Erwin 1

Morgan Erwin

Mrs. Blattman

Biology 1010/1015

24 January 2020

Genetically Modified Food

Genetically modified foods are a very controversial topic. Genetically modified foods are

created when food or an organism's DNA has been altered. These new traits are made to benefit

farmers, food manufacturers, the environment, and consumers. Although, these new altered traits

are a very controversial topic because they are a newer invention, this altering wasn’t created

until the mid 1990s. Therefore, people have concerns about this product because they don’t know

the long term effects. While others, mostly the people that are benefitting from this product such

as farmers and manufacturers, don’t see a problem with these GMO foods and want to continue

the use of them because they are helping their business. This is also a problem throughout the

whole world. Even though the U.S. produces the most GMO foods, other places in the world

such as Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, and India. Hence, there are many different views on

this problem, these centering around safety concerns and the regulations of these products.

The safety concerns also vary in opinion. It is found, most fruits and vegetables mainly,

are not genetically modified. As well as, most independent scientific organizations say that GMO

crops are safe to grow and consume, without causing any harm to the environment. However,

others worry that it is too soon to state those facts because GMO foods are so new. Saying that

we don’t know the long term effects and don’t have enough information to truly make that clear

of a statement. While that safety concern about consuming and growing the product is very
 Erwin 2

important, many other experts are also worried about what GMO foods are doing to the

environment. For example, the modified herbicides used could become insufficient if the weeds

build up a defense around it. Or if the insects that we use pesticide on become immune to the

pesticide used. Then we are basically creating stronger insects and weeds that are in a sense also

“genetically modified” into something stronger and something they are not meant to be.

Along with these safety concerns, there are also regulation concerns surrounding

genetically modified food. The review process for these products is different in different

countries. Specifically for the U.S., the GMO products and the normal products are often mixed

with each other during the harvesting and storage. Therefore, in the U.S., genetically altered

products are not very regulated. In some places they also have to label what products contain

GMO ingredients. While in the U.S, they can often get mixed so it would be hard to know if a

product is truly GMO containing or free.

Some people argue that all food that we eat today has been genetically modified over

time. While, yes, that is true, that is not the same thing. Those food products have naturally

changed over time when they need to. When scientists genetically alter the traits on purpose, it is

not natural. Hence, my opinion on this topic is that GMO products are not good. Even though

they are proven safe now, they are so new to us that we don’t know the long term effects of

these. It is just like how cigarettes were when they first came out. They were thought to be

“healthy” and “safe”. Over time though, we found the true effects that cigarettes have on your

body. And I feel like it will be the same way with all of the genetically modified foods.

In conclusion, there are many different opinions on GMO products. They are seen as

convenient and beneficial by farmers and manufacturers. They are seen as completely safe with
 Erwin 3

no bad effects by some scientists. Although, by some others, they are seen as a danger to people

and the environment that we haven’t seen all the effects of yet. These people believe that we

can’t completely trust these products until we’ve had them around for longer and seen all of the

true effects. Even said, they are still many things being manufactured with GMO ingredients

today and new ones coming. GMO ingredients are seen as becoming our future.