Is it just me, or does this sound vaguely familiar?. The “GMO” label is quite common now. In fact, “GMO” means genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. GMO’s include any organism which is modified by genetic engineering or the introduction of foreign DNA, i.e. a GMO must contain all of the genetic material of the organism from the moment it is harvested to its natural death.
Scientists at the University of Minnesota have created a plant-based food with more than 100 different additives. Called “Garden Fresh,” it is designed to be low in fat and high in fiber and nutrients. It’s a vegetarian food that is 100% grown in the U.S. with no pesticides or chemicals used in the production process.
Since the invention of agriculture, mankind has been eating the same foods day after day, and it’s not because of any particular genetic modification. The reason we often eat the same foods over and over again is because humans are naturally drawn to them. We are biologically wired to crave certain types of foods and to eat other foods in order to help us survive. Scientists have been able to genetically modify some foods in order to make them more palatable.
As far as I can tell, the debate about food being genetically modified (GM) is largely based on the fact that there is a debate about whether or not we are, in fact, eating food from a lab. Now, I’m glad we have a debate over whether or not it is safe for people to eat GM foods since it is clearly unethical to use animals such as cows and chickens for the purpose of creating lab food.
We have all heard about the “genetically modified” foods in the news. However, this type of food has long been controversial. The reason being there is still a lot of controversy surrounding whether or not genetically modified food is safe. Many people believe that genetically modified foods are unsafe. This is despite the fact they have been shown to be safe and effective. One of the primary concerns surrounding genetically modified food is the issue of the safety.
The term ‘genetically manipulated’ is a bit misleading. Although the phrase is commonly used in the context of genetic modification of plants and animals, and some genetic modification of other species, it is used in a broader sense to describe any change to natural genetic variation, not just changes to gene sequences.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently reviewing the way that genetically modified organisms have been used in the food supply. One of the ways that this is being done is by the use of a genetically modified corn that is not only genetically modified to be resistant to Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup, but also to kill insects that can be used as pests in agriculture.
There’s a reason that GMOs exist: to make food more valuable for humans and to reduce the production of food for livestock. But GMO foods are a lot of trouble. Not only are they expensive, they can also be harmful to your health. Genetic engineering could be the way out of all of that trouble.
