Genetically Modified Organisms Essay
The Dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms
In 1980, the first GMO patent was issued through a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. A mere thirty-five years later this fairly new discovery is readily available in an over-abundance to consumers for consumption. Genetically Modified Organisms have been developed because they do not follow the natural laws of crop production. They have been engineered for herbicide tolerance and rapid growth among other purposes. The Food and Drug Administration has stated that these products are safe and should be embraced, as they endure more rigorous testing than traditionally grown produce. However, with these organisms exploding onto dinner plates everywhere, they have not endured the time-tested trust of other produce. Fast food establishments have included these science experiments in an almost inescapable abundance. They can be found in even the simpler aspects of menus. High-fructose corn syrup, for example, can be found in ranch dressings and sodas. If these products are as safe (as some would have consumers believe), then there would be no reason for other nations such as China and India to ban them. Naturally, it follows that there would also be no reason to muffle the findings of so many independent studies. Even though GMOs can be …show more content…
The FDA does not test the foods themselves. In fact, they rely on the intel that the biotechnology companies provide. Independent tests are difficult to conduct because of the intellectual property patent on GMOs. Another difficulty concerning testing GMOs would be that scientists who do discover the potential hazards are forced into keeping quiet about findings. “Biologists who point out health or other risks associated with GM crops…find themselves the focus of vicious attacks on their credibility, which leads scientists who see problems with GM foods to keep quiet.”
In 1980, the first GMO patent was issued through a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. A mere thirty-five years later this fairly new discovery is readily available in an over-abundance to consumers for consumption. Genetically Modified Organisms have been developed because they do not follow the natural laws of crop production. They have been engineered for herbicide tolerance and rapid growth among other purposes. The Food and Drug Administration has stated that these products are safe and should be embraced, as they endure more rigorous testing than traditionally grown produce. However, with these organisms exploding onto dinner plates everywhere, they have not endured the time-tested trust of other produce. Fast food establishments have included these science experiments in an almost inescapable abundance. They can be found in even the simpler aspects of menus. High-fructose corn syrup, for example, can be found in ranch dressings and sodas. If these products are as safe (as some would have consumers believe), then there would be no reason for other nations such as China and India to ban them. Naturally, it follows that there would also be no reason to muffle the findings of so many independent studies. Even though GMOs can be …show more content…
The FDA does not test the foods themselves. In fact, they rely on the intel that the biotechnology companies provide. Independent tests are difficult to conduct because of the intellectual property patent on GMOs. Another difficulty concerning testing GMOs would be that scientists who do discover the potential hazards are forced into keeping quiet about findings. “Biologists who point out health or other risks associated with GM crops…find themselves the focus of vicious attacks on their credibility, which leads scientists who see problems with GM foods to keep quiet.”