GMOs: Pros and Cons
If you’ve eaten anything today, chances are you’ve snacked on GMO foods. Genetically modified organism (GMO) foods are made with soy, corn, or other crops grown from seeds with genetically engineered DNA.
These products find their way into many of your foods, from your morning toast, to your salad, to the cookies you snack on at night. People who eat strict organic diets don’t ingest any GMO products. Organic fruits and vegetables can’t be grown with GMO seeds, meat labeled organic can’t come from animals that have grazed on GMO alfalfa or corn, and processed organic food cannot contain GMO ingredients.
These products find their way into many of your foods, from your morning toast, to your salad, to the cookies you snack on at night. People who eat strict organic diets don’t ingest any GMO products. Organic fruits and vegetables can’t be grown with GMO seeds, meat labeled organic can’t come from animals that have grazed on GMO alfalfa or corn, and processed organic food cannot contain GMO ingredients.
Why Mess with Seed DNA?
Seeds are genetically engineered for many reasons. Sometimes, it’s to boost seed resistance to insects or to grow hardier crops. They can also be engineered to give foods stronger colors, longer shelf life, or to eliminate seeds, so that we can buy seedless watermelons and grapes.
Some GMO foods have higher levels of nutrients, such as protein, calcium, and folate.
Proponents of genetic engineering in food contend that this technology provides a sustainable way to feed people in countries without access to nutrition-rich foods. The longer shelf life of some GMO foods means that they can reach remote areas.
Should I Be Nervous?
Foods grown from genetically engineered plants are required to meet the same safety requirements as foods made with non-GMO plants.
This isn’t of much comfort to those concerned that GMO foods may be linked to allergies, immune suppression, antibiotic resistance, or cancer.
Allergies
According to a research work, food allergies in children under 18 years of age jumped from 3.4 percent in 1997 to 1999 to 5.1 percent in 2009 to 2011. No conclusive scientific evidence links the food allergy spike to GMO foods, but further study is needed to measure any relationship.
Antibiotic Resistance
According to the a survey, antibiotic-resistant germs infect two million people each year. These infections kill at least 23,000 people each year. Because antibiotic-resistant genes are injected into GMO corn and soy crops, there are concerns that there could be a link. However, no studies confirm this claim.
Other Claims
In 2013, the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology retracted a paper that linked genetically modified corn and the herbicide Roundup to cancer and premature death in rats, saying that results were inconclusive. The journal’s editor said that the study had used too few rats, and that the specific strain of rats used was prone to cancer.
Know Before You Eat
Unlike Europe, there is no mandate that requires GMO foods be labeled so that consumers know what they are buying and eating.
While we wait for label laws to take effect, you should read your food labels carefully. If your food contains soy, corn, canola, or sugar — and it isn’t organic — it is most likely made with GMO products.
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