How genetically modified foods affect our lives: the hidden dangers

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How genetically modified foods affect our lives: the hidden dangers

 

 

WASHINGTON (healthnewsreview) Genetically modified organisms (GMO) that appear

innocuous now can damage future generations because of the ways they alter the

balance of nutrients and species. GMOs such as seeds and plants often have

changes in a gene that codes for a protein that gives the plant some unique

benefit. Benefits include the ability to produce more chemicals to fight

infection, pests, or frosts; resistance to a pesticide or herbicide used to kill

other plants; higher production of a particular type of amino acid or fat; or

other benefit.

Scientists concerned about the side effects or potential dangers of GMOs have

concentrated on the genetic change itself, while ignoring more subtle future

impacts. For example, if a plant is given a new gene to produce a protein to

fight disease, scientists study whether the new disease-fighting substances kill

not only the disease, but other desirable species as well. They do not study

whether slight shifts in the plants biochemistry lead to a slight shift in

nutrients that lead to a slight shift in animals that feed on the plant, and so

on.

Wolfenbarger and Phifer wrote in Science that [A] review of existing scientific

literature reveals that key experiments on both the environmental risks and

benefits of GMOs like plants are lacking. Testing for the undesirable

consequences of the new substances produced by the GMO is extremely expensive

and difficult. It involves looking for an effect that we cannot predict and that

may take 50 years to show up. GMOs pose a danger that is even more difficult to

identify. A GMO alters the way the plant produces some substance(s). The

inevitable (but often overlooked) result is that the production of other

substances is also altered. Once the biochemical pathways of the plant are

modified, everything the plant makes is changed. Major changes can be noticed,

but minor changes may remain unknown for years. The plant may produce a toxic

substance in far greater quantities than it used to produce, but we may not find

it because we do not measure every substance produced by the plants. Most

plants have substances toxic to humans and other species, but often in trivial

(small) amounts. It is practically impossible to know whether a GMO plant has

substantially identical composition to the original plant. If we add one

chemical to a food, we know that it has that one chemical; if we add a gene, we

may end with the chemical directly produced by that gene, and thousands of

chemicals indirectly produced by the plant due to its altered biochemistry. Even

if the gene for production of that substance is not changed, the expression or

activity of the gene may change. As a minimum, the relative quantities of

nutrients in the plant will change. Species that rely on that plant

(microorganisms, animals, etc.) will have their composition altered because they

are eating a different ratio of nutrients. Reproduction and development (growth)

of many species will be altered because they are dependent on a particular

mixture of nutrients. Changing the ratio of nutrients likely changes

their development. The effects may be small from one generation to another and

it may take many years before we see the effects. For example, it was once

thought that some groups of people in America were short because of their genes.

However, when these people were fed healthy diets over a period of many years,

they slowly began to grow. Mothers became slightly bigger. Their larger body

size could grow a slightly bigger fetus. The new baby was bigger, grew to be a

larger adult, and could grow an even bigger baby. After several generations, the

adults became the same size as people in the US. The reason these people were

short was that nutritional deficiencies impaired their growth. Once they were

small, they were unable to produce larger-size babies even if they were well

fed, because the uterus could not expand to fit a large baby. However, after

many years of eating healthy foods, they were able to adapt and grow to normal

size.

These issues raise an often understated danger of GMOs for food production and

health. An imbalance in the food supply may lead to subtle changes in body size.

Each generation could be smaller. Or could have a smaller brain. Or smaller

feet. We do not know and may not know for many years, and by that time it would

be too late.

Is there a real need for GMOs? The decisions to produce GMO can be based on

faulty science. Years ago, some scientists thought that monounsaturated fatty

acids (MUFAs) were healthy and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were harmful.

Foods with PUFAs oxidize quickly and have short life spans on supermarket

shelves (they get rancid). Therefore, scientists decided to take some common

seeds and change them to produce more MUFAs and fewer PUFAs. After many years,

they succeeded and today we can grow many plants that produce more MUFAs and

less PUFAs. Unfortunately, just when farmers were ready to produce many more

seeds with more MUFAs and less PUFAs, recent research has shown that eating

MUFAs is associated with heart disease, while PUFAs protect against heart

disease. Tinkering with nature and trying to imitate God is too difficult a job.

The dangers of GMO foods are many. They may produce toxic substances to humans,

pets or other species. They may alter the balance of nutrients in the

environment and slowly change the growth and development of species. They could

make us dumber or reduce our life expectancy. Nobody knows and it is impossible

to find out because one would need to make studies over a period of 50+ years.

Moral (essentialfats.com). Let the buyer beware. If your soybean oil starts

acting strange (solidifying in the refrigerator, for example), or eating your

leftovers, we think the risk is not worth it and throw it away. Even worse, if

you notice that your kids start acting strange, or your pets drop dead, you

really have problems. Unfortunately, you are unlikely to notice any problems

because the side effects of genetically modified foods may take generations to

be noticed. There are very few reasons to have genetically modified foods.

Instead, we should consider more organic farming and eating less. Many people

are overweight; eating less is the best way to live longer and healthier as well

as saving money. References Froding, J, Sigler, J. Test of the Times: GMO

Testing comes of Age. Bluebook Update April-June 2000, 4-5. L L Wolfenbarger and

P R Phifer. The Ecological Risks and Benefits of Genetically Engineered Plants.

Science 2000; 290: 2088-2093.

This material is not medical care or advice and should not be used for diagnosis

or treatment. By reading or using the information contained in or implied by

this article, you agree that the content provider shall not be liable for any

content errors, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Use of this

information is subject to the disclaimer and the terms and conditions at

essentialfats.com. FREE educational essentialfats bookmarks by mail with summary

reminders of nutrition and health. Makes a great gift! Send a self addressed

stamped envelope with 37c stamp for 1 oz (up to 7 bookmarks); 60c for 2 oz (up

to 14 bookmarks) to PO Box 10187, Gaithersburg MD 20898. Write a note indicating

how many bookmarks you want. Quantities limited; offer subject to availability.

© 2000 Edward Siguel. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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