Arguments Against Gmo Foods

Genetically Modified Foods
All over the world, there are a lot of people who do not know what the term genetically modified foods means. In fact, genetically modified food means crops that contain genetic material that has been changed artificially so as to produce the desired properties. In addition, a fierce debate has been prevailing over the benefits and dangers of genetically modified foods. A number of scientists think that genetically modified foods are safe, contain more nutritional value, and are cheaper to produce (Dreifu, 2008). However, opposing experts in the field of genetics differ with these lines of thoughts and argue that genetically modified foods are a danger to organisms in our ecosystem. For instance, they argue that continued production of genetically modified food might result in harmful effects on consumers and the natural environment. For this reason, I agree that genetically modified foods have negative effects on human beings and destroy the environment.
A number scientists specializing in the field of genetics argue that consumption of genetically modified foods could lead to serious health risks. They agree that although there is not enough evidence to completely support their claim, there are instances of deterioration of health following the
consumption of certain genetically modified foods across the globe. The main argument is that since the growth and development of these organisms are chemically induced, these chemicals are consumed and find themselves in the digestive and blood system of animals and humans (Smith, 2016). Consequently, if the chemicals are indigestible and the body cannot break them down, they will increase the health risks of the person or animal that consumes them. Also, the basis of genetically modified food, gene insertion, might create unpredictable and irreversible changes to the human body (Smith, 2016). For this reason, some medical experts, discourage the consumption of these foods for fear that they might contain elements responsible for causing cancer.
Additionally, these genetically modified foods have for a time now been suspected to cause harmful effects to the environment. Recently, the world has experienced in increase in the farming of these crops .It is this increase that is being largely suspected to be the cause of devastating environmental changes such global warm and soil degradation. For instance, genetic modification could create pesticide resistant insects and weeds that might destroy the natural species of a crop (Jaffe, 2001). Again, the chemicals artificially induced to change the composition of the genetically modified foods could remain in the soil and kill the organisms there which were important for maintaining the quality of soil. Consequently, experts in genetics also argue that genetically modified foods that have been modified to resist pests could be harmful to non-harmful insects like bees and butterflies when they suck the chemically rich nectar of these crops. However, despite two decades of research and more than a decade since commercialization, there has been a big increase in farmers’ costs with a reverse increase in crop yields in the US (Burkett, 2016). The coming of genetically modified foods has been met with mixed reactions within the society. Some reports about the plants announce that the inventions of these crops are the remedy to illness of food shortage especially in third world countries. Additionally, due to the scarcity of land, supporters of genetically modified food argue that nations should adopt the concept to increase productivity (Dreifu, 2008). Meanwhile, the opponents of genetic modification argue that the encouragement of the use of these genetically modified foods is a plot to make companies modifying these crops richer. Since the research into these crops are arguably done out of the desire to make profit, it strengthens the argument that manufacturers of these crops only want to benefit themselves. Consequently, the companies do not want to acknowledge the potential health risks of the genetically modified foods nor their harmful effects on the environment.
In conclusion, the disadvantages of genetically modified foods are far reaching.
There are overwhelming arguments against genetically modified foods with justifiable reasons against adopting genetically modified foods on a large scale. For this reason, it is critical for all stakeholders to oppose faithfully any effort to try make it seem normal the production and consumption of genetically modified foods in the world. Also, it is important to have adequate legislation to govern the production and marketing of genetically modified food (Jaffe, 2001). In the meantime, the myths and facts of genetically modified foods can only be established precisely through time, experience and unbiased
research.