Genetically Altered Food: Is It Safe?

... breeding could not produce (History). Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer discover recombinant DNA technology in the 1970s, making it possible to isolate individual genes, alter them, and copy them in cells, opening up vast commercial possibilities (Genetic). The first genetically altered whole food, Calgene's Flav'r Sav'r Tomatoes, began to be commercially marketed in 1994. Since then the growth in ... cantaloupe, strawberries, chicory, papaya, sunflowers, peanuts, sugar, rice, fish such as salmon, dairy cattle, livestock cattle, pigs, and poultry (Seetharaman). Corn and soybeans have been ...

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... of America" (32). My personal interest in this matter stems from growing up on a farm and the recent resurgence of gardening in my daily life. Is it healthier or more cost effective to seek out non-genetically modified food for my family? Hopefully more answers than questions will become apparent in the near future. There have been many tests to substantiate the corporate claims ... safe to eat and have no long-term health risks. First off, what is genetically modified food? Eric Schlosser elaborates on this in the film, Food Inc. The source of all genetically modified food is genetical...

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... States and the European Union. This sparked the initial controversy about whether or not genetically modified foods were safe, which ultimately raises the question of whether produce companies should be permitted to genetically modify our foods. (Endres, 453) Genetically modified foods put the environment and the wellbeing of humans at risk, and they ... Genetically Modified Food, " in the Journal of Environmental Health points out, "Opponents argue that government agencies are violating their religious and consumer rights "(Jefferson 34) Many consumers see the process of genetic modifi...

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... in the United States, nearly 40% of them children, did not have access to enough food. In this respect, hunger was not a matter of abundance but was due in part to poverty and limited access to resources. The industry is not addressing the health hazards involved with genetically altered foods. Very few studies have been conducted to determine the impact of GM foods upon ... new allergens into foods that would make sensitive individuals prone to harm. For example, many individuals are allergic to the lactose protein in milk and therefore they cannot drink it. It is possible to genetical...

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... Recently, there has been a serious amount of tampering in our food source called GMO's (Genetically Modified Organisms). There is heavy debate about the safety and ethics surrounding the use of genetically modified organisms, and both sides are quite heated. So what exactly are Genetically Modified Organisms? GMO's are plants or animals that have been genetically altered with the DNA from bacteria, viruses, chemicals and other plants and ... animals. The purpose of this process is to make the animal or plant immune to herbicide or produce insecticide and grow faster for more profit (The ...

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... have scientists introduced these products to the American public. The most common crops being altered are corn, soybean, and tomato but many others are being developed. (Nelson 40-48). A major part of the debate is the issue of ethical beliefs and media perception. Some Catholics believe that altering food is ethically wrong. They believe that the process in an unacceptable intervention in God's creation ... normal. Usually, a farmer would have to hire many people to help him in the process, and take up much of his valuable time.(Kung 11-14) Scientists have even discovered a safe and ef...

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... groceries in the market genetically altered. With this lack of acquaintance, consumers have a potential to purchase edibles containing allergens and chemicals that they are susceptible to, and this can lead to fatalities. Furthermore, Greenpeace points out that there is a deficient in studies on the long-term effects of the genetically fixed foods on humans' health. Although the biotechnological food companies claim there are ... term consequence of such elements on humans' health; then, does not that mean there is no guarantee that these foods are safe and beneficial to humans? The pro...

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... genes from organisms that have never been eaten as food, new proteins are introduced into the human and animal food chains. There is concern that these could cause serious environmental problems, or worse it can cause health problems to humans. Splicing foreign genetic material into genomes, creating new organisms that could never arise in nature, creates genetically engineered foods. The most common form of gene ... in humans. Someone allergic to peanuts or some kind of fish, for example, would have no way of knowing if a tomato or other food had been altered with proteins from these s...

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... skepticism from many environmental and health activist groups and some consumers. "Greenpeace calls genetically modified (GM) food "biological pollution"" (Frenzy 1). Much of the opposition for genetically engineered food is based on the concern that it holds the potential to change "natural plants" forever when they are exposed to pollen from altered crops. They also fear the health problems that might be created by the consumption ... of GM foods. However according to Food and Drug Administration, what the consumers need to realize is that "these new foods will be every bit as safe ......

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