Background Genetically modified foods or GMO foods for short, even under many different names, also on transgenic foods, genetically modified food or biotech foods.
What are genetically modified foods? Although various individuals and groups have different definitions of genetically modified foods can be broadly defined as food, “are derived from plants whose genome has been altered through a process of recombinant DNA or gene splicing, to the plant a desirable property.” The modification is usually done in the laboratory using molecular biological techniques or genetic engineering, although there are others who argue that cultures through conventional breeding may also be genetically modified foods.
The first GM food crop, a tomato, which was Montsanto for the approval of the FDA in August 1994 and came into the market in the same year. From the 9th September 2008, a total of 111 biotech foods, the U.S. FDA “consultation” on bioengineered foods. In addition to tomatoes, the product range includes soybeans, corn, cotton, potatoes, flax, canola, squash, papaya, radicchio, sugar beet, rice, melon, and wheat. According to estimates by the Grocery Manufacturers of America, “between 70 percent and 75 percent of all processed foods in American stores can ingredients from genetically modified plants. Bread, cereal, frozen pizza, hot dogs and soda are just some of them.”
The benefits of GM foods. Support for GM food has come from various fields: scientists, economists, and, understandably, from the agricultural and food industries.
GM foods can fight hunger in the world. The world has an all-time high of more than 6 and a half billion. About 20% of them are also affected by poverty and hunger. The GM food is hunger is one of the noblest motives for the development of genetically modified foods. GM foods are supposedly easier to grow and bring higher returns. In poor parts of the world, higher yields can save millions of lives and the much-needed economic benefits. In a review, Terri Raney of the United Nations states: “… the economic results so far suggest that farmers in developing countries can benefit from transgenic crops …”
GM plants are better. GM crops are designed to be stable and robust than their non-GM cousins. They are resistant to drought, diseases and pests. The Hawaiian papaya industry, for example, just to survive a virus epidemic after the introduction of transgenic varieties resistant.
GM foods are with us for hundreds of years. The great diversity of the many plants that we see today, it came by natural and traditional man-made farm crossing, which thousands of years. This is peppers come in different shapes, colors and flavors, very hot and spicy to the sweet types. Therefore, we have more than 1000 different types of tomatoes.
GM foods can combat malnutrition. In a world suffering from malnutrition, genetically modified foods may respond to the need for more nutritious foods. To cite an example, the Swiss researchers sought the creation of rice strains with large amounts of beta-carotene and iron, to vitamin A and iron deficiency. Malnutrition can refer to both malnutrition and poor diet. The people in the rich and developed countries have more than enough to eat, but not the proper nutrition necessary to keep them healthy. For this reason, researchers at the EU-funded project have developed FLORA strains of fruit and vegetables with enhanced content of antioxidants. Through genetic engineering, FLORA oranges have a higher than normal flavonoids and phenols. FLORA The purple tomatoes have three times the amount of antioxidant anthocyanins, compared to normal tomatoes.
GM foods are good for the environment. The damage to the environment, bring insecticides such as DDT, is known. The use of synthetic fertilizers in farmland led to the eutrophication of rivers and lakes around the world. GM foods translate into less use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, and therefore less pollution.
GM foods can help medicine. GM foods can be used in the manufacture of pharmacological products in the so-called “Medical molecular farming: production of antibodies, biopharmaceuticals and edible vaccines in plants.” FLORA stands for “Flavonoids and related phenolics for healthy living with orally recommended antioxidants,” and it sees them self as “a player in the future of medicine.” As already in 2005, Indian researchers reported the possible use of transgenic bananas in vaccines against hepatitis B. In the same year, the biotech company GTC Biotherapeutics in Framingham, Massachusetts has a herd of genetically modified goats, the milk, which human anticoagulant called anti-thrombin.
Genetically modified foods are safe. The developers of genetically modified crops are quick to ensure that genetically modified foods are safe and no risk to human health. GM plants are accompanied by three agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the FDA. “The FDA ensures that food from these crops are safe for humans and animals to eat, the USDA will ensure that the plants are safe to grow and ensures that the EPO pesticides in the plants are safe for human and animal consumption and for the environment. While these agencies act independently. “
According to the U.S. FDA, “bioengineered foods do not present any risks to consumers, which differ from conventional foods … We make sure there are no hazards, such as an unexpected allergen or toxic substance in the food or that the food is not changed in any way that the impact on its nutritional value. “
The questions on genetically modified foods.
Opponents of genetically modified foods may be scientists, environmentalists and consumer groups, of course. In addition, many celebrities are openly anti-GM, so that role models for the public. Among the best known and GM is very skeptical Charles, England’s Prince of Wales.
GM foods are for profit. After his opponent, GM foods were for profit and nothing else. They argue that the multinational giant Monsanto, a pioneer in research and GM owns the infamous Roundup cultures. Companies such as Monsanto are unlikely in the GM business for purely noble reasons.
GM foods are not regulated. The use of genetically modified foods in the world is not nearly a free-for-all activities. Going by the U.S. FDA consultation process is primarily on a voluntary basis. Anti-GM pressure groups and concerned scientists calling for more controls and regulations.
There are also reports of genetically modified plants escape field and find their way to the natural environment, thousands of miles away. In 2006, rice, which genes of the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt the infamous) found its way to European supermarkets, what a great outcry. The benefits of the bacterial gene of rice resistant to insects and the transgenic rice was a test facility that are not yet for human consumption released.
GM food can harm the environment. GM foods are to their environment, and some of these effects could in fact be harmful. The effects are mainly in other living organisms in the vicinity.
There are concerns, for examples, such as cross-pollination with pollen from genetically modified plants, the non-genetically modified plants.
Resistance development is another important issue. In China, for example, researchers used antibiotic resistance marker genes to the derivation of drug resistant strains of transgenic rice. There are concerns that the marker genes are provided by naturally occurring gut bacteria and lead to resistant strains more.
Other studies also point to possible effects on the fauna such as insects, which in close interaction with the genetically modified plants. One of the most famous cases was the claims that pollen from Bt-transgenic maize plants with insecticidal gene markers are affected monarch butterflies in North America. Although experts say that the butterflies were safe from BT, the environmentalists were not met.
GM foods may be detrimental to human health. The main concerns about the negative effects of GM foods on health, the transfer of antibiotic resistance, toxicity and allergenicity. With genetic changes come new compounds in the plant, which we know almost nothing. These compounds may be in the form of little-known allergens and proteins, whose effects on human health are difficult to predict. In the food chain, this can also affect animals by genetically modified crops for human consumption.
GM foods are no better. Western Europe is a stronghold of anti-GM movement. A European study last year said that organic foods – the only non-GM, are definitely better and more nutritious than their non-organic counterparts.
Which way do we want to go? The advantages compared with the risks of GM foods are not a simple issue. There is an urgent need for increasing food production and GM food appear to be in the best position to need it. In short, GM foods are probably the solution to food shortages.
Currently there is not enough scientific evidence, the possible risks of GM foods. However, as in most things new and innovative, long-term benefits and adverse effects can only speculate.
Responsibility should be limited to scientists, health authorities and industry to act responsibly and be as transparent as possible.
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