agricultural advancements would not be in existence. One of the notable advantages involves improvements in crop production.
Thanks to genetic engineering technology, farmers can now grow crops that are pest-resistant, disease-resistant and ones which can withstand environmental stresses. For instance, bananas have been modified genetically to make them tolerant to the Black Sigatoka fungus. When untreated, this fungus reduces banana yields by up to 70%. On a related note, a foreign gene able to withstand extensive water stress in arid conditions was introduced in rice. In addition to crop improvements, GM technology has also boosted livestock products. Presently, livestock can be genetically modified to increase production of milk and eggs.
Genetic engineering is also beneficial to the eco-system (Ic.Galegroup). This farming approach gives farmers an opportunity to be better stewards of the surrounding by growing fewer crops on less land while utilizing fewer herbicides and fertilizers. The shrinking of environmental footprint due to GE crop production is evident- given that pesticide use reduced by 224,000 tons between the year 1996 and 2006.
Conclusion
Although the technological inventions that facilitated genetic engineering technology are impressive, the resulting demerits significantly outweigh its benefits. Genetically modified foods cause harm to human health. A good example is the gene usually inserted into the genetically altered soy, which causes health problems. GM crop farming also impacts the environment negatively. Hybrid plants arising from the interaction of GMO and non-GMO plants pose a threat to both the environment and food safety (Ic.Galegroup). GE farming model also encourages increased use of herbicides and pesticides.
There is also the misguided belief that genetically modified foods will make a substantial contribution in providing adequate amounts of food for the increasing population. Although the genetic engineering approach has enhanced production of crops resistant to all kinds of conditions, this has not helped the deprived nations. Equipment required in facilitating genetic engineering crop growing is costly, and most of the genetically modified seeds are patented. To sum up, if genetic engineering is to yield any fruits in the future, there is a need for improvement, especially in sectors of safety testing and international policy. Moreover, it would be prudent to find GM alternatives of increasing crop yield and improving the quality of life in general.
Works Cited
Krimsky, Sheldon, Jeremy Gruber, and Ralph Nader. The Gmo Deception: What You Need to Know About Food, Corporations, and Government Agencies Putting Our Families and Our Environment at Risk. , 2016. 45-51. Print.
"Opposing Viewpoints In Context - Document". Ic.Galegroup.Com, 2010, http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?zid=099b8a07a04458e6f572708edd5db7cc&action=2&catId=GALE%7C00000000LVWT&documentId=GALE%7CPC3021900070&userGroupName=p1841&jsid=c53c2ce89e156ad96c9e7901ca15661c.
"Opposing Viewpoints In Context - Document". Ic.Galegroup.Com, 2013, http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?zid=2b074463612ae279e1e119088dddb4b4&action=2&catId=GALE%7C00000000LVWM&documentId=GALE%7CPC3021900065&userGroupName=nysl_ro_suth&jsid=4f07906ce1fafceebbd41cca5e3d9857.
