Pros of GMOs
Currently in the news it seems like Genetically Modified Foods are under attack. Many people are asking the government to label them and claim they are dangerous. With all the negative press it seems like there’s no benefit to growing genetically modified crops. These crops actually provide many advantages to the food industry. One of the main benefits of GMO containing foods is an extended shelf life. This helps people in areas that have a hard time finding access to nutrition rich food. The extended shelf life provides a longer time for these foods to reach distant locations.
Genetically modified crops are popular with farmers because they are engineered to be resistant to insects. Scientists put a toxin called bacterium in the crops. This kills bugs without farmers having to put an excessive amount of pesticides on their crops. This chemical is also safe for human use. Farmers save money because they use fewer pesticides, this allows for cheaper food.
Crops can also be engineered so survive difficult weather situations. This could help countries that have a hard time growing their own food due to droughts or floods. This could be instrumental in helping developing countries feed themselves.
Genetically modified crops are popular with farmers because they are engineered to be resistant to insects. Scientists put a toxin called bacterium in the crops. This kills bugs without farmers having to put an excessive amount of pesticides on their crops. This chemical is also safe for human use. Farmers save money because they use fewer pesticides, this allows for cheaper food.
Crops can also be engineered so survive difficult weather situations. This could help countries that have a hard time growing their own food due to droughts or floods. This could be instrumental in helping developing countries feed themselves.
Cons of GMOs
Many of the people who want food containing GMOs to be labeled simply want to know what they are consuming. But, “52 percent of Americans believe that foods containing GMOs are unsafe” (Langer). People are most concerned with increasing antibiotic resistance in genetically modified foods. These antibiotics are engineered in foods to protect the food from disease. When humans consume vast amounts of these foods, it’s possible to have the antibiotics build up in your body. This makes antibiotics less effective on you. Approximately 23,000 Americans die each year from antibiotic-resistant infections. A link between GMOs and antibiotic-resistant germs has not been confirmed. No studies exist to prove this claim.
Another reason many people are concerned is cross pollination. A farmer in organ thought he was planting organic corn, when really modified corn from a neighbor’s field cross pollinated with his corn. Once these crops are in the wild, we lose control of where they travel.
The biggest concern with GMOs is how they affect the human body. In 1996 genetically modified foods started becoming mass produced. You could find them in virtually any grocery store which was different from the two previous years. In 2005, nine years later, chronic illness rose from 7% to 13%. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine has produced studies that show the harmful effects of GMOs in foods. Their study showed dangerous organ damage in animals that consumed large amounts of GMOs. The animals’ bodies did not know how to digest the chemicals in genetically modified foods and were severely impacted. These animals also had lower immunity to disease. These types of studies have not been attempted with humans, and scientists are not sure if the results would be the same.
Another reason many people are concerned is cross pollination. A farmer in organ thought he was planting organic corn, when really modified corn from a neighbor’s field cross pollinated with his corn. Once these crops are in the wild, we lose control of where they travel.
The biggest concern with GMOs is how they affect the human body. In 1996 genetically modified foods started becoming mass produced. You could find them in virtually any grocery store which was different from the two previous years. In 2005, nine years later, chronic illness rose from 7% to 13%. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine has produced studies that show the harmful effects of GMOs in foods. Their study showed dangerous organ damage in animals that consumed large amounts of GMOs. The animals’ bodies did not know how to digest the chemicals in genetically modified foods and were severely impacted. These animals also had lower immunity to disease. These types of studies have not been attempted with humans, and scientists are not sure if the results would be the same.