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modified food.
Updated on February 20, 2014
The idea of producing food with desirable qualities paved the way for the development of genetically
modified food worldwide. Scientists were able to isolate genes with favourable traits and insert them
in crops to produce food that can resist drought, insects, pesticides and even is more nutritious. It
started by developing a tomato with a longer shelf life in 1994 called Flavr Savr. But then, it was
found that consumption of this engineered tomato caused stomach lesions in rats, thus, raising
issues about the safety of genetically modified food in general. Since then, the debate raise on the
disadvantages of consumption of genetically modified food. Below are just some examples of the
long list of disadvantages of such practice;
1. The safety of such products is not verified yet, in fact, we are the lab rats to test the safety of such
technology.
This is sad but true. In fact, genetically engineered food is being consumed daily with no thorough
research of its potential threats on human health.
2. Genetically modified ingredients can cause cancer.
A consultant histopathologest at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Dr Stanley Ewen, raised the concern that
food and water contaminated with genetically engineered material could increase the growth of
malignant tumours upon contact with humans. Later, other studies suggested a link between
engineered food and cancer.
3. It could raise new allergy outbreaks in humans.
It was found that a genetically engineered soya bean containing Brazilian nut protein was allergenic
to humans and was withdrawn from production.
4. Under-Developed countries becoming more dependent on other communities.
This was raised when developing the golden rice, a genetically modified rice that contains larger
amounts of vitamin A, which can be beneficial to poor people in developing countries. However, it is
usually the large companies of the developed world that can produce such crop engineering which
will increase the dependency of poor counties on the Wild, Wild West!
5. You are not what you eat any more!
Genetic engineering allows introducing animal products in plants which could raise issues for those
with dietary restrictions, like vegetarian or vegans.