GMOs in Food: Weighing the Benefits and Risks

A common concern in this fast-food world is the safety of the food that we are putting into our bodies. One of the main topics is GMOs. There are many benefits to GMO food, but there are also many disadvantages to GMO food. First, we need to understand what a GMO food is. GMO stands for genetically modified organisms. GMO plants and animals are organisms that have had their characteristics changed through the modification of their DNA. This means that any food we put in our bodies can be genetically modified.

Benefits of GMOs: Shelf Life & Farming Gains

One advantage of having GMO food is that the food can be modified while being grown. This means that the food can be modified to have a longer shelf life. It also means that they are able to make the color of the food stronger or make a fruit seedless. They are also able to improve the nutrients of food.

The Downsides: Allergies and Antibiotic Concerns

With that being said, there are also some disadvantages to that. GMOs can possibly increase food-related allergies. “Information from the CDC shows that food allergies in children have increased from 3.4% to 5.1% in the last decade.” GMOs may also trigger allergies to alternative foods. GMOs can be different products, and if one is allergic to the ingredients that are used to produce the genetically modified food, then they now will have an allergy to a new food that they may not have had before. They would also still be able to eat the product if it were not genetically modified.

Another advantage to GMOs is that they are easier for farmers to grow. This means that they can grow anything, anywhere. This then would lead us to another advantage, which would be that with being able to grow crops anywhere, farmers are able to produce more food at a faster rate. There is a study that “By the year 2050, the human population on our planet is expected to top 10 billion people.” GMOs will allow us to keep up with the human population while still keeping the cost of food low. It also always helps them to withstand heat, cold, and even drought.

A disadvantage to GMO food is there is concern that it can cause antibiotic resistance. One of the ways farmers are able to grow GMO food is they artificially placing antibiotic genes within the DNA of the crops. There are studies that have found that continuous exposure to antibiotics can lead to resistance. It can be very dangerous to have resistance to antibiotics, as many serious illnesses have to be treated with antibiotics.

References

1. 1. World Health Organization. (2020). Frequently asked questions on genetically modified foods.
   2. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Food Allergies in Children.