Issues of concern include: the capability of the GMO to escape and potentially introduce the engineered genes into wild populations; the persistence of the gene after the GMO has been harvested; the susceptibility of non-target organisms (e.g. insects which are not pests) to the gene product; the stability of the gene;
And since genetic modification can make crops more abundant and easier to grow, it makes food cheaper.
Most GMO plants are used to make ingredients that are then used in other food products, for example, cornstarch made from GMO corn or sugar made from GMO sugar beets. Corn: Corn is the most commonly grown crop in the United States, and most of it is GMO.
Grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes are largely free of GMO contamination, but you can buy Non-GMO Verified items to be safe. Eat more of these and not only will you increase your fiber intake, you'll reduce your GMO consumption!
Overall, is it better to eat organic? Organic diets we know lead to less pesticide and antibiotic exposure, but nutritionally, they are about the same. In addition, there's no evidence of clinically relevant differences between organic and conventional milk.
genetically modified organism
The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is prohibited in organic products. This means an organic farmer can't plant GMO seeds, an organic cow can't eat GMO alfalfa or corn, and an organic soup producer can't use any GMO ingredients.
Broccoli, for example, is not a naturally occurring plant. It's been bred from undomesticated Brassica oleracea or 'wild cabbage'; domesticated varieties of B. However, these aren't the plants that people typically think of when they think of GMOs.
These benefits include:
- Grown without the use of pesticides.
- Rich in nutrients.
- Animals raised organically aren't treated with artificial drugs, growth hormones or antibiotics.
- Free of artificial preservatives, flavorings, and colors.
Megan Swartz, Food Science Lead at Cargill Salt explained, “as the consumer demand for non-GMO products grows, we continue to receive more customer requests for salt that is non-GMO.” However, salt itself is not genetically modified—though additives within a salt formulation may affect its non-GMO status.
Not only have GMO crops not improved yields, they have vastly increased the use of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup herbicide. The explosion in glyphosate use is not only bad for farmers' health, it's also bad for the environment, especially for certain birds, insects and other wildlife.
1973 Biochemists Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen develop genetic engineering by inserting DNA from one bacteria into another. 1982 FDA approves the first consumer GMO product developed through genetic engineering: human insulin to treat diabetes.
To this end, many different types of modifications in various crops have been tested, and the studies have found no evidence that GMOs cause organ toxicity or other adverse health effects.
Genetically engineered foods
- More nutritious food.
- Tastier food.
- Disease- and drought-resistant plants that require fewer environmental resources (such as water and fertilizer)
- Less use of pesticides.
- Increased supply of food with reduced cost and longer shelf life.
- Faster growing plants and animals.
A paper published last week in the scientific journal Entropy explains the connection between glyphosate and gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, autism, infertility, cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
