1

Genetically Modified Foods

Risks and Benefits

Tewodros Bezabih
Section 91

English 1711
William Lund
December 14, 2013

These days genetically modified foods, also known as GMOs, are everywhere in America.
Nearly all processed foods in supermarket shelves contain genetically modified ingredients.
Jeffery Smith in his bestselling book Seeds of Deception reveals this truth. According to
Smith, more than 75% of soy, canola and cotton contain GMO ingredients. More than 50% of
corn, zucchini and Hawaiian papaya in the market are GMO products (267). This is because the
United States laws towards GMO regulation are very permissive. In fact, there is no mandatory
regulation that requires labeling the GMO ingredients in the USA, as of this time (Harmon and
Pollack). Because of this most Americans do not even know that they are consuming GMOs. In
contrast, crossing the Atlantic, in Europe, the genetically modified foods are highly regulated and
seen in suspicion. In addition, European law strongly requires labeling of foods that contain
GMO ingredients (WHO). The impact of GMOs has been controversial for years. The supporters
and manufacturers claim that GMOs are full of nutrients, severe weather resistant, and bring
higher yields. On the other hand, they are widely criticized in so many angles by different social
groups. The environmentalists argue that they are toxic for the environment and biodiversity.
Medical professionals are arguing that GMOs can cause health-related risks. What are GMOs?
Are they really a remedy for drought and malnutrition-related diseases or enemy of the
environment and human beings? What is the reason behind the FDAs reluctance to enforce a
law on labeling foods that contain GMOs? It is obvious that GMOs create a variety of choices
regarding foods. GMOs can also be a remedy for the food shortage and hunger, if they are
produced responsibly. However, the current GMOs threat to the overall biodiversity outweighs
their benefits; because of the business-oriented producers domination in the field. Therefore,
consumers should be well informed and have the option to choose what to eat, weighing their
benefits over their drawbacks.

According to the World Health Organization GMOs are defined as, Organisms in which the
genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. The technology
is often called modern biotechnology or gene technology [. . . .] It allows selected individual
genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between non-related species
(WHO). GMOs are one of the most important findings of genetic engineering in the 21 st century.
In fact, genetic engineering is not entirely a new science; it is a descendant of the ancient cross
breeding. It is natural that human beings strive for survival and curiosity for change, always
result in innovation. Farmers, since ancient times, have been cross breeding plants or animals
with other species of plants and animals. A mule can be a typical example for this, bred from a
donkey father and a horse mother. The modern science of cross breeding is gene technology or
biotechnology. Gene technology is a branch of genetic engineering in which mainly GMOs are
produced in a laboratory. Teitel and Wilson explain this illustratively: In genetic engineering of
food crops a gene, or piece of DNA from one sourcea fish for exampleis isolated, removed,
and then pasted in to the DNA of another sourcea tomato, for example (7).The idea of gene
technology is established to create better genotypes of crops and animals which are resistant to
natural disasters and nutritionally dense foods.
When it comes to America, we will find the major controversies on GM foods. The known
and unknown health related risks are the number ones. Studies and real life experiences are
exposing the potential health effects of GM foods. According to Smith there is also an
association between cancer and abnormal growth of cells with GMOs. Although there is no
scientific research implemented on humans, laboratory experiments conducted on rats have been
supporting this (12, 65). GM foods are also suspected to cause allergies. A British surgeon and a
mother of an allergic victim child shared her daughters experience with the Sunday Telegraph,

as soon as she was taken of the GM milk, her health dramatically improved. I [] have not
found any other reasons why she became ill (Smith 159).Genetic engineers are producing
GMOs from a variety of species. As an example, they produce a tomato taking genes out from a
peanut or a fish and paste it to the tomatos DNA (50). Hence, people who are allergic to a peanut
or a fish could become allergic to this tomato. The worst part is people are unable to identify
those foods that they have allergy with. According to Smith, FDA believes that GM foods are
safe and should be treated as their natural equivalent foods (11). But since most GM crops are
made from different species we cannot compare them with their natural counterparts, unless we
do the appropriate tests.
The other drawbacks of GMOs are the environmental and ecological effects. The Bt toxin
producing GM crops are the main suspects for this imbalance. The bacillus thuringiensis toxin or
Bt toxin is a naturally occurring insecticide (Tietel and Wilson 26). Now genetic engineers have
made GM crops to produce the Bt toxin. Scientists claim that the Bts produced by the crops are
harmless to humans (Fedoroff and Brown 192). However, experiments are showing their toxicity.
According to Tietel and Wilson, studies on the GM Bt toxins confirmed that the Bt in GM crops
is more concentrated than the naturally occurring one. The Bt crop has a potential risks on the
environment and biodiversity. Researches have proven that Bt crops are deadly for many
harmless insects such as monarch butterflies and lacewings (26). This will have a massive impact
on the overall ecosystem, since such insects are the primary agents of crosspollination between
plants. Moreover, the herbicide produced by GMO producers (Monsanto) has a massive effect on
the overall ecosystem. This herbicide kills every plant, with the exception of GM plants,
including useful bacteria and fungi in the soil (Tietel and Wilson 31). This causes soil acidity and
infertility. As a result the land becomes dependent on the GM crops only.

The other controversy on GMOs is labeling. The labeling of foods that contains GM food
ingredients is not mandatory in the USA. According to Harmon and Pollack the F.D.A. has said
that labeling is generally not necessary because the genetic modification does not materially
change the food (A1+). Smith does not agree with this idea. He presents journalist and writer

Michael Pollans logic here. Pollan argues, if the Bt insecticides are labeled for their dangers of
inhalation, why do not we label the Bt producing crops (143). There have been consumer
campaigns and bills in different states to mandate labeling over the past years. However, all of
them were unsuccessful, due to strong financial powers of GM producers (Warning).
Consumers have been arguing that they have a right to know which foods are modified and
which foods are mixed with some form of GMOs. Although the labeling law has failed in
different states, public opinion polls are showing that the majority of consumers in the USA are
strong supporters of GM labeling (Wohlers 79; Nuttall). This shows the dominance of the
producers power and money over the law. In spite of all its controversies, many experts say
labeling GM foods probably brings both the opponent and the proponent together.
Perhaps the main benefits of GMOs will be for African farmers, if they are used properly.
Unlike Europeans or American farmers, most African farmers live below the poverty line. In
some African countries, like Ethiopia, it is not uncommon to see people dying from lack of food.
Poor farmers are dying even today, as a result of drought-related food shortages. GMOs can be a
panacea for these malnutrition and famine related deaths in Africa if they are used properly. In
fact, Africans are not in a position to choose between GMOs and non GMOs. The choice is life
or death. Many Africans are migrating to other countries every day, looking for mainly food; in
spite of the developed nations are sending greater amount of food aid (GMOs) than any time
before. According to biosafety negotiator Dr. Tewolde Gebregizabher this is because the current
GMOs sent by westerns do not bring sustainable income to farmers. Since GMO producers such

as Monsanto, made their seeds not to be reproduce again; to ensure their market continuity (Snell
31).
GMOs can be used to empower African farmers economically. The ever-increasing world
population created a huge gap between the demand and supply of food. Experts in the field are
warning the world that food shortages are inevitable. Unless Africans get advanced alternatives,
other than traditional farming, they will be the primary victims. World food prize winner of 2009
for creating drought resistant sorghum, Professor Gebisa Ejeta, confirms the future threat by
stating "We're facing some major challenges in the world to secure global food security [. . . .]
There is going to be a need to double our food production (Becker A3). In spite of the food
demand, Some African governments are radically against GMOs. Zambian president, Levy
Mwanawasa is one of them. It was controversial, when Mwanawasa rejected the GM crop aid,
condemning them as poison. The crops were offered by the international community to rescue
the 3 million people who were in danger of famine (Plaut). There is no time to be skeptical to
new technologies, while paying the lives of poor African farmers. Even though the current GM
seeds may pose health risks, the non-edible GMOs can still be used to build African farmers
economy. Professor Jumanne Maghembe, the ministry of water and irrigation, in his speech, at
the African Green Revolution Forum, requested scientists to promote GMOs. Cotton for
example is not food. Why don't we start with that so that we increase yield and help
the farmers?" (Connect). In fact Africa does not have the technology to evaluate the edible
GMOs safety standards. But empowering farmers to produce non-edible GMOs is the only
choice that left in our hands.
In conclusion, scientists in gene technology have achieved a remarkable success over the past
two decades. They created nutritionally dense, higher product yielding and drought resistant

crops. However, this success did not bring the expected change. Because of the interference of
business-oriented producers in the field, people are still dying from famine. In fact, rejecting all
GM foods cannot be a solution. Rather, strengthening African farmers economically and
avoiding the middle men can be a solution. On the other hand, several others are suffering from
unidentifiable causes of diseases in the USA. Studies conducted in laboratory animals are
showing the side effects of the GM foods. Books and articles written on the field are usually
biased. This makes it difficult for consumers to know which side has the truth. Finding an
impartial source on the area has not been an easy task for years. However, labeling of products
that contain GM ingredients could ease the complication. At least consumers will have the
freedom to choose.

Work cited
Becker, Stacey. "Food Security Faces Many Challenges." Telegraph Herald 13 Oct. 2010: A3.
ProQuest. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.
"Connect Technologies to Farmers, Africa Urged." AllAfrica.com Sep 30. 2012. ProQuest.
Web. 26 Nov. 2013.
Fedoroff, Nina and Nancy Marie Brown. Mendel in the Kitchen. Washington, D.C: Joseph
Henry, 2004. Print.
Harmon, Amy and Andrew Pollack. "Battle Brewing Over Labeling of Genetically Modified
Food." New York Times. New York Times, 24 May 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Nuttall, Tom. "Genetically Modified Food After Washington." The Economist. The Economist,
7 Nov. 2013. Web. 28 Nov. 2013.
Plaut, Martin. "Zambia 'furious' over GM Food." BBC News. BBC News-Africa, 6 Nov. 2002.
Web. 27 Nov. 2013.
Smith, Jeffrey. Seeds of Deception. Fairfield, IA: Yes, 2003. Print.
Snell, Marilyn Berlin. "Against The Grain" Sierra Jul.-Aug. 2001: 30-33. EBSCO. Web. 21 Nov.
2013.
Teitel, Martin and Kimberly A. Wilson. Genetically Engineered Food. Rochester, VT: Park
Street Press, 2001. Print.
Warning labels for safe stuff The Economist. The Economist, 2 Nov. 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2013.
WHO "20 Questions on Genetically Modified Foods." WHO. World Health Organization,
2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
Wohlers, Anton E Labeling of Genetically Modified Food Politics and the Life Sciences Spring
2013: 73-83. EBSCO. Web. 4 Dec. 2013.