Table of Contents
What to think of genetically modified foods?
Genetically modified foods arouse great distrust in most of us. Right or wrong?
Like plants or animals, transgenic foods are also genetically modified organisms (GMOs) with the help of genetic engineering techniques (or genetic transfer). More precisely, GMOs are organisms in which the set of genes contained in each cell has been modified by the introduction of a foreign gene, coming from a plant, a bacterium or any other organism. All the cells of the genetically modified organisms are therefore accompanied by the new gene, which can be transmitted to the offspring.
The real or alleged benefits
Genetic techniques have been applied to plants for twenty years now with the following objectives:
- Improvement of color or taste
- Increase in mass (and therefore in efficiency)
- Immunization against pests or herbicides
- Greater resistance to cold, drought and greater suitability for prolonged storage
- As regards oil plants, a more favorable content of fatty acids
- Inactivation of allergenic proteins present in certain plants
If genetic engineering replaces harmful techniques, such as the use of insecticides or herbicides, it can have a beneficial influence on the environment. Unfortunately, due to pollination, you are not protected from the risk of seeing weeds sprouting … resistant to herbicides!
The dangers
The risks associated with genetic manipulation techniques essentially concern the appearance of new toxic substances and new allergens in food.
Furthermore, some properties of transgenic foods, such as antibiotic resistance, could be transmitted to humans.
Safety regulations
According to the legislation in force in most of the European and North American countries and since more than 10 years, foods that have undergone genetic modification must be declared and are subject to control by the Federal Office of Health, which assesses their harmlessness.
Alternatives
It is impossible to stop progress … Nonetheless, people who refuse to proceed along this path can still choose to turn to producers and shops of organic products, which continue to offer foods from organic crops, guaranteed without genetic manipulation..
Feel free to share on any of the Social Media listed below and start the "Conversation". As always, thanks for popping in and see you soon.
