Dangerous mutants
Are GM foods dangerous — Myths and Reality
Andrey Zhukov, Hi-News
When it comes to genetically modified foods, the vast majority of people agree that these are harmful products. After all, it's not for nothing that some goods in stores even specifically write — "without GMOs". Obviously, they have some advantages over those who cannot boast of such an inscription. However, not everyone understands what GMOs are. Often this term means harmful food additives, dangerous chemical fertilizers, etc. In fact, this abbreviation stands for "genetically modified organisms". That is, these are any plants, animals or even microorganisms whose genotype has been artificially edited through genetic engineering. Changes in the genome of plants are made in order to improve certain of their qualities. For example, to increase yields, resistance to certain conditions in which they will be grown, resistance to diseases, pests, etc. Since the development of genetic engineering, many myths have appeared about GMO products, many of which people believe to this day. Next, let's look at the most common of them.
Most of the products in stores contain GMOs
According to this myth, you will definitely find genetically modified bananas, strawberries, bread, butter and any other products on store shelves. But in fact, this is not quite true. Currently, only products such as Hawaiian papaya, pumpkins, sweet corn, apples, tomatoes and potatoes are genetically modified. Most other genetically modified plants are used only for feeding livestock.
As for food ingredients, you can find sugar obtained from genetically modified plants, starch, rapeseed oil, as well as soy lecithin. If you see the inscription "GMO-free" on products such as, for example, water or salt, keep in mind that this is just a marketing ploy. But already sugary drinks may well contain GMOs.
GMOs cause cancer and other health problems
Another myth that has no scientific evidence. Many studies have shown that the consumption of GM foods does not affect the state of health. In particular, such a study was published in 2016 by the American National Academy of Sciences of Engineering and Medicine.
In addition, in the United States, the safety of GMO products was proven by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992. In addition, several dozen scientists in the field of agriculture have studied the data for the last 20 years, and also came to the conclusion that products containing GMOs do not cause any diseases, and even more so do not lead to death.
It's too early to talk about the dangers of GMOs, since the products have appeared quite recently
Opponents of GMOs claim that this is a new technology for breeding plants, so it's too early to talk about its safety. However, genetic engineering does the same thing that has been happening in nature for millions of years. As a result of exposure to viruses and bacteria, genes were transferred between plants. That is, their DNA changed naturally.
Do not forget that people have long begun to create new varieties of plants. Many products that we have been consuming for tens or even hundreds of years would not have appeared in nature by themselves. By crossing different plants or animals, people change their DNA. Artificial selection made it possible, even before the advent of genetic engineering, to create more disease-resistant varieties, more productive, etc.
By the way, genetic engineering has also ceased to be quite a novelty. After all, the first GMOs were obtained in the early 1970s of the last century. Since then, 50 years have passed, nevertheless, no evidence of harm to GM products has appeared.
GM foods can cause mutations in humans
This myth is so unfounded that it is easily refuted even without any research. According to some critics, genes from the products can penetrate human genes and cause mutations. But if the genes of the foods we consume could actually get into our DNA so easily, any food would change them. Fortunately, human DNA, like other organisms, is reliably protected.
Of course, studies on this subject have also been conducted repeatedly, but no mutagenic properties have been revealed in products with GMOs. As a matter of fact, this myth was refuted by the FDA back in 1992, as mentioned above.
GM products are made for profit
But this is not a myth. Changes are made to the genome really in order to produce more products, as well as to ensure the safety of the already harvested crop. But the products do not get worse from this. For example, so that the tomato does not spoil, they did not even bring other people's genes into it, but simply turned off one of their own.
As mentioned above, plants are made more resistant to diseases and pests, which helps prevent crop loss. By the way, there is also a benefit from this, since GMO allows you to reduce the use of chemicals in the growing process. Finally, I note that people often pay attention to the presence of GMOs in products, but at the same time they miss the moments that really negatively affect health.
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