DNA has been known as the central dogma of Biology since its power to control the traits of an organism was discovered. It determines the traits of every creature on Earth as it holds all of the information used to produce the essential proteins that all of us need. This fact then leads our scientists to an intriguing question: can we change the DNA of an organism to alter its traits? How about altering its traits to make the organism more beneficial to the human race? The answer of these questions have been discovered years ago: yes, we can alter an organism’s traits and make it more beneficial to people by changing its DNA. However, this kind of DNA alternation has only been applied to animals and plants, mainly herds and crops, to produce a type of food most of us know as GMOs.

GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), particularly the herds and crops, have been available in the market since 1994. Scientists chose to modify herds and crops’ DNA at first since they can alter their traits and make them more immune to diseases, reproduce much faster, and even make them tastier and more nutritious. However, the presence of GMOs in grocery stores nowadays often creates a huge controversy in the public. Some people argue that GMOs are unsafe and will only cause allergies and unexpected diseases to the consumers in the future. Furthermore, they also say that if GMOs are safe, why don’t the manufacturers label them as GMOs? To the detractors of GMOs, the manufacturers’ decision to remove these labels only make GMOs much more suspicious. On the other hand, GMOs’ supporters keep on arguing that GMOs are safe to be consumed and it greatly helps farmers in taking care of their genetically modified crops and breeds. They also say that a lot of researches have proven the safety of GMOs.

Looking from the detractors’ side, some researches DID prove that several types of GMO’s are unsafe. Some studies using animals as their subjects show various degrees of damage to their subjects’ internal organs, disorders of their gastrointestinal and immune systems, and infertility after consuming GMOs for some period of time. Another study then revealed that genes inserted into GM food can transfer into the DNA of bacteria living inside of the human body, making it resistant to antibiotics. A different study also showed that the toxic insecticide produced by GM corn that was supposedly used to kill pests was found in the blood of pregnant women and their unborn babies.

To help solving all of these argumentations, the United States Food and Drug Administration then decided to use the same safety requirements that they used for non-GMOs to certify a GMO product. They encourage developers of GM plants to consult with them prior to marketing their products. By participating in this consultation, it is hoped that the developers will find it helpful in determining the steps necessary to ensure the safety of their food products. Next, the FDA itself stated that they never supported nor opposed GMOs based on their perceived benefits and risks. When it comes to labeling, the FDA also encourages the GMOs’ industries to do voluntary labeling. In conclusion, the FDA never said that ALL GMOs are safe nor harmful to the consumers since they do not have the ability to assess every single GMO without the willingness of the manufacturers to do so.

It is impossible to say that GMOs are completely safe nor detrimental until today. Some researches may say that various GMOs have many unwanted side effects and also possible risks to come. However, some other researches have also proven the benefits of GMOs over traditional plants and animals especially in the field of nutrition and practicality of breeding. After all, there is only one way to ensure that the foods sold in the market today are safe to be consumed: an FDA-approved logo.

 

 

Questions:

1. Why do you think most GMOs’ manufacturers today chose to avoid GMO labeling?

2. Can we ever ensured that ALL GMOs sold in the market are safe to be consumed? Why or why not?

3. Is there any other ways to regulate GMOs marketing other than through the FDA?