Arguments pro and con as to what are health concerns of genetically engineered food are perhaps as emphatic and far reaching as the arguments about global warming. Either of these environmental crises will have far reaching effects, so it is important to become aware of the issues involved.
Genetically engineered food is food which has had the genes modified in such a way as to add desired characteristics to the plant. The modification of the genes is done outside normal reproductive processes. Some of the commercial uses to date in genetic engineering include the production of insulin by bacteria to treat diabetes in humans, the development of an herbicide resistant food crop.
The first commercial application to test what are health concerns in genetically engineered food was the development of a tomato called FlavrSavr by a California company known as Calgene. The resultant fruit was submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for testing who determined that it WAS a tomato, that it didn’t contain anything harmful to humans and that it didn’t need special labeling. Commercial development of the modified tomato ended when a naturally grown long life tomato was developed at the same time. A similar tomato used in tomato paste was successfully marketed in Europe until the increasing prevalence of ‘mad cow disease’
At the same time a world conference of biotechnicians in California recommended that the government be the overseer in genetically modified food testing until some way was found to ensure safety of the humans who used it.
Increasingly strident objects and protests due to the health concerns of genetically engineered food have essentially kept them off the market in the European Union. However, in the United States and Australia, as well as in several developing countries such as India, Brazil and China genetically engineered food crops include herbicide resistant soybeans, insect protected and herbicide tolerant maize and corn, a virus resistant sweet potato, a rice with higher nutritional values and rice appropriate in the treatment of infant dysentery.
The major health concerns in genetically engineered food seem to be related to occasional allergenic properties accidentally spliced onto soybeans using Brazil nut genes. Over 150 studies to date have found no danger posed to human by genetically altered foods at a statistically significant level.
The controversy continues to rage however, with government becoming involved and charging violation of free trade agreements by banning the use of genetically altered foods and other crops.
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