Image Courtesy of Gmofreeusa
Lets take some time to think about the food that we eat. I think it is about time we started to think about exactly how the food we eat are grown or how they are made. It is a fact that the majority of foods we buy from stores are of genetically produced in order to keep up with increasing demands. After some research, I discovered that foods began to be modified with selective breeding. Selective breeding is when plants or animals with genetically faster maturity rate, resistance to disease are selected and bred together to create new species with preferred traits. A scientist, Gregor Mendel pioneered the science behind this process in 1866 when he worked on breeding common peas to produce certain colors of flowers. The science behind this is certainly fascinating but where did selective breeding go wrong?
Selective breeding of today’s foods has commercial interests as its focus and not healthy plants, animals, or people. The genetic modification (GMO) of foods by producers takes selective breeding to a new area, one that is yet to be found anywhere in nature. Usually genetic modification, producers can grow specific species of crops like corn to make harvesting much easier. However, genetically modifying corn introduces bacteria DNA to the corn plant that can multiple health consequences for humans and animals alike. For instance, it was found that the bacteria DNA in genetically modified corn have harmful effects on Monarch butterflies because the pollen from the corn contains toxins. That’s just animals who help other crops grow through pollination. What about its effects on humans you ask?
In America specifically, the argument is still ongoing. However, certain nations have completely outlawed GMO foods because they believe that GMO foods pose a health risk to their citizens. This is because GMOs have been linked to thousands of toxic and allergenic reactions, thousands of sick, sterile, and dead livestock, and damage to virtually every organ and system studied in lab animals. Typical foods that contain GMOs are soy, corn and canola. These maybe a few foods but corn for example is used and processed into tons of other foods that we use daily. Certainly the chain of GMO in our food and our genes is scary and changes are needed. For now I suggest that we all critically consider where are food originates before we consume.
NaNa Asare 