Orignial topic - adopting a positive or negative viewpoint - Essay Example

Genetically Modified Foods are a Hazard of the Creative Writing of the Concerned July 15, Genetically Modified Foods are a Hazard Introduction Traditionally speaking, farmers and breeders around the world have been using the method of selection and cross breeding of specific traits to promote productivity. However, in the case of genetically modified foods, this is done by tampering with the genetic makeup of the plants and animals under laboratory conditions. Not to say genetically modified foods do have the potential to pose great hazards before humanity and to cause significant damage.

Environmental Damage Genetically modifies foods could pose a great threat to environment. According to Revill, “The genetically-modified crops could cross-pollinate with the other plants and create super hybrids and super-weeds. They could contaminate nearby organic farms, which could then lose their organic status (2004, p.4).” It takes millions of years for an eco system to grow and stabilize. In that context, the genetically modified plants may interfere with the stability of the eco system in which they are introduced by inadvertently introducing new and unwanted traits in the natural existing strains of plants, thereby leading to hazardous and dangerous results.

Risks Posed to Food Chain Many a genetically modified foods do have the ability to produce chemicals that acts as natural pesticides. Now the thing is that the natural pesticides that the genetically modified plants contain, though intended to protect them against pests, may be consumed by other beneficial insects and animals residing in their vicinity. Not to mention these natural chemicals inherent in the genetically modified foods could threaten the existence of species that are beneficial to humanity.

It sounds logical to say that there is no need to jump for potentially hazardous genetically modified foods when there are “technologies that can raise lots of food without poisoning the earth (Meadows, 1999, p. 103).” Allergies Caused by Genetically Modified Foods The supporters of genetically modified foods do tend to downplay the allergies caused by them. “Doubling of food-derived illnesses in the US since the introduction of GM food, and the 50 per cent increase in soya allergies in the UK following the importing of GM soya (Cook, 2004, p. 134)”, are some of the grave hazards to human health posed by the genetically modified foods that deserve a thorough scientific investigation.

It could be safely assumed that genetically modified foods could be imbued with new organic substances that could be allergic to human countenance. Conclusion  Introduction of genetically modified foods in the natural environment and in the food markets could be a step which if not thoroughly monitored and checked could lead to grave environmental and health disasters. The GM corporations simply cannot treat the natural environment and super markets as an open laboratory. Requisite legal and statutory measures need to be put in place to save the world and the humanity from the possible ill effects of genetically modified food.

Any laxity could give way to unprecedented and unheard of disasters. References Cook, Guy. (2004). Genetically Modified Language. London: Routledge. Meadows, Donella H. (Summer 1999). Poor Monsanto. Whole Earth, 104. Revill, John. (March 18, 2000). GM Crop Pans bring ‘Open Air Lab’ Concerns. The Birmingham Post, p. 4.