Day 3

9/8/12

GOOD TO KNOW:

-Photo Courtesy of Pinterest

I have been interested in learning more about Genetically Modified Produce for a while.  Initially, the idea didn't sit well with me.  I prefer to consume things in their natural state.  (That's not to say I am not thankful of many of the advances that technology and science have yielded). Apparently 60%-70% of processed foods on U.S. grocery shelves are said to have genetically modified ingredients, most commonly - soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola oil.

**What is most troublesome to me is that currently, companies aren't required by law to label foods containing genetically modified ingredients.  Is there a reason that these companies don't want the population to know which foods contain the GMO products?

I did a quick comparison of the positives and negatives to come to a further conclusion.
      
Benefits (+)                                               

• Produce, such as tomatoes say fresher, longer
• Produce more crops at a faster rate - increases food supply, especially for developing countries - - how much of the U.S.' GMO actually end up helping other counties?
• Withstand harsh weather such as drought

Risks (-)

• Mixed across different species - new allergens & toxins introduced?
• Modified using bacteria and viruses - will we see new diseases that are immune to antibodies?
• Unnatural way of producing food
• Transferring animal genes into plants and vice versa - good idea?
• Cross-pollination method can cause damage to other organisms that thrive in the environment. Possibility of adversely changing the nutrient content of a crop

In conclusion, I didn't find the black and white information that I was hoping for.  You will have to decide for yourself what you prefer to consume.  I am going to attempt to avoid GMO products as much as possible, because it is still a fairly new idea and the long-term effects have not been assessed.

If anyone has further knowledge on this subject, please share!!  This information is just a quick assembly of the information that I found.  I am interested in learning more on the subject!