Samia Sylvia
ENGL 21000
Professor Slentz
03/15/2020
Abstract
Throughout the technology, some people find an advanced way to survive and some people found themselves self at risk. By using technology scientists have used radiation and substances to introduce gene modifications in edible crops in efforts to achieve desired characteristics. Some people think because GMOs people are gaining overweight and putting themself in a risk, which will be the long term affect. And some people argue that there is no valid evidence to say GMOs
are a risk for health. They also claim that GMOs are saving the world from hunger and even in an advanced way being effective against weeds.
Keywords: Genetically modified food, contaminated, health risk, increasing yield, glyphosate.
Are G.M.O Foods Safe?
Has anyone wondered about the food with uniform labeling? What does that mean? Technology is constantly giving human hopes, faith and helping humankind from suffering. However, sometimes the technological advantage is controversial. One concern always being questionable if the technology is truly being helpful or the technology always putting humankind’s lives in danger. One of the examples in the production and consumption of genetically modified food (G.M.O). Our world is suffering from hunger and disease. Even nature itself becomes devastation for the environment: drought and floods. Which causes the deficiency of our food. Therefore, scientists find a way to solve the food problem all around the world through genetic engineering of organisms that will yield crops resistant to natural disasters and increase food production to see the world’s hunger end. Some people believe that genetically modified food has long term effects and people are still terrified to eat G.M.O foods. However, as there is no proof that G.M.O foods have any health effects among consumers. G.M.O foods are reducing world hunger, no deficiency of food and the latest development among weed, which made weedless particularly effective. Therefore, there are very few valid reasons to say Genetically Modified Food is not helpful and safe for the entire population. There is no 100% guarantee Genetic Modified food is safe to consume but it’s beneficial for poor counties and it has lots of advantages among some consumers.
A GMO is performed by injecting genetic substances from plants, animals, or bacteria into a crop in beliefs of creating a new and beneficial trait. Agriculture scientists have applied radiation and chemicals to inject gene mutations in edible crops in efforts to produce desirable characteristics. The idea is to make the plant immune to insect destruction and to narrow the number of harmful pesticides producers have to spray. Other GM plants, such as Roundup Ready corn, were designed to sustain the spraying of the herbicide Roundup, which eliminates weeds and would frequently remove the plant, too. Another example is Bt corn, Bt corn is taking DNA from bacteria which is toxic for some insects so that the farmers don’t have to spray any pesticides. Some GMO supporters say that GMO food “helps feed a growing world population, especially in poor countries where drought” (Alisa, 2004). There are still someplace where because of starvation thousand and thousand Childers are dying every day. The reason is not growing enough crops. And nature itself sometimes becomes bloodcurdling, because of the natural disaster some countries always end up lacking food and crops. Meanwhile, there is very little agreement on addressing world hunger. “We have plenty of food for the world right now. It’s not the deficiency of technology that’s a problem for developing countries, says Jane Rissler, Ph.D.” ( Alisa. 2004). However, the problem of developing countries causes hunger problems. Because of the country’s poverty, the population is starving for not having food. By 2050 the population will rise to 9 billion. If there is not enough food then how would it be possible to feed the world?
Furthermore, most studies present that genetically modified foods are harmless for human consumption, though it is generally approved that the long-term health consequences are unknown. The Food and Drug administration sees that GMO foods are safe. When GMO foods are created, the food has to get approved to go to the market. There are 3 agencies in the government that administer with GM plants. The department of agriculture restraints where these plants can be examined and distributed. The 2nd agency is EPA, and they are responsible for examining pesticides and chemicals. If the BT toxin impacts the pesticides. BT toxin representing plants would be examined by the EPA. Lastly, the 3rd group is FDA, what they do is when the process is set up on how to regulate GM food. FDA is also responsible for 2 things, 1st GM foods need to get approval by testing the drugs system. 2nd is a food additive. This proves that before the food comes to market there are so many examinations that have to go through to make sure that the food is not harmful to people.
However, people who worry who eat genetically modified foods may be more likely to have allergies or illnesses resistant to antibiotics. But they have been hard-pressed to reveal scientific studies to back up those concerns. “The benefits of GM crops greatly outweigh the health risks, which so far remain theoretical” (Freedman, 2013). Everything in this world has a positive and negative impact. Even though the scientist doesn’t have enough evidence to prove that there are no negative impacts of GMO foods. Some people also agreed on GMOs not only creating allergies or diseases, but they are also affecting the environment negatively, including the serious warning of GM seeds diffusing to and contaminating both organic including conventional crop fields.
There is about 80 percent of foods in every grocery store that contains genetic engineering ingredients. Many consumers are terrified of eating an apple with an added anti-browning gene or a pink pineapple genetically improved with the antioxidant lycopene. In any local grocery or market, the consumers will find many products labeled “No G.M.O.s. ” which is kind of hard to see the small print on the food which saying “Partially produced with genetic engineering”. More than a million people have confirmed that Just Label It! Therefore, federal law 2016 makes it mandatory that all genetically engineered foods should be uniform labeling. But the question always comes up: is it possible to live completely GMO-free? “ if you buy only certified-organic products, you probably can’t avoid GMOs completely. That’s because it is also possible for organic food crops to become inadvertently contaminated” (Blackwood, 2004). That means there is no guarantee that people can consume 100% organic food.
Nevertheless, some people also argue against health risk. They believe that there is no conflicting health effect on consumers. And people are eating this food without any problem. “In the decades since the first genetically modified foods reached the market, no adverse health effects among consumers have been found” (Brody. 2018) Moreover, genetic engineering development resistance to a 2nd weed killer with combining glyphosate. “Resistance to a second weed killer, 2,4-D, has been combined with glyphosate resistance” (Brody. 2018). This emphasized that scientists are even developing GM processes. Which takes to even in a more advanced way to help the human. They combined weed genes with glyphosate to make the weed-less effective. Therefore, this invention would be beneficial for everyone.
Ultimately, one solution that points out that, 1st GMO food is covering world hunger and if we are obsessed about organic food we still can consume it and import the GMOs with low cost. Have we ever thought by 2050 the population will increase dramatically, and if there is not how it’s going to be possible to cover world hunger? Organic crops are possible to harvest in any condition. To yield organic crops it requires a good region, and also good condition. Which is not possible for every year in each country. Because nature itself doesn’t stay the same continuously. Therefore, if the organic harvest can’t meet the requirements, this season there won’t be sufficient food to feed the world. Moreover, on the other side genetically modified foods are safe and can raise harvests even in poor conditions by protecting against pests, weeds, and drought. As a result, there won’t be any problem feeding the world. For example continents such as Africa, the region is very dry therefore GMOs can easily harvest in that region. Although, there are some negative effects of GMOs which are still unknown. As a result, eating GMO foods is totally up to consumers. We still have the option to consume organic food. Which is much more expensive. Not everyone can afford organic food. People who can afford it, they can consume organic food. Meanwhile, GMOs can be imported to those countries who really need it with lower cost rather than eliminating GMOs from the country.
In conclusion, throughout the technology, some people find an advance way to survive and some people found themselves self at risk. By using technology scientists have used radiation and substances to introduce gene modifications in edible crops in efforts to achieve desired characteristics. Some people think because GMOs are gaining overweight and putting themselves in a risk, which will be the long term affect. And some people argue that there is no valid evidence to say GMOs are a risk for health. They also claim that GMOs are saving the world from hunger and even in an advance way being effective against weeds. Therefore, I think the proposed solution would be if some consumers feel more comfortable with organic food and if they can afford organic food at a high cost they are more welcome to do that. The federal law 2016 should be more effective for uniform labeling on GMOs. As a result, it will be easier for consumers to figure out organic and non-organic food. And they can import GM crops at a low cost. People who believe GMOs are not risking the health and there is no evidence of harmful they can consume GMOs. One day when I was coming back home from work, I saw a woman with her two kids. She and her kids were standing right in front of me. I was just trying to be nice. Therefore, I stood up and gave up my seat to those kinds. What I observed was that one kid was very quiet and another kid was pretty much savage. They both had some type of food in their hand. One was eating quietly and another kid (the savage one) finished his food very soon. And as soon as he finishes his food he started to stare at his brother’s food. The quite boy was hiding his food. So that his brother can’t steal his food.
On the other side, their mom was watching them. After a few minutes the savage kind attack on his brother’s food. And as soon his mother saw this and pinch on his ear. And unfortunately, he stayed quiet for a few minutes. Few minutes pass by he started to do the same thing. His mom is not lass them him. Again she pinched on his ear and again he become quite. The 2nd time she pinched on his ear this makes me laugh. I was able to hide my laugh anyway. I was stat to laughing so badly. And when their mom saw me laughing she was kind of shy. I was able to tell by looking at her. Then within a minute, I get off from the train. When I got home I still was laughing about that.
Bibliography
(n.d.). Retrieved from (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/23/well/eat/are-gmo-foods-safe.html
Author Jane E. Brody, Published April, 23 2018
This article talks about if the G.M.O foods are safe for the consumers. Many consumers are terrified of eating an apple with an attached anti-browning gene or a pink pineapple genetically improved with the antioxidant lycopene. In any local grocery or market, the consumers will find many products labeled “No G.M.O.s.” which is kind of hard to see the small print on the food which saying “Partially produced with genetic engineering”. Therefore, federal law 2016 manded that all genetically engineered foods should be uniform labeling. Moreover, there is no conflicting health effecting with consumers. And people are eating this food without any problem. Meanwhile, genetic engineering development resistance to a 2nd weed killer with combining glyphosate.
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lflmkydVJ0&t=171s
Published May 1, 2017
This video talks about when the GM foods are first created and have the approval to go to market, there’s this concept of substantial equivalent which meaning the crops itself is basically safe much as isogenic version. This video also talks about how the plants are modified. There are 3 agencies in the government that deal with GM plants. The department of agriculture control where these plants can be taste and the distribution. 2nd agencies are EPA, and they are responsible for testing pesticides and chemicals. If the BT toxin impacts the pesticides. BT toxin expressing plants would be tested by the EPA. Lastly, the 3rd group is FDA, what they do is when the process is set up on how to regulate GM food. FDA is also responsible for 2 things, 1st GM foods need to get approval by testing the drugs system. 2nd is a food additive, FDA recognized as safe is grass designation.
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://web-b-ebscohost-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=4&sid=f70b795b-20dd-4c9d-8b6d-639f72bf2acd@pdc-v-sessmgr01&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==#AN=12933538&db=a9h
Published May 2004, by Alisa Blackwood
This article explains concerns associated with the adoption of genetically modified organisms (GMO) by consumers. The objective of creating GMO; Kinds of foods that contain GMO; Safety concerns on GMO food; Result of GM crops on the environment.
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-truth-about-genetically-modified-food/?page=1
By David H. Freedman on September 1, 2013
This article talks about the benefits and risks at the same time. GM crops are at lower prices than compared to organic foods. And much easy to harvest in any condition. But this article also argues because of GM crops how people are gaining weight and how it’s becoming a risk for humans.
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=79&v=frH8a0BYWgs&feature=emb_logo
Published Feb 26, 2019
This video talks about the initial information about GMOs. Plants get instruction for growth and development from their DNA which contains thousands of genes. And these crops have to go through into environmental tasting, safety studies, then government approval.
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0REhKMSZs70
Published on 15 Nov 2018
This video talks about the differences between GMOs and gene-edited foods. GMOs is when the scientist takes DNA from one unrelated organism to another. Most of the corn and soy in the USA are GMOs. For example, Bt corn is taking DNA from bacteria which is toxic for some insects so that the farmers don’t have to spray any pesticides. And gene editing is they take away a part of the existing genes to make the food more nutritious and easier to produce.
