What Exactly is a GMO and is it Bad for Me?
You’ve probably heard the term GMO, or rather, that foods are “GMO free,” but aren’t sure what that really means. GMO is the acronym for “genetically modified organisms.” Foods that are genetically modified have been designed in labs through the transfer or exchange of specific genes.
Researchers are using genetic engineering techniques to improve the taste and healthfulness of foods, improve crop yields, and reduce the use of chemical spraying. Examples include tomatoes and cantaloupes with ripening enrichment qualities, virus-resistant papaya, soybeans and sugar-beets that can ward off herbicides, and corn and cotton plants that can better resist insect pests. Researchers are also working to reduce saturated fats in cooking oils and lessen the gassiness caused by beans.
For centuries, farmers manually controlled the pollination and genetic modification of plants to create new foods. Today, scientists are able to produce genetically engineered foods or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) through targeted manipulation of plant development, structure or composition by inserting specific DNA sequences (genes) from one plant into another. Through genetic engineering, scientists have been able to create new plant foods quickly and accurately.
You may wonder if foods developed this way are harmful. Because there are no material differences between traditional and bioengineered foods, the risks from eating bioengineered foods appear to be negligible. Moreover, foods that are genetically engineered are subject to strict regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
There is concern that consumption of foods containing new or altered genes will cause allergy attacks among susceptible individuals; however, the biotechnology industry believes that the release of new allergenic products into the food chain is avoidable. Another concern is the possible toxic effects of genetically engineered foods. Yet, widespread consumption of foods derived from biotechnology has not caused any known major health problems.
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