Are Genetically Modified Foods Healthy?
A Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) or Genetically Engineered (GE) organism is a plant, animal, or microorganism whose genetic material has been altered using recombinant DNA technology (rDNA). rDNA is a technique used in genetics that creates an artificial DNA sequence from the combination of two other DNA sequences. The general belief is that GMOs will make food taste better, become more nutritious, and have a longer shelf life. Other beliefs are that GMOs are key factor in helping feed the growing population in developing countries, making agriculture sustainable, and vastly improving public health. The most widely grown GMO crops include corn, canola, cotton flax, rice, and soybean. GMOs come in two types: “insect resistant” and “herbicide tolerant”.
The use of GMO foods is the subject of an intense global controversy. The concern is whether the FDA, USDA, or the EPA has done enough testing to determine the long-term effects of GMOs in our food. These long-term and possibly harmful effects may take many years to develop. We have been eating food with GMOs since 1996 and some experts conclude GMO foods could have new and different risks for you and possibly the environment.
Given the current growth rate of the world’s population I don’t see how we can possibly sustain this growth without genetically modified foods. Ensuring a food supply for this exploding population will be impossible without benefits that GMOs provide but I am still concerned. I watch what I eat very carefully and I want the food I consume to be as natural as possible. If given a choice I am going to choose non-GMO foods every time but I’m not sure I will always have a choice. Foods classified as organic, natural, or GMO-Free are generally much more expensive than their high-yield, disease and pest-resistant counterparts. I personally have no problem paying this extra expense because I can’t put a price on my health. Genetically modified foods may look nutritious on paper but only time will tell if they are truly healthy.
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Last Updated on April 12th, 2008
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