Genetically Modified Food: Safe or Hazardous

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Recommended: Benefits of Genetically modified Organism

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have become common place in our food supply. There are many ethical issues to consider in the entire process from feeding livestock with feed that has been produced from genetically modified ingredients, farming genetically modified crops and the products that end up on the store shelf as a result. What can the consumer in the United States do to insure the food they are feeding their families is safe? How do we know if the GMOs in our food supply are safe or hazardous?
There are many that believe there are no known risks with GMOs. The main purpose for genetically modified crops (GMCs) is to make them resistant to pesticides, diseases and pests. According to Henry I. Miller (2012), genetic engineering actually makes food safer by reducing such dangerous contaminants as fungus and mold in an established and practical way. In 2013, 93% of all soybeans, 90% of all feed corn and 90% of all cotton grown in the United States had been genetically modified. (Weise, 2014) There are other genetically modified crops in the United States such as alfalfa, canola, papaya, sweet corn and summer squash. The United States leads the world in genetically modified crops. (Weise, 2014)
On the other hand, you have arguments that GMOs are hazardous to our health and environment. Ronnie Cummins is the founder of the non-profit organization, Organic Consumers Association. According to Cummins (2012), genetically modified food has been found to contain toxins, some of them deadly and others cancer-causing; in addition, GMOs could harm people with allergies by exposing them to proteins spliced into common food products. The Organic Consumers Association is pushing for a complete ban on all GMOs and biotech...

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...ra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Hazards of Genetically Engineered Foods and Crops: Why We Need A Global Moratorium." Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 22 Feb. 2014
Helme, Morgan Anderson. "Genetically Modified Food Fight: The FDA Should Step Up to the Regulatory Plate so States Do Not Cross the Constitutional Line." Minn. L. Rev. 98 (2013): 356-419. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 22 Feb. 2014
Miller, Henry I. "Genetically Modified Foods Have Numerous Benefits and No Known Risks." Genetic Engineering. Ed. Noël Merino. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "When Technophobia Becomes Toxic." 2012. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.
Weise, Elizabeth. "Genetically engineered crops in nearly 12% of fields." USA Today 13 Feb. 2014: 04B. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.

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