"Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms (i.e. plants, animals or microorganisms) in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination."
They are man made organisms that don't occur naturally. In the United States of America, the food processors are not restrained to tell us if their food they are selling has GMO's. Any other country has too. Therefore, they must be bad for us if other countries are restrained to have that information on the label.
There are both pro's and con's to GMO's.
Pro's:
- They make the food look more appealing.
- They help the food better fight off diseases to keep it from rotting when it goes long distances from someone far away to your local grocery store. Also, for delivering food on humanitarian trips.
- Bigger yields.
- Companies can have legal protection over these GM seeds which gives them the legal rights to sell them.
Con's:
- GMO's can and do adversely affect open pollinated crop nearby.
- They are not natural; man made.
- They cause environmental damage.
- GMO food can prevent significant allergy risk.
- There aren't real long term testing to detect possible problems. Yikes!
- The biggest GMO company, Monsanto, has been suing farmers who have their fields "infected" with Monsanto seeds.
- GMO seed makers require farmers to buy from them each year. This prevents the farmers from using organic seeds.
A girl in my class' dad is allergic to store bought milk but not raw milk. Do you think GMO's have been added to our milk? Comment your thoughts please!
GMO's can be added to the food chain cycle and create a big impact. (into seeds, animals, etc.)
Some people wonder if bees are dying from GMO seeds that turn into plants and pollen. I don't know for certain but there is a possibility. Scary!
- My next post will be on the Traditional Japanese Diet, one out of three of the healthiest diets -
