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Summary In his article “No, You Shouldn’t Fear GMO Corn” published at Slate.com in 2012, Jon Entine argues that genetically engineered crops pose no harm to health or environment, and the conclusion Caitlin Shetterly made is absurd and holds no water. Though every major scientific regulatory oversight body in the world has concluded that GMO foods are harmless, the public remains deeply suspicious, fearing that such food may cause cancer or allergies. Caitlin Shetterly, one of the worried public, wrote an article in Elle magazine, claiming that genetically modified foods could cause allergic reactions, and that consumers face unknown and unacceptable risks from new, yet-to-be-identified allergens that our government’s monitoring program, compromised by industry, is not designed to pick up. The evidence Shetterly provided was the subsidence of her symptoms of eosinophilic disorder after she stripped all corn from her diet, which convinced her the cause-and-effect between eating genetically modified corn and the allergic reactions. She tried to prove her arguments by interviewing a ran...
Undoubtedly, critics have raised counterarguments to most if not all the arguments presented by the proponents of GMOs. These counterarguments range from religious to empirical. However the most critical counterarguments stem from the visible negative effects of GMOs. A study published in Nature magazine concluded that the transgenic modification which resulted in corn stock being resistant to pests such as corn borers, additionally caused the pollen to harm monarch butterflies.
The controversy surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) lies in the lack of acceptable research on the topic. While numerous studies and experiment have been conducted, unbiased results have yet to be published. On one hand, bioengineers claim their GMOs and GMO products are not harmful and may even be beneficial, while on the other hand, scientists and agriculturists claim they are terrified about the uncertainty surrounding these unnatural products. This paper will explain what GMOs are, then analyze positive and negative claims and determine if they have any validity.
In the video, “Genetically Modified Crops: Hope vs. Hype”, reveals that a Cornell study followed-up by Iowa state researchers show that “pollen from GMO corn is killing the larvae of the Monarch butterflies, which is not at all what the corn 's designers intended” (“Genetically Modified Crops: Hope vs. Hype”). GMO seeds are contaminating our environment, which were presumed safe before. Genetically-modified organisms are the unorthodox procedure of moving genes from one species to a completely different and unrelated species. These unnatural transferring of genetics are causing death among insects. Undeniably, nature 's long-lived ways are safer compared to the bio-tech 's short-lived ways. They hold many uncertainties. Such as, Niagara
Jacqueline Pongracic, wrote “ I’ve been treating patients in the field of allergy immunology for fifteen years and in recent years I’ve really seen the rates of food allergy skyrocketed(Sheehann). Estimates show that twelve million Americans have serious food allergies as evidenced by abnormal blood immunoglobulin levels. In 1996, Brazilian nut genes were placed into soybeans in order to provide additional protein called methionine. However, some individuals are so allergic to the nut, they can actually go into anaphylactic shock. Following several incidences the product was removed from the market before any actual fatalities occurred(Lacey). A study released in 2013 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies among children increased approximately fifty percent between 1997 and 2011("Facts and Statistics - Food Allergy Research & Education"). However, FDA officials who are entrusted to protect the health of the general public have gone against the advice of their own scientist to test for allergies and have declared genetically modified foods are essentially equivalent to regular foods. Many research studies have positively confirmed this kind of overall risk for genetically modified foods. Two research studies showed that farm workers who were exposed to genetically modified Bt corn sprays exhibited extensive allergic reactions. Another study that lasted over a decade showed that genetically modified peas caused allergic lung damage in mice, the
If you read the paper or watch the news, you’re undoubtedly aware of the debate raging over genetically modified food. Is it bad or is it good? Between the feuding sides, you might find yourself a little lost and wondering which side is right. Answers to seemingly simple questions have been blurred or exaggerated by both sides. On one side genetically modified food is more sustainable, safe, cheaper, easier to grow and has the potential of creating disease-fighting foods. Although this is positive and good intentioned, there may be unintended consequences that we have been quick to overlook. Those opposing genetically modified food clam that it is dangerous, harms the environment, increases health risks, and causes infertility and weight gain. Even things like the declining bee population may have closer ties to modified food than previously thought. We must look to science for answers. By studying genetically modified organisms (GMOs) we can guide our decision about whether we want to be consuming them.
Denson, Bryan. "Genetically engineered crops viewed as both benefit, threat". The Oregonian. February 10, 2000.
Stop and think about your food before letting it enter your body. Is it safe? Is it good for me? Well, if you find yourself stuck in one of those situations where you can’t decide whether GM foods are good for you or bad, you’ve come to the right place. GM crops can be dangerous for you because the allergies it can give you. These GM crops are organisms that have been inserted with genes to make them look better for you, but remember, you can’t judge a book by its cover. These “delicious” looking crops can look like the best crops you ever laid eyes on, but on the inside it can cause you to get allergies that can cause you to rethink, is this really good for me? Research shows in the article, “GMOs and Genetically Modified Foods Risks and Dangers of GMOs”, that, “This can create an overproduction of allergens, toxins, carcinogens, or antinutrients.” This disseminates with clarity that GM crops can create many different allergens a...
... cause an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals” (Whitman). This quote from Whitman introduces a new problem which displays another fault with the GMOs. The pesticide and other treatments may create unexpected allergic reactions to not only childeren but to adults as well, since the immune systems may not have resistance to the bacteria in their bodies. Nonetheless, the system of modifying foods genetically may seem immoral to people based on the unnatural aspect of it. Some may suggest this process goes against the natural ways food was once supposed to be grown and treated.
Genetically engineered foods are different from other foods. Genetic engineering allows, for the first time, foreign genes, bacterial and viral vectors, viral promoters and antibiotic marker systems to be engineered into food. In 1992 the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) ruled, without any scientific basis, that genetically engineered foods present no different risks than traditional foods. Although the FDA ruled in 1992 that “genetically engineered foods present no different risks than traditional foods, one of FDA’s own scientists “there is a profound difference between the types of unexpected effects from traditional breeding and genetic engineering. ... This difference should be and is not addressed.” (GE Food) Moreover, irrespective of the type of genes that are inserted, the very process of creating a GM plant can result in massive collateral damage that produces new toxins, allergens, and carcinogens. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) urges doctors to prescribe non-GMO diets for all patients. They cite animal studies showing organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility. Numerous health problems increased after GMOs were introduced in 1996. The percentage of Americans with three or more chronic illnesses jumped from 7% to 13% in just nine years; food allergies skyrocketed, and
As heated debates continue about the labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms, little does the general US population know that they eat GMOs every day. Over thirty thousand different products on grocery store shelves are GMOs, including daily products such as milk, corn, and soy (Chien). While the illustration of a butterfly sitting on a blade of grass shaped like a check mark could subconsciously reassure people that a genetically modified food product is "safe," such labeling is not needed as GMOs are not only healthy to eat and economically advantageous, rather they may be a sustainable solution to world hunger.
Starlink, a genetically modified corn that is approved for use in animal feed but not for human consumption, made its way into human foods last year. The government reported last week that Starlink did not cause allergic reactions in people who reported health problems after eating it.” (ABC News) Even if this particular GMO, which was not approved for consumption by humans, did not cause allergic reactions, there is no evidence that it is not directly related to the other health problems the consumer experienced. This is only one example where the government has disputed against any GMO involvement with allergic reactions. Although, how can the government deny such a connection when between the years 1997 to 2007, reported food allergies increased by 18 percent among children under the age of 18 (Ko). Coincidentally this was the same time period that there was a rise in the use of GM crops worldwide. The government should have nothing to hide from their citizens. We live in democracy, not a communist state. We have a natural right as human beings to know what foods in our local stores pose a threat to our health as an individual. This does not mean that GM foods as a whole are unhealthy for the consumer, but regardless, they should be labeled as what they
Bioengineering of Genetically Modified (GM) corn began to produce better yields and reduce loss. GM corn has been highly controversial since its beginning. Opponents of GM corn question the health effects, while supporters argue there is no evidence of negative effects. Genetically modifying the diet of the world’s livestock raises ethical questions that have debatable answers.
In this day and age Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) have become a topic of large interest in the media. GMOs are defined as an organism whose genetic structure has been altered by incorporating a gene that will express a desirable trait (Dresbach et. al 2013). Often times these traits that are selected are either beneficial to the consumer or producer. Currently, GMOs are being created at a higher rate than ever before and are being used in the foods that we eat. This has created a large amount of debate on local, national, and international levels about the safety of genetically modified foods to human health. There are many angles that have been taken from different groups about this issue. Some believe it is harmful to our health with one source stating that, “mice eating GMO corn had fewer and smaller babies (Jagelio 2013).” Without testing on humans how are we to know these harmful effects aren’t impacting our health and reproduction. Other groups see GMOs as being both beneficial and having no impact on human health. These individuals site that , “Since GMOs were introduced into the food supply almost 20 years ago, there has not been one documented case of any health problem in humans, not even so much as a sniffle, linked to GMOs (Entine 2013).” They have also found GMOs to be beneficial to human health. Dresbach et. al(2013) found, “The biotechnology of gene splicing allows for the opportunity of creating plants that will produce food that is more nutrient dense.” With so many different views that all cite different information about GMO’s impact on human well-being, the question remains how GMOs affect human health?
“Genetically modified foods are a "Pandora's box" of known and unknown risks to humans and the environment. They have been forced onto the American public by multinational biotech and agribusiness corporations without adequate oversight and regulation by the United States government (Driscoll, SallyMorley, David C).”Genetically Modified Food is food which has been chemically altered by scientists during the production process to give the food more nutrients, better appearance, and a longer shelf-life (Rich, Alex K.Warhol, Tom). The importance of this issue is that these GMO’s can actually have a negative effect in our society in general. It could mutate in a negative way and cause cancer or other diseases. Genetically modified food should be strictly controlled due to its various detrimental effects on the environment, human health, and potentially insect/animal effects.
An English doctor, named Arpad Pusztai, did a study on rats being fed genetically modified foods. His study found out that rats that ate genetically modified potatoes had pre-cancerous cells, smaller brains, smaller livers, smaller testicles, and damaged immune systems. After finding this out, he then changed the eating habits of the rats by interchanging between feeding them organic potatoes and genetically modified potatoes for two weeks at a time. He concluded that whenever the rats ate the organic potatoes, their symptoms disappeared, but when the rats ate the GMO potatoes again, the symptoms reappeared. Pusztai study isn’t the only that proves that GMOs are harmful. Other studies have also shown that GMOs are linked to reproductive problems, immune system problems, accelerated aging, gastrointestinal distress, and dysfunctional regulation. This proves that GMOs have a serious effect on our