Ms.

Ravisara Preme Karnjanolarn

Mr. Abel Cadias
English 10 / 10:06
March 11, 2015
Are GM Foods Safe Enough to Eat?
Genetically Modified Foods are not safe to eat because they use chemical processes
and are a risk to human health. The purpose of this research report is to argue that GM foods
are dangerous, and to provide more information supporting the effects of GM products. The
importance of this research report is for the readers understand more about GM foods and
know enough to judge what is good for their consumption. The pieces of information found
in this research report are based on four sources. First, an article called 10 Reasons to Avoid
GMOs concluded that the GMOs are harmful to animal and environment. Second, Carman
in her research, Is GM food safe to eat? talked about the safety of eating GM foods. Third,
Arjun Walia in her study 10 scientific studies proving GMOs can be harmful to human
health revealed that GMOs are unsafe for consumption. Fourth, Whitman in her book
Genetically Modified Foods criticized the study against GM foods. The book also showed
about the difficulties that affect human health risks and economic concerns.
Genetically Modified Foods
Genetically Modified Foods or Genetically Modified Organism refers to crop plants
which are modified by the latest molecular biology techniques for animal and human
consumption (Whitman, 2000). In addition, GM foods can be defined as an organism whose
Gene has been changed by the techniques of genetic engineering. The purposes of GM foods
are to raise the herbicides resistance and improve nutrition. Certifying food supplies are
going to be a main challenge. The concept of GM foods is a good idea because the resources

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are decreasing rapidly due to a huge world population. However, there are always two sides
of a coin. People have to look above to what nature gives. Until now, there are more than 40
plant varieties that have been modified for commercializing. Specifically, these crops are
tomatoes, cantaloupes, soybeans, and corn. The more GMOs are produced, the more fast
foods expand. Historically, junk foods did not use the Modified organisms as ingredients;
however, they were introduced and became general. As a result, grocery stores in the United
States are more widespread, and 99 million acres used to grow GM crops. In 2000, 13
countries grew these crops beneficially for trade, and among these, the U.S. generated the
majority. Mostly dealing in European countries, which are Australia, France, Mexico, and
South Africa. In contrast, Canada and China grew only 7% and 1% respectively. The
Genetically Modified Foods are trended worldwide, Asia was persuaded to import some of its
production; and merchandises and opinions have been altered from one to another with
regards of health effects. For the example, Thailand grows conventional crops which are
more than sufficient to feed people. The premise is that agriculture technologies nowadays is
advanced enough to feed people. GM seeds are unnecessary and can do more harm than good
(Murnaghan, 2012). Genetically modified foods have gathered many attention over time and
become a noted debate. Whitman pointed out some profitable results over naturally crops.
Some of the GMOs advantages are helping to extinguish pesticides, reducing the risk of soil
and groundwater pollution, improving the better nutrient of foods and giving pharmaceutical
proteins for countries which are suffering from starvation. Nevertheless, there are an
enormous concern which definitely related to human health. There are a few of possible
unknown risks. More importantly, two main concerns are the foreign gene can cause allergies
to people or cause the problems with consumers intestines.
Chemical Processes

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The truth is, no one knows enough about GM foods to confirm that they are safe for
the consumption or commercialization because the outcomes are unpredictable. During the
past few years, several countries have totally banned the GM foods for a reason. First of all,
knowing how GMOs are made and the possible risks are the most important part which lead
to a social concern. The background on Gene Technology is to enhance the traits quickly with
accurateness, and running the processes precisely. The arrangement involved in the
development of GMOs are isolation of the genes, insertion of genes, transformation, and
regeneration, respectively. Biotechnology allows the heritage of the genes to be changed into
a completely unrelated species. A DNAs section from an organism is taken by the Genetic
engineers to express a desired characteristic, join it up with other section of DNA, and then
enter the genes into the cell (Carman, 2004). Moreover, DNA from GMOs could be taken up
into the bodys tissues by microbes in the gut. By slipping the unknown genes in our foods
without any knowledge, there will be more chance of widening unwanted impacts. As the
cells repair, the new DNA are combined to the genome. Considering that if the inserts are
placed in the unnatural position, some expression of the genes could be affected. Similarly,
Carman stated that the gene can be turned on or off, disturb the other function of gene,
produce wild allergens and toxins. Over the past decade, evidence which scientists have
collected proved that unlabelled GM products contain a risk of life-threatening allergic
reaction which direct towards higher allergic rates. In fact, Soy allergies jumped 50% in the
U.K. right after GM soy was introduced. The inserted DNA can come from bacteria or
viruses, which was never used for the injection. Almost of GM products are not even refined
before entering our food, method may be even harmful. There was a research proved that
DNA from GM crops can be transfer into human who eat them. The Public Library of
Science revealed the confirmation that DNA carry complete gene through secret mechanism
into the system of human, based on the analysis of over 1000 human samples. As well as,

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Canada successfully detected multiple toxins in Maternal and Fetal blood from the GM
products. The presence of pesticides with GMOs was found in blood and dangerously found
in non-pregnant womans blood. Besides, the potential toxics are very risky relating to the
nutrition, toxicology, and especially the reproduction in women. The fetus is tested to be
highly weak to the harmful effects of exotic substances which is not spontaneously produced.
As a healthy consumer, thinking about food we eat everyday should be kept in mind. Modern
people should emphasize more and taking this problems seriously. Whenever the substances
are accumulated in body. It may result in long-term dangerous side effects and serious
diseases such as cancer.
Human Health Risks
Without research, study, and experiment, people will not be able to know which one is
safe for eating because no one can guarantee that GM products are safe. Only minority care
and mind about the health reckless. The report published on November 15, 2013 released by
the team of experts, suggested that GM foods may associate with the gluten sensitivity which
relate to 18 million Americans disorder. The results are linked to a digestive system problems
such as impaired digestion, and intestinal wall damages. Dr. Tom OBryan, globally accepted
as an expert, says, The introduction of GMOs is suspected as a candidate to explain the rapid
rise in gluten-related disorders over the last 17 years. GMOs are mostly adjusted to tolerate a
weed killer called glyphosate, high level of this toxin are gathered during the harvest. The
studies link Glyphosate to Alzheimers, Birth defects, and Cancer cells growth. Glyphosate
lower the human amino acids level leading to insufficient necessary active signalling of the
Serotonin - Neurotransmitter, which is connect to weigh gain, depression, and Alzheimers
disease. Secondly, a number of birth malformations was raising since 2002. According to
American Chemical Society, it showed that Glyphosate can cause abnormalities. Thirdly,

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Glyphosate interferes with hormone systems, causing evolutional disorders, and cancerous
tumors in mammals. For human, it affects only human hormone-dependent breast cancer.
Thus, consuming these GM foods are hazardous owing to inconstant results to happen
anytime. This is why human health safety testing are necessary, growth and development are
demanded to be confirmed, to prevent people from unexpected and negative impacts. Safety
testing for human is far below the best practice included in the clinical trial. Previously,
animal testing is undertaken to identify the harmful consequences of those treatment.
Anyhow, most of these test are not designed for studying and exploring human health at all.
For the investigation to apply with GM foods, animals should be fed for a long period of time
to determine the cancer risks. Pregnant animals should be fed to test any effects on new-born
animals. At least, biochemistry, immunology, tissue pathology, microscopy, and gut, liver,
kidney functions should be measured (Carman, 2004). Without full animal testing, the
possibilities to look for diseases in human is hopeless, the problems will be hardly to notice.
In short, the investigation should be tested repeatedly to resolve what was occurring and why,
followed by the human experiments, before the products are considered as safe. These studies
had never successfully determined the long-term health effects of GMOs on humans. Put
simple, the risk assessment of GM crops for human nutrition and health has not been
systematic (Walia, 2014). If GM foods cause health problems, it will be challenging to prove,
it can be taken for decades.
Conclusion
This research report aimed to explain why GM products are not safe for human
consumption. The research concluded that GM foods can be harmful to both animal and
human. I discovered that there were many disadvantages involved, however, a few of them
cannot be proven because there is not enough research. Even though there were lots of cases,
the outcomes are uncertain and unknown. GM foods are bad enough to be banned since tests

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detected multiple toxins in human blood that brought about damaging health risk. This
research report recommends further studies on Bio engineering, how the bio engineering
modified the GM foods and causes impacts transferring into people.
References
Institute for Responsible Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2015, from
http://www.responsibletechnology.org/10-Reasons-to-Avoid-GMOs
Walia, A. (2014, April 8). 10 Scientific Studies Proving GMOs Can Be Harmful To Human
Health. Retrieved March 6, 2015, from http://www.collectiveevolution.com/2014/04/08/10-scientific-studies-proving-gmos-can-be-harmful-tohuman-health/
Carman, J. (2004, February). Is GM Food Safe to Eat? Retrieved March 6, 2015, from
http://gmojudycarman.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Is-GM-food-safe-to-eat.pdf
Whitman, D. (2000, April). Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful? Retrieved
March 6, 2015, from http://biomed.brown.edu/arise/resources/docs/GM foods
review.pdf