An Argument for GMO's in Foods

1200 Words3 Pages

One of my favorite episodes of the television show, "The Simpsons", begins with Marge, the mother, serving her family a dinner of unusually large, genetically modified foods. Shortly after dinner is served, one of the potatoes eats a carrot. Although this example is comedic hyperbole, it is still an excellent illustration of the public perception of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as dangerous "Frankenfoods". This perception is out of touch with the reality of GMOs and runs contrary to a large body of scientific evidence that indicates that GMOs are safe for people and our environment. In this paper I will be focusing my attention on foods modified to produce a certain insecticidal protein known as Bt. I have to do this mostly for brevity. To discuss in detail all of the types GMOs in production or slated for production could easily fill a paper ten times as long as this. Also, Bt crops are already in wide production, with over three million acres planted worldwide, and are already sold in many processed foods (Altieri, 2000). This makes the task of dispelling myths about them all the more prudent. The alleged dangers of Bt crops can be roughly divided into two groups: the risks that growing them pose to the environment, and the risks that eating them pose to people. Environmental concern about Bt crops primarily focuses on the risks of plant-to-plant gene flow and the risks to species not intended to be targeted by the toxin. Plant-to-plant gene flow involves the undesirable movement of Bt genes from GMOs to either non-GMO crops or closely related wild relatives of GMO crops. According to a 2001 report by the Environmental Protection Agency, "Bt Plant-Pesticides Risk and Benefit ... ... middle of paper ... ...way of life. References 1. International Workshop on the Ecological Impacts of Transgenic Crops. Altieri, Miguel A. 2000. University of California, Berkley. 2. Field Deposition of Bt Transgenic Corn Pollen: Lethal Effects on the Monarch Butterfly. Hansen, Jesse and Obrycki, John J. October 2002. Oecologia. v125 n2 pp. 241-248 3. Report: Bt Plant-Pesticides Risk and Benefit Assessments. FIFRA Scientific Adisory Panel. March 12, 2001. Food and Drug Administration. 4. Unpalatable truths. MacKenzie, Deborah. April 1999. New Scientist. p18

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