Blog Prompt
Q: Why are GM or genetically modified foods such a controversy in the world today? Are they truly dangerous or are people being overly cautious? Discuss.

In my opinion, I think that GM food is unhealthy and dangerous to the human body.

Firstly, what are the health risks posed by GM food? GM foods are linked to toxic and allergic reactions in people, the deaths of thousands of sick, sterile livestock, and damage to virtually every organ studied in lab animals. Soy allergies skyrocketed by 50 per cent in the UK soon after GM soy was introduced. A human subject showed a skin prick allergic-type reaction to GM soy, but not to natural soy. Sometime ago, a contaminated brand of food supplement called L-tryptophan killed about 100 Americans and caused sickness and disability in another 5,000 to 10,000 people. The source of contaminants was almost certainly the genetic engineering process used in its production. The disease took years to find and was almost overlooked. It was only identified because the symptoms were unique, acute, and fast-acting. If all three characteristics were not in place, the deadly supplement might never have been identified or removed.

You may think that I am being overly cautious. You have been consuming GM food for a long time and nothing has happened to you? Well, the fact is that different GM foods have different effects. The time before they can have any effects on your body depends too. Also, some effects are not so obvious and it may take you weeks, months or even years to find out that there is something wrong with your body.

GM food may seem more "healthy" but, everyone who sells GM food would say good things about their product. The really healthy food should be the most natural one which is without genetic modification although they may not look so good or keep fresh for long. I would like not to consume GM food but it is a worry now because GM food is widely sold on the market and most of the time you do not know if your food is genetically modified.