Issues Concerning Safety of GM Foods
There are several controversial issues surrounding the use of genetically modified foods. For example, there are economic and political hazards to go along with potential human health risks. For our purposes here, we will dig deeper into the controversies surrounding the possible human health concerns that go along with the consumption of GM foods.
People are wary of GM foods simply because not enough information is known about them. They have not been around long enough for people to see any long term effects that they might have when consumed. One known concern there is about GM crops is allergenicity. When transferring genes into plants, often there is a need for an allergen to be added to get the desired results. Adding this allergen into a crop that will be consumed could cause people to have allergic reactions. Besides that, other health concerns are just unknown, although animal testing has shown problems with infertility, problems with the immune system, accelerated aging, and problems with insulin regulating (Miller).
The fear of these possible health risks related to GM foods along with mandatory labeling of foods has forced some countries, such as England, to put a ban on GM foods. In fact England’s Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries, and Food has made conscious efforts to educate their population about the dangers of eating GM foods and has even cautioned our own Food and Drug Administration about the dangers (Miller). Interestingly enough, the debate of GM foods in England has been recently stirred up by their Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs claiming that biotechnology would help secure their food supply (Riley).
Another controversy that arises from the question of GM food safety is labeling foods that do contain GM ingredients. The actors who benefit from the selling of foods containing GM ingredients fear that people will see GM foods on the label and be afraid to buy it. People who are for the food being labeled feel that they have the right to know what they are eating. Currently the U.S. does not have a mandatory labeling requirement for GM foods, however 40% of the world’s population eats food that has labeling. Also according to a poll, 87% of people want to see GM foods labeled (Miller).
Stemming from this issue of labeling comes another controversy concerning Obama’s decision of placing two opponents of food labeling in charge of food safety. In fact, one of the men, Michael Taylor, was a former vice president of the Monsanto Company (Miller). The Monsanto Company controls a large majority of the genetically modified seed industry and is also well known for its vicious tactics used for tracking down those who infringe on their seed patents (Barlett). Clearly people fear that these men will have Monsanto’s interests in mind.
People are wary of GM foods simply because not enough information is known about them. They have not been around long enough for people to see any long term effects that they might have when consumed. One known concern there is about GM crops is allergenicity. When transferring genes into plants, often there is a need for an allergen to be added to get the desired results. Adding this allergen into a crop that will be consumed could cause people to have allergic reactions. Besides that, other health concerns are just unknown, although animal testing has shown problems with infertility, problems with the immune system, accelerated aging, and problems with insulin regulating (Miller).
The fear of these possible health risks related to GM foods along with mandatory labeling of foods has forced some countries, such as England, to put a ban on GM foods. In fact England’s Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries, and Food has made conscious efforts to educate their population about the dangers of eating GM foods and has even cautioned our own Food and Drug Administration about the dangers (Miller). Interestingly enough, the debate of GM foods in England has been recently stirred up by their Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs claiming that biotechnology would help secure their food supply (Riley).
Another controversy that arises from the question of GM food safety is labeling foods that do contain GM ingredients. The actors who benefit from the selling of foods containing GM ingredients fear that people will see GM foods on the label and be afraid to buy it. People who are for the food being labeled feel that they have the right to know what they are eating. Currently the U.S. does not have a mandatory labeling requirement for GM foods, however 40% of the world’s population eats food that has labeling. Also according to a poll, 87% of people want to see GM foods labeled (Miller).
Stemming from this issue of labeling comes another controversy concerning Obama’s decision of placing two opponents of food labeling in charge of food safety. In fact, one of the men, Michael Taylor, was a former vice president of the Monsanto Company (Miller). The Monsanto Company controls a large majority of the genetically modified seed industry and is also well known for its vicious tactics used for tracking down those who infringe on their seed patents (Barlett). Clearly people fear that these men will have Monsanto’s interests in mind.
References
Barlett, Donald. (2008, May). Monsanto's Harvest of Fear. Vanity Fair, Retrieved April 12, 2010.
Miller, Conrad. (2009, September-October). Today's Synthetic Foods: Shrinking Our Brains, Testicles, and Livers?. Tikkun, Retrieved April 12, 2010
Riley, Jonathan.(2009). Defra Acknowledges GM Technology Benefits. Farmer's Weekly. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
Barlett, Donald. (2008, May). Monsanto's Harvest of Fear. Vanity Fair, Retrieved April 12, 2010.
Miller, Conrad. (2009, September-October). Today's Synthetic Foods: Shrinking Our Brains, Testicles, and Livers?. Tikkun, Retrieved April 12, 2010
Riley, Jonathan.(2009). Defra Acknowledges GM Technology Benefits. Farmer's Weekly. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
