Environmental And Consumer Organizations Protest Against...

Since the 1990s, when genetically modified organisms became available, its consumption has been increasing rapidly (Nelson, 2001). The most common genetically modified crops include corn, sugar, cotton, dairy, rice, potatoes and tomatoes. There are opponents and supporters of GMO alike. Environmental and consumer organizations protest against genetic engineering claiming that the GMO foods bring risks to human health. On the supporting side, it is believed that the use of genetically modified crops provides potential benefits. Firstly, they play a significant role in food security as one of the possible solutions to undernourishment. Secondly, genetically modified plants are cheaper to grow and better able to survive climate changes. The†¦show more content†¦Next, they transfer the desired genes to the plant s own genes and create a new plant from the genetically modified plant cell and tissue (Alberts, 2002). These new plants are called genetically modified organisms. Gene tically modified foods were first approved for consumption in the United States in 1994 and by 2015, approximately 90% of the corn, cotton, and soybeans in the United States were grown through genetic engineering techniques. By the end of 2010, GM crops occupied more than 10 million square kilometers in 29 countries around the world, but the majority of them were planted in the United States (Diaz, 2016). Since genetically modified crops have transformed genes from another species, it is argued that people who consume GM foods will obtain severe health consequences. The most vital health risks of GM crops are an allergy, toxicity, and cancer (Kaya, 2012). Food allergy is a serious health threat which affects about 5% of children and 2% of adults in the U.S. (Bakshi, 2003). It was observed that with the emergence of GMO products, the prevalence of food allergies rose by 400% (Allergykids.com, 2016). Allergens are mostly found in protein products, such as eggs, fish, shellfish, milk, peanuts, soybeans, nuts and fish (Lehrer, 1999). The transfer of genes from allergenic organisms can affect severe reactions in people with allergies. Therefore, people with known allergies can be unaware