The Pros & Cons of Genetically Modified Food

The term genetically modified foods is most commonly used to crop plants created for
human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These
plants are modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased
resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. The enhancement of desired
traits can be undertaken through traditional breeding but conventional plant breeding
methods are time consuming and are not effective always. Genetic engineering, on the
other hand can create plants to the desired traits very rapidly and with accuracy. For
example, plant geneticists can isolate a gene responsible for draught tolerance and
insert that gene in to a different plant. Thus the new genetically modified plant gains
draught tolerance. Not only genes can be transferred from one plant to another, but
genes from non-plant organism also can be used. Though this kind of genetic
modification is used both in plants and animals, it is found more commonly in the former
than in the later. There are many advantages as well as disadvantages also in
genetically modified foods.
Genetically modified foods grow faster than the foods that are grown in traditional
manner for which the productivity is more. As usual normal crops grow only in the
season and climatic condition favorable for it but genetically modified foods can be
cultivated in unfavorable climatic condition. The seeds of the genetically modified foods
are expensive than the seeds of traditional crops but the cost of production of such food
is lesser than that of the traditional crops.
Genetically modified foods are more nutrients and contain more vitamins and minerals
than the traditionally cultivated food. It is also believed that the genetically modified food
has a better taste. People like genetically modified foods because they do not get rotten
quickly than the traditional foods.
The most advantage of this genetically modified food is they help in controlling many
diseases. There are some foods that cause allergy when consumed. By modifying DNA
system of these foods, the properties that cause allergy are eliminated successfully.
Modern days farmers prefer to cultivate genetically modified food because they get
more crops, can grow the crops in any climatic conditions and do not use tons of
pesticides annually as consumers do not wish to eat food that has been treated with
pesticides due to health hazards. These crops do not rot quickly for which the farmers
get more profit.
Genetic modified crops are more resistant to pests and diseases, reducing losses and
lessening the dependence on pesticides. For example, a gene that gives resistance to a
fungal infection in a wild plant can be inserted into a food plant that lacks this protection.
The crop is then less susceptible to fungal infection.
There are many viruses and bacteria which plant diseases. Scientists or the plant
biologists are working to create plants which can resist to these diseases. Unexpected
cold can destroy sensitive seedlings. An anti freeze gene induced into plants can help
the plant to tolerate unexpected cold. By this the production of the crop will not be
destroyed.
The biggest disadvantage of genetically modified food is that they can harm the human
body. According to many experts, people consuming such genetically modified foods
have more chances of developing cancer. The consumption of these foods also causes
the development of many diseases which are immune to antibiotics. These foods are the
inventions of this modern world, and much is not known about their long term effect on
human beings. Though the disadvantages of these foods are not known, lot of people
prefers to stay away from these foods.
Herbicide-resistant and pesticide-resistant crops could give rise to super-weeds and
super-pests that could require powerful chemicals to destroy them.
Many genetically modified companies do not level their products as being GM foods. Not
leveling the product is unfair as the consumer should have the right to know what they
are buying and to decide whether they want to buy GM food or not. Some people also
have moral and religious objections in taking genetically modified food.
The planting of herbicides-resistant crops might encourage farmers to use weed killers
more frequently. As a result the excess use could be carried away by rain fall to pollute
ponds, rivers and other water ways. These chemicals may poison fish, wild animals,
plants and even drinking water also.
The advantages of GM foods are very tempting but the disadvantages cannot be ruled
out.



Second Article
Proponents Claim That There are Many Advantages:
Crops are more productive and have a larger yield.
Could potentially offer more nutrition and flavor (although this is debated).
A possibility that they could eliminate allergy-causing properties in some foods.
Inbuilt resistance to pests, weeds and disease.
More capable of thriving in regions with poor soil or adverse climates.
More environment friendly as they require less herbicides and pesticides.
Foods are more resistant and stay ripe for longer so they can be shipped long distances or kept on shop
shelves for longer periods.
As more GMO crops can be grown on relatively small parcels of land, they are an answer to feeding growing
world populations.
Corporations insist that:
Genetically modified foods are safe. Changing a few genes here and there does not make a crop toxic or
dangerous.
Why shouldn't we alter nature to meet our needs? There are many natural organisms that human beings have
transformed to serve their purpose.
Critics Cite the Dangers of GMO
Scientists can choose which genes to manipulate, but they don't yet know where in the DNA to precisely insert
these genes and they have no way of controlling gene expression. Genes don't work in isolation, changing a
few could change the whole picture, with unpredictable results.
The use of genetically modified food should not be encouraged without research into the risks.
Not labeling is wrong and unfair to the consumers who should have the right to know what they are buying so
they can decide for themselves whether they want to buy the food or not. Even if health safety factors are not
an issue, some people might have moral or religious objections. They should not have to eat GMOs if they
don't want to.
Genetically modified crops pose a risk to food diversity as the plants are much more dominant.
Herbicide-resistant and pesticide-resistant crops could give rise to super-weeds and super-pests that would
need newer, stronger chemicals to destroy them.
GMO crops cross-pollinate with nearby non-GMO plants and could create ecological problems. If this were to
happen with GMO foods containing vaccines, antibiotics, contraceptives and so on, it would very well turn into
a human health nightmare.
The claim of ending world hunger with GMOs is false. World hunger is not caused by a shortage of food
production, but by sheer mismanagement, and lack of access to food brought about by various social, financial
and political causes.
GMO technology companies patent their crops and also engineer crops so that harvested grain germs are
incapable of developing. This is not empowering to impoverished Third World farmers, who cannot save seeds
for replanting and have to buy expensive seeds from the companies every year. The new technology also
interferes with traditional agricultural methods which may be more suited to local environments.
GMOs are not the answer to world hunger and health. Instead we should focus on improving organic
agricultural practices which are kinder to the earth and healthier for humans.
There are many more questions about genetically modified food that can only be answered through
time, research and experience. What side of the argument do you fall on?
Additional Resources:
Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms:
What Malaysians Should Know About
GMOs, and GMO Labelling in Malaysia
What are GMOs?

Genetically modified corn
According to the Ministry of Health of Malaysia, GMO (or genetically modified
organism) is defined to be an organism in which the genetic material has been changed
through modern biotechnology in a way that it does not occur naturally by multiplication
or natural recombination or both.
While humans have traditionally tried to cultivate better crops with methods such as
cross-pollination or cross breeding, genetically modifying organisms involve
manipulating the genes of the organism directly. Genetic modification is often done
through the insertion of a foreign gene from another species, creating what is called a
transgenic plant or animal. Common transgenic plants include corn, soybeans, and
cotton; transgenic animals are less widespread but include pigs, sheep and cattle.
GMOs bring important implications for human health and the environment. The debate
for and against GMOs has been raging for years. The proponents of GMOs argue that
genetically engineered crops are more resilient and have a higher yield, introduce fewer
pesticides to the environment, and pose no real threat to human health. Genetic
engineering is also able to bring about desired traits in organisms at a much quicker
pace, while traditional farming would need several years to reach the same (or weaker)
outcome.
On the other side of the fence, opposing voices argue that insufficient research on the
topic means that the consequences of consuming GM food are largely unknown. The
unnatural introduction of genes from another species may cause allergens to spread into
non-allergenic food, increased antibiotic resistance, or increased toxicity. Genes
extracted from animals (to be inserted into plants) raise ethical, religious and health
concerns. With regards to the environment, GMOs threaten bio-diversity through
contaminating non-GMO crops (through interbreeding), and creating superweeds or
superpests that are resistant towards pesticides developed for widely cultivated GMOs.
According to the Malaysian Organic Scheme, GMOs (and products derived from GMOs)
cannot be used in any aspect of organic production and handling. There is no exception
to this rule.
Information from both sides of the debate is readily available on
the Internet
. For those who are interested, the American Radioworks provides a fairly well balanced
overview of the arguments.
GMO Labelling in Malaysia
Without taking one side or the other of the GMO debate, it is a consumer right to have
more information about what you are buying and consuming. Malaysia is one of 64
countries in the world that mandate labelling on GM food. After reading through the
guidelines on GMO labelling, we present to you some quick facts:
What are the regulations?
The regulatory framework with regards to GMOs covers pre-market approval,
enforcement, and post-market monitoring. The related laws are:
Biosafety Act 2007 (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, NRE) to
regulate the release, importation, exportation and contained use of LMOs (Living
Modified Organisms), and the release of products of such organisms.
Food Regulations 1985, amended in 2010 (Ministry of Health, MOH) to enforce
GMO labelling.
How does the label look like?

Single ingredient product

Single ingredient product, gene derived from animal

Multiple ingredient product
The labelling requirements shall only apply to the three main ingredients in the ingredient
list. For GMOs that have genes derived from animals and ingredients that have been
known to cause allergies, the label will have to state the origin of the gene, like: gene
derived from (origin).
What are not labelled?
The product will not be labelled when GMO content is not more than 3% of the food
ingredients, provided that this presence is adventitious [i.e. by chance] or technically
unavoidable.
Exempted products include:
Highly refined foods e.g. refined oil, plant sterol, boiled sweet, sugar, corn syrup,
honey and dextrin (other than that with altered characteristics).
When novel DNA and/or novel protein is not present in the final food:
o Processing aids and food additives (e.g. dextrin).
o Acidic foods (e.g. pickles and vinegar).
o Salty foods (e.g. soy sauce).
Food from animals fed with GM animal feed (e.g. meat, milk, eggs).
Foods produced from fermentation using GMM (Genetically Modified
Microorganisms) not present in the final products (e.g. vitamins, amino acid).
Foods produced with GM enzyme (e.g. cheese, bakery products produced with
amylase).
However, products will not be exempted when the gene is derived from animal products
and substances that cause hypersensitivity. Highly refined foods with altered
characteristics (i.e. they have different characteristics from the same ingredient that has
not been genetically modified, in terms of nutritional value, toxicity or allergenic
properties) will not be exempted as well.
The labelling logic can be understood from these flowcharts:

Flow chart for single ingredient product

Flow chart for multiple ingredient product
When will the regulations on GMO labelling be enforced?
The regulations will be enforced in July 2014.
It is important for the public to be aware of the regulations on GMOs, and the
enforcement date. The enforcement date of GMO labelling has been delayed once
already, from July 2012 to July 2014. When public awareness is low, it is easy for
lobbyists to push for extensions over and over again, causing the enforcement of the
regulation to be indefinitely delayed.

Join us this Saturday at CETDEMs Hari Organik and learn more about GMOs (see
event here). Magaeswari Sangaralingam from Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)
will be there to talk about potential threats of GMOs.

References:
1. Guidelines on labelling of foods and food ingredients obtained through modern
biotechnology, by Ministry of Healthy Malaysia
2. Presentation slides from the Ministry of Health Malaysia, in MIFT Seminar
Genetically Modified Foods held in UKM Bangi
3. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service GAIN Report (8/9/2011)
4. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service GAIN Report (7/6/2013)
5. Skim Organik Malaysia(2007)