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GMO Are The Soon Going To Dominate The Markets But What Effects Will They Have On Health?

GMO foods are foods that have had their genes altered through genetic engineering to modify traits. While GMO foods may have advantages like being more nutritious or containing fewer allergens, there are also risks to health according to some experts. All novel foods introduced in Canada are thoroughly tested by Health Canada specialists before being approved, but some evidence suggests GE foods could potentially damage animal or human health by increasing risks of allergies or changing toxin levels in plants. Ultimately society will decide whether GMOs are accepted or disregarded as options in food production.

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37 views2 pages

GMO Are The Soon Going To Dominate The Markets But What Effects Will They Have On Health?

GMO foods are foods that have had their genes altered through genetic engineering to modify traits. While GMO foods may have advantages like being more nutritious or containing fewer allergens, there are also risks to health according to some experts. All novel foods introduced in Canada are thoroughly tested by Health Canada specialists before being approved, but some evidence suggests GE foods could potentially damage animal or human health by increasing risks of allergies or changing toxin levels in plants. Ultimately society will decide whether GMOs are accepted or disregarded as options in food production.

Uploaded by

john
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© © All Rights Reserved
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GMO are the soon going to dominate the markets but what effects will they have

on health?
Imagine growing food without a sweat; no need to spray herbicide, no need to spray
insecticide, no need to wait till next season to plant and many more possibilities. These might
seem a little far from our technology, however, it already been achieved by many scientist. Yet,
many are still new to this genetically modified food concept. Probably, without knowing, you
have already eaten genetically modified food, as Canada is the world’s third largest GMO food
producer. GMO foods are aliments that have altered genes through Genetic Engineering (GE), a
process where the genes are modified from the DNA of a plant or animal.

Advantages
Before getting to the market here in Canada, novel foods, another fancy name for GMO or food
with no safe history, are thoroughly inspected through rigorous checking by Health Canada, a
federal agency that regulates food here in Canada. Before they can go on the Canadian market,
novel foods must be inspected by many specialists from Health Canada under the Food and
Drugs Act and Regulation. Microbiologists, chemists, toxicologists, molecular biologists and many
more are part of the team that tests the product. GMO foods do not only taste better, they
also contain more nutrition than the organic food. For example, a local GMO corn is more
nutritious than an organic one from far abroad since the organic one possesses less vitamin B
genes compared to the modified one. Some food, such as corn, contains less mycotoxins which
is beneficial to reduce the risk of cancer and certain diseases. Since we can change the genes,
we can decide what the food can contain. Scientists can also remove certain undesirable genes
that may cause of allergic reaction to certain. People with allergies may no longer need to
worry about carrying their “Epipen” because they won’t have any more panic attack due to the
genes causing those reactions to be absent.

Secondary effects
On the other hand, there are some risks related to novel foods might cause health problems.
According to Ronnie Cummins, director of the Organic Consumers Association, “There is
mounting evidence that GE foods damage animal health and human health”. There is an
increase risk in allergies due to the mixing of different genes. Food may have new proteins,
during the modification, which might cause an allergy. Genetically modifying food such as
plants may cause the toxins levels in the plant to rises as genes controls the plants metabolism
which affects the level toxins it produces. High level of toxins can harm the body; cell damages
but it usually affects the intestines which is not the ideal for eating later on.

Finally

Genetically changing foods might be easy to grow but there is complexity in such a branch of
science where the future is anything but certain. It will take time and experience, but eventually
like Europe, where GMO are totally disregarded as option, we will decide. But in the end,
“Society will make the ultimate call”-Moccia

Above. How Bacillus Thurigiensis genes are combined with plant genes.

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