Genetically Modified Foods
GMF
What is that?
Benefits
- Used to enhance commercial value as well as research purposes.
- Over 25% of the total world's population suffers from hunger and poverty. GMF can help keep foods living, saving those who are starving.
- Foods may be utilized in the production of pharmacological products like vaccines and antibodies in the new field of molecular farming.
- Generally pest resistant and thus farmers do not have to spray chemical pesticides for keeping pests off.
- Eliminates the use of pesticide, reducing the costs of bringing food into the market.
- Modified foods normally contain additional nutrients; helping prevent malnutrition caused problems like blindness.
- Have a good taste as compared to their natural unmodified counterparts.
Risks
- Glyphosate is used to make crops resistant to weeds which causes higher plant estrogen levels. Estrogen can be very dangerous and can pose long term health risks.
- Genetically altering seeds and foods can pose unknown risks of toxins and allergens that have never been present before.
- There is always a risk of interactions or reactions that have never been seen.
- Genetically modified foods have not had long term research done, and very little short term information.
- Without labeling, it is impossible to know which foods have higher risks so you can avoid them.
- When genetically altered soybeans were used as part of the diet for dairy cows, the resulting milk had higher percentages of fat in it.
- Insect resistance can create insect problems that can threaten the food supply and result in food shortages.