Insight into the Genetically Modified Foods: Concerns of Safety to Food Development (Part II) (original) (raw)
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Science Insights, 2016
Genetic engineering is the name of a process in which we add new DNA to an organism manually. The primary purpose is to add some features that are not present in the particular organism. We know that genetically modified crops can help increase the production, and food accessibility can increase multiple folds. There is a scientific concord that genetically manufactured foods presently avail--able in the market are not harmful and are safe to be consumed. They not only increase the food production but also help in increasing the nutritional content. Although there are benefits of genetically modified foods, this technology faces a lot of controversies. Critics include consumer and health groups, importers of grain from European countries, organic farmers, scientists and environmentalists, religious groups, food advocacy groups and ethicists, politicians and traders. Some fears associated are alteration in nutritional quality of food, toxicity, anti--biotic resistance, allergy and carcinogenicity. Other concerns are environmental pollution; transfer of genes to plants unintentionally, development of some vi--ruses and toxins, some ethical as well as cultural concerns and fear of the un--known. Supporters of genetic technology are private industrialists, research sci--entists, a portion of users and farmers and the regulatory authorities.■
University of Mohammed Premier Oujda Morocco, 2020
The genetic modification of an organism involves transferring DNA, the genetic component from a plant or bacterium, or even an animal, into a different organism. The aim of the review study to find out the positive and negative effect of GM crops on human health and environment finally awareness to the people to acceptance the GM crops it beneficial effect from lowest hazard. Opportunity presented by proponents of GM technology include development in fruit and vegetable shelf- life and organoleptic quality, prosperous nutritional quality and health benefits in foods, elevated protein and carbohydrate content of foods, exalted fat quality, high quality and quantity of meat, milk and livestock. We study various type of review article on GM foods and findings the positive effect it’s the methodology of this paper. In addition, some more common concerns include environmental pollution, unintentional gene alteration to wild plants, probable creation of new viruses and toxins, restricted access to seeds due to patenting of GM food plants, impedance to crop genetic diversity, religious, cultural and ethical concerns, as well as fear of the unknown. Boosters of GM technology include private industries, research scientists, some consumers, U.S. farmers and regulatory agencies. The result of the study minimizing potential risks and maximizing the profits of GM foods finally it should be approval for us. Because the advantages of GM foods ostensibly far out weight the risks, regulatory agencies and industries engaged in GM food business. Finally increment public awareness in this technology to prolong worldwide acceptability of GM foods will be reducing in future of food crisis in the world.
Paradigm on Genetically Modified Foods
2014
GM foods (genetically modified foods) are produced by incorporating the desired gene into the genome of the host plant, there by introducing desirable changes in the host using techniques of genetic Engineering. Genetic Engineering is more advantageous compared to selective breeding in bringing about desirable changes in a much faster way. The world population is expected to reach 9 billion people by the year2050, requiring 70% more food than what is produced at present. Food security is needed for growing population which cannot be met by conventional breeding methods because of limited land resources and other environmental conditions. Since GM foods offer superior qualities, give higher yield and can be grown in a wide variety of environmental conditions compared to conventionally grown foods, they are the only way to meet the required food demand. Till now only a small percentage of total agricultural land was being used for the cultivation of GM crops. This is the situation all around the world which should be changed. So the government should take necessary measures to educate the farmers regarding the beneficial characters of GM crops and encourage them to cultivate the same. People around the globe are having many doubts and myths regarding the safety of GM foods. This could be due to lack of proper awareness regarding GM foods and added to this many companies are misleading the public by printing false and misleading labels on their products like-'GM free foods', 'Safe and GM free' etc. In this context, the current study is undertaken to know the awareness, acceptability and myths' regarding GM foods among Educated and Uneducated communities through a questionnaire supplied to them. The statistical significance of the data obtained was tested by using Fisher-exact test.
Genetically Modified Food Controversies: A Reveiw
2015
This study was conducted at University of Gujrat during 2014-2015 as a term paper for Master of Philosophy. The data regarding genetically modified food controversies reviewed and compiled as a review paper from more than 40 published articles of international reputed journals, Annual / Environmental Reports of recognized organization and e-books. The study was carried out with the objectives to examine some reasons that are behind the genetically modified controversies and provide a better idea of what a genetically modified food is and how it affects human beings. This review paper includes various controversies regarding genetically modified food, positive and negative impacts of GM food towards mankind and environment, consumer attitudes to genetically modified food and its future prospects. It was exposed that food produced by conventional means or through genetic modification, is never assured to be completely safe. Just as with traditionally produced food, genetically produce...
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD CROPS AND PUBLIC HEALTH
The progress made in plant biotechnology has provided an opportunity to new food crops being developed having desirable traits for improving crop yield, reducing the use of agrochemicals and adding nutritional properties to staple crops. However, genetically modified (GM) crops have become a subject of intense debate in which opponents argue that GM crops represent a threat to individual freedom, the environment, public health and traditional economies. Despite the advances in food crop agriculture, the current world situation is still characterised by massive hunger and chronic malnutrition, representing a major public health problem. Biofortified GM crops have been considered an important and complementary strategy for delivering naturally-fortified staple foods to malnourished populations. Expert advice and public concern have led to designing strategies for assessing the potential risks involved in cultivating and consuming GM crops. The present critical review was aimed at expressing some conflicting points of view about the potential risks of GM crops for public health. It was concluded that GM food crops are no more risky than those genetically modified by conventional methods and that these GM crops might contribute towards reducing the amount of malnourished people around the world. However, all this needs to be complemented by effective political action aimed at increasing the income of people living below the poverty-line.
Genetically Engineered Plants and Foods: A Scientist's Analysis of the Issues (Part I)
Annual Review of Plant Biology, 2008
Through the use of the new tools of genetic engineering, genes can be introduced into the same plant or animal species or into plants or animals that are not sexually compatible-the latter is a distinction with classical breeding. This technology has led to the commercial production of genetically engineered (GE) crops on approximately 250 million acres worldwide. These crops generally are herbicide and pest tolerant, but other GE crops in the pipeline focus on other traits. For some farmers and consumers, planting and eating foods from these crops are acceptable; for others they raise issues related to safety of the foods and the environment. In Part I of this review some general and food issues raised regarding GE crops and foods will be addressed. Responses to these issues, where possible, cite peerreviewed scientific literature. In Part II to appear in 2009, issues related to environmental and socioeconomic aspects of GE crops and foods will be covered.
Genetically Modified foods; in context of developing countries
A genetically modified (GM) food is a result of recombinant DNA biotechnological procedures that allow the genetic makeup of an organism to be modified. This can be accomplished by incorporating genes from other organisms or by rearranging genes already present. These changes can result in the expression of attributes not found in the original organism (Schneider and Schneider, 2013). Foods and food ingredients consisting of or containing genetically modified organisms, or produced from such organisms are called Genetically Modified foods (Pandey, 2014). A developing country, also called a less-developed country (LDC), is a nation with a lower living standard, underdeveloped industrial base, and low Human Development Index (HDI) relative to other countries. There is no universal, agreed-upon criterion for what makes a country developing versus developed and which countries fit these two categories, although there are general reference points such as a nation's GDP per capita compared to other nations (Wiki., 2013). There are many factors that contribute to poverty and hunger in developing countries, including war, political instability, lack of infrastructure and poor economic conditions. Agriculture has a crucial role to play in developing countries, especially as a source of employment, income and food for the people (Anon., 2003). It is claimed that genetically modified (GM) crops and foods offer a range of benefits to a variety of beneficiaries, including higher productivity and lower pesticide costs for producers; less environmental pollution from pesticides and herbicides, and new crop varieties to ameliorate hunger in developing countries (Gaskell et al., 2004). As it is clear that agriculture is only the occupation that everyone can easily follow in the developing countries, the life of people depends on the seeds of the crops. The biotech companies such as Monsanto are enforcing the countries to accept the GM foods because not only to end the food problem but to rule over the seed market of the world. GM seeds are viable for only one growing season so the farmers should buy the seeds for the next season. This aids in the statement that biotech companies want to rule in the seed market (Smith, 2003). The Genetic Modification (GM) method entails the transfer of foreign gene (transgene) in to another cell to obtain the desired traits. Developed world, having material and intellectual capacities, leads the studies on transgenic technology for production increase and improved food quality. In fact, there is not only enough but even too much 2 food in the developed world. However, developing countries that need this technology to exceed the food shortage cannot afford it. Hence, gene technology is not a remedy to prevent the world from starvation (Verma, et al., 2011). Today GM Foods are hot topic of discussion all over the world. The technology never comes alone with benefits only; there always remains a risk associated with it. Though at present it seems to be beneficial for the developing countries GM Foods should be accepted very wisely (Zarrilli, 2005)
Genetically Modified Food Products (GMOs)
Genetically modified foods are becoming quite prominent today. By genetically modifying crops, we can see a reduction of the use of pesticides and insecticides, increases in nutrients through biofortification, increases in quantity and size of crop yields and more. However, by genetically modifying crops, we are finding ourselves with un-natural products that could possibly be dangerous if over-consumed, such as those crops that contain the known carcinogen glyphosate; and products that are proving to be even more allergenic than their non-genetically modified parent. The process of approving genetically modified foods for consumption is also not very distinctive. It is overseen by three different agencies, however none of them actually approve anything: they just advise and suggest tests to be conducted. If their suggestions are followed, they often ‘approve’ of the product, giving it a ‘generally recognized as safe’ rating. Since genetically modifying foods is a relatively newer process, it is hard to determine what the future ramifications could be. We can do comparative tests on current genetically modified crops, however, to determine whether their nutritional values are equivalent to their natural parent crop.