In a word, negatively. What are GM foods? Those foods whose DNA is modified to either switch on desired traits or switch off undesired ones and that are injected with poisons to allegedly reduce pesticide use. We've been told by GM food producers that GM foods are safe, will not adversely affect our health, are being produced to increase production to feed more of the world's poor, make food bigger and more disease and weather resistant. However, let's examine this a little closer to gain more insight into what GM food producers aren't telling us.
First, GM food producers typically don't tell us that genetically engineering foods also has negative implications. One is that insects become immune to the injected poison requiring the use of more pesticides. Now while this may be good for the profits of companies like Monsanto, who is the largest producer of GM foods and also the largest producer of weed killer, it is bad for the environment and more importantly our health. After all, pesticides are toxic to the human body. Another negative upshot of GM foods is that because they appear as foreign, once ingested, the human body will not metabolize them. This triggers a defense response in the body to reject it. Moreover, there have been several unintended adverse health risks associated with GM foods such as allergic reactions, viral and bacterial illnesses, birth defects, cancer and degenerative diseases. Lastly, no one knows what the potential long-term effects of consuming GM foods will be.
Despite what we are being told, GM foods seem to have more drawbacks than benefits, at least with respect to the health and welfare of consumers. Meanwhile, GM foods are being produced, sold and consumed by the unsuspecting consumer at an alarmingly high rate. In today's U.S. market 60% to 70% of processed foods are genetically modified. In 2009, in the U.S. alone, there were nearly 171 million acres of GM cotton, soybean and corn crops. Even more disturbing is that as a matter of law our right to know what foods are GM foods has not been acknowledged. This is problematic when the foods being genetically modified are staple foods in the average American diet. Among them are corn, tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, soy beans and bananas just to name a few and the list is steadily growing.
Such being the case, as consumers we must make every effort to eat more organically grown food for the good of our health and the environment. We must be also be diligent in questioning
The questions must be asked.
First, GM food producers typically don't tell us that genetically engineering foods also has negative implications. One is that insects become immune to the injected poison requiring the use of more pesticides. Now while this may be good for the profits of companies like Monsanto, who is the largest producer of GM foods and also the largest producer of weed killer, it is bad for the environment and more importantly our health. After all, pesticides are toxic to the human body. Another negative upshot of GM foods is that because they appear as foreign, once ingested, the human body will not metabolize them. This triggers a defense response in the body to reject it. Moreover, there have been several unintended adverse health risks associated with GM foods such as allergic reactions, viral and bacterial illnesses, birth defects, cancer and degenerative diseases. Lastly, no one knows what the potential long-term effects of consuming GM foods will be.
Despite what we are being told, GM foods seem to have more drawbacks than benefits, at least with respect to the health and welfare of consumers. Meanwhile, GM foods are being produced, sold and consumed by the unsuspecting consumer at an alarmingly high rate. In today's U.S. market 60% to 70% of processed foods are genetically modified. In 2009, in the U.S. alone, there were nearly 171 million acres of GM cotton, soybean and corn crops. Even more disturbing is that as a matter of law our right to know what foods are GM foods has not been acknowledged. This is problematic when the foods being genetically modified are staple foods in the average American diet. Among them are corn, tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, soy beans and bananas just to name a few and the list is steadily growing.
Such being the case, as consumers we must make every effort to eat more organically grown food for the good of our health and the environment. We must be also be diligent in questioning
- why no laws exist that require agro-chemical companies to inform consumers of what foods are genetically modified unless there is the threat of an allergic reaction to the product;
- why GM foods are being developed so quickly and primarily being marketed toward consumers with the highest rate of obesity in the world; and
- why there are no laws protecting the farmers being pigeon-holed into buying GM seeds.
The questions must be asked.
SHARE
