How do you feel about genetically modified foods?

Question

Lliam · Accepted Answer

People have been selective breading, cross pollinating, grafting and creating hybrids for millennia. However, nobody ever combined genes from animal, bacteria, virus and plants from completely different families into one organism.

A genetically corn plant is an "organisms" because is multiple organisms combined into something that appears to be corn. And only the developer knows what the genetic makeup is. We are simply expected to "trust the science". Where have we heard that term before?

Most GMOs have been engineered to withstand the direct application of herbicide and/or to produce their own insecticide. Are we supposed to believe it's healthy to eat a plant whose every cell produces its own insecticide?

If it looks and tastes like corn, people believe it IS corn. But is it really? Do we know the nutritional value or possible long-term negative side effects of consuming a genetically modified organisms?
If "we are what we eat", isn't it a good idea to know "what" we are eating?

Because GMOs are novel life forms, biotechnology companies have been able to obtain patents to control the use and distribution of their genetically engineered seeds. Genetically modified crops therefore pose a serious threat to farmer sovereignty and to the national food security of any country where they are grown.

More than 80% of all genetically modified crops grown worldwide have been engineered for herbicide tolerance. As a result, the use of toxic herbicides, such as Roundup®, has increased fifteenfold since GMOs were first introduced. In March 2015, the World Health Organization determined that the herbicide glyphosate (the key ingredient in Roundup®) is “probably carcinogenic to humans.”

Genetically modified crops also are responsible for the emergence of “superweeds” and “superbugs,” which can only be killed with ever more toxic poisons such as 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange).

Most GMOs are a direct extension of chemical agriculture and are developed and sold by the world’s largest chemical companies. The longterm impacts of these GMOs are unknown. Once released into the environment, these novel organisms cannot be recalled.

So I don't feel good about genetically modified foods. Their nutritional value is questionable; they have devastated many farmers economically; their use results in killing soil and other life forms; they invade non-GMO crops, spread and decrease diversity of food varieties, threatening food security; they destroy biodiversity and healthy ecosystems in general; the chemicals used on them create super weeds and contribute greatly to horrific forms of soil and water pollution, causing genetic damage and threatening the extinction of biologically fragile species.

GMOs are touted as a benefit, and there may be some benefits, the real beneficiaries are the patent owners and chemical manufacturers (which are often one and the same), and industrial-size agricultural operations. But there are potential negative health consequences for consumers. Food security is threatened. And devastation to the environment is incalculable.

Stephen_77 · Accepted Answer

Well, does Bill Gates and the Royal Family eat GMO foods? Of course not. They'll be eating organic foods.

FreyaRed · Accepted Answer

Selective breeding is genetic modification and humanity does it since millennia. However injecting genes which came from different species like injecting jellyfish genes into tomatoes, just because it makes tomatoes resistant against specific chemicals will sooner or later go wrong.
Monsanto that belongs to Bayer now, has most patents for herbicides, pesticides and GMO seeds. Funny fact, Bayer produced Zyklon B that was used as "disinfection agent" in Nazi death camps. I wouldn't expect any social responsibility from corporations like that.

Daniela1982 · Accepted Answer

And then they wonder why kids are reaching puberty at 8 years old due to all the hormones in the food chain.

DamnSam · Answer

It's complicated

I personally would never again grow f1 hybrids in my garden again caused by the simple reason that hybrids in gerneral work with already half dead DNA... when you get to f8 that becomes more than clear...

You plant f1... the seeds out of that are f2... the seeds out of that are f3, which have the highest possible splitted DNA, last try of nature to puzzle something together with what's left which can produce seeds which are able to give along the DNA blueprint over generations...
Which doesn't happen... f7 just got a germination rate of 14%... f8 is usual almost zero

Another problem which comes with hybrids, still almost everybody unaware of...
The DNA blueprint which makes a seed comes from the female flower and the male pollen... but the DNA information of the male pollen in the resulting seed represents 68% of all DNA
Pollen is made hard to kill by nature itself, an we fcked it up... the usual pollen is only 6 to 10 nanometer in size
In summer when you move your finger over that yellow dust on cars, 1cm2 contains billions of pollen...
That pollen only gets killed if it falls into fire/lava or into water without getting dry again within a week... a normal pollen gets catches up by wind and travels per year between 300.000 up to 500.000km... it goes into hibernation if it falls on the ground an snow falls over it, survives up to 3 years...

The problem here is that a pollen from a f1 hybrid makes the new emerging seeds in my fancy ass organic, half extinct kinds of food plants from the grandma of my grandma into a hybrid...

... which happen to me 2 times, which hurts when you realize the beans of generations of your family suddenly come in lots of variations before stopping germinate completely...

I don't know if there is a reference in English to that, but we here would say, I drove my own line and someone did come and took a shit specifically on my line... you don't fckn do that...

And that's only one side of the bad side...
Tons of other stuff but I will let that go for now

Bc we still are depending on gmo...

but all problems we face, including climate change, are selfmade, reversible but maybe mankind needs to learn that selfmade problems can not solved by selfmade plants

NamerOfStars · Answer

If I were to pick up a potato and eat it, I would not keel over and die. Why? Genetic modification through selective breeding- they're not toxic anymore (thanks, Incas!). If I were to go to the grocery store to buy an ear of corn, they're not three inches long anymore (thanks, Mayans!). The only differences between selective breeding and genetic engineering are accuracy, difficult, and expense.

Oh, and potential for screwing things up; that's bigger, too. But I'm a lot more worried about the legal implications of a few powerful organizations holding the patent rights to the food we eat, and the loss of biodiversity that comes from everyone growing the same strains of the same crops, than I am of the food itself. On the other hand, there's quite a bit of good that can come from it, if we can exercise some restraint; above and beyond more reliably providing our people with nutrition, too- imagine a potato plant that actually replenished soil, like clover, instead of leaving it dust, like russets do. It's very much a mixed bag.

mstbooblover · Answer

Very complicated subject. There can't be only one answer, considering the different types of genetic modifications. The truth is certainly not black or white, but in any case great caution should be taken. Let it now be clear I'm not against improving the production of food, be it through some genetic modifications:

1) Crossing with each other different varieties, in order to get a better flavour, a particular colour, a certain degree of resistance against deseases, etc. does not seem to cause harm in general.

2) Outright changing directly the genetic code on the other hand may produce as well excellent as dangerous results. I have directly witnessed the dangerous side while making wine as amateur. One of the yeasts used was called "killer yeast", which literally kills all other micro organisms, in order to be the only one transforming the sugar into alcohol. I became aware of how dangerous this kind of yeast was when the fermentation stopped too early for some reason unknown. So, I did as any winemaker would do, and prepared a new starter with another but strong traditional yeast. Of no avail, because the killer yeast also kills other yeasts... You get the problem? Imagine now such a killer yeast released into nature and you'll have a perfect example of what should never be done.

Phoenix-gb · Answer

Can't see an issue, if you look at farming methods throughout history, with selective breeding, plant grafting and cross pollination, all foods have been genetically modified at some point, just done the long way round. And they didn't have the same level of rigorous testing that the current methods go through.

It's also interesting to note that if we went back to the 'organic' method of growing food, so no high yield crops, fertilisers or pesticides, it's estimated we could only grow enough food for a population of about 5 billion... so that's 3 billion and growing sentenced to starvation without these advances.

BeMuse · Answer

It depends on which genes have been modified. That said, a gene gun or agrobacteria are utilized in plant biotechnology to transform cells. Those cells are cultured to generate a new plant and if the gene line is stable and produces the desired characteristics, then seeds can be harvested and tested. It's not easy to get approval to grow a genetically modified plant. There is tons of regulation. If you do eventually get approval, new plants grow from seed and food is harvested off of the plant like normal. They aren't injecting syringes of shit into your food before it goes to the market.

Howdy13 · Answer

As a Biotechnology major I can tell you that We’ve been genetically modifying foods for centuries even before we knew about dna and genes through selective breeding. So there’s probably a chance that the organic food that your eating isn’t even in its natural state. It’s changed over time.

purplepoppy · Answer

The biggest drawback is farmers need to buy fresh seed each year rather than keep some back to resow. There's also the risk of cross contamination of neighbouring farms and that can lead to legal issues as well as agricultural. ones. But it's a good thing because it reduces crop failure in developing countries and prevents famines. On balance I'd say it's a good thing but you need tight regulations, particularly around spraying and where it can be planted.

HighlyVolatile · Answer

I'm a fan along with being a fan of irradiated foods. I don't see how we can talk about planet sustainability if we're allergic to such modifications. All the toxin-related talk is something I find on all sides. What is undeniable are things like shelf life and efficiency.

MCheetah · Answer

I would say "no thanks" but we're probably already eating GMO's. Food is already genetically modified enough. How many people have ever even seen a real banana before?

Sparks32 · Answer

cross breading plants that are found in nature is one thing, but cutting pieces out and putting pieces back into plant dna artificially is quite an other. Monsanto has inserted DNA into crops just so they can identify their patented gmo plant. With all that shit cross pollinating with non gmo crops how do you put the Jeanie back into the bottle. we are all just Monsanto's lab rats.

Slartybartfast · Answer

Most of the arguments against were created to protect economic and buisness and have absolutely nothing to do with safety the environment etc.

The EU used this argument to protect farm subsidies import tariffs and other anti competitive laws.

Remember gm crops use far less pesticide, so gm or soaked in pesticides? Which do you think is healthier band better for the environment?

Lonewulf57 · Answer

Hate it. We don't know enough to be fooling around with something we depend and is essential for us to live.

bolverk · Answer

I try to avoid where possible, GM Soya etc.
I have no problem with foods where the ingredients are a result of crops/animals that have been bred to have perpendicular traits.
Trying to get the same results by genetically modification you get a multitude of unintended results, we have no real idea what the result of the genetic modification down the line, while the classic slow and steady breading for trait while removing unwanted traits.

Anonymous · Answer

I feel genetically modified Don’t you see humans are numb
Well some don’t even know even fish is GMO even fish…… what else can I say
We are also going to be GMO too ,, soon all of us! 😊
I’m Pfizere’d I’m a better GMO human than Moderna 🧔🏻‍♀️
what u got?

MrTaboo · Answer

Not a fan. And I live in a heavy agriculture state. It's the reason we have gluten problems now.

For thousands of years Up until the 1990s, gluten in wheat wasn't a problem. Naturally wheat is less than.5% gluten, which a human body can handle up to 1%. So no big deal. Until hybrids and gmo wheat started to have 2%-3% gluten. Now we have issues.

crmoore · Answer

Incredibly dangerous at first, but could and likely will become incredibly beneficial once refined. Just like medicine, or surgery, or many other things. It's dangerous at first but once we learn more about it, we lessen the risk and increase the benefits.

OddBeMe · Answer

When they make the science and chemicals public it’s actually not bad at all. In fact, like fluoride in the water, it’s sometimes better. But corporations are increasingly keeping that shit secret, which I’m against.

But eventually all food will need to be GMO because of global warming.

TommyMountainFigure · Answer

I am very much against them, but Costco do these blackcurrant cakes which are genetically modified but taste delicious.. so on the VERY seldom occasion I have one of those, I will casually forget myself :D

LZPanzer · Answer

All our food is genetically modified, that's the point of domestication. To modify an organism too suit our needs. We are just taking a more direct path nowadays

mzsaad · Answer

its honestly too much to explain. but it really does make me sad, we deserve what this earth gave us and its not our faults. but gmo pretty much fucks up our bodies from the inside out. we can't have our bodies happy and in best potential because of modern foods. i’m just worried the original produce is going to go extinct.. and as a lower class or even mid citizen which is pretty much everybody we don’t really have a choice but to eat it

Nozgrd74 · Answer

I think they're wonderful! Because of genetically modified food, they can grow in more various terrain, the seeds are better quality, the yields are significantly improved, and in some cases the fruit yielded is larger.

Though I must say, the pic shown is far from how foods are genetically modified hehe, I hope noone thinks that's remotely similar to how it is in reality 😊

MrWolf · Answer

Some good some bad. Still the tomato I bought before half a month still isn't spoiled in the fridge and kind worries me now 😁

Mango-man · Answer

As a scientists I am fine with them as long as the producer is forthcoming about what genes were introduced into the food.

dustybiker · Answer

Mother nature’s insult. It’s people too busy wondering if they can to stop and consider if they really should.

Agape93 · Answer

Doesn't bother me. We've been making and eating gmo for thousands of years.

ohshee · Answer

Since I was a little kid I've always felt anything man-made is cancer-causing product

DryGermanGuy · Answer

NO THANKS. That's why I like German/European food legislation.

Nagahime · Answer

Really sucks that this is how half the food we eat is made.

Massageman · Answer

As soon as two or more plants are cross-bred with each other, the results are genetically modified plants. sigh

Jessica745855 · Answer

its fine as long as its not meat because thats gross

douride2 · Answer

Most people probably don't know which foods are GMO & which aren't.

genericname85 · Answer

foods have been genetically modified for thousands of years. it's calles prefrentially breeding. so i feel sort of indifferent about it.

GlassTop · Answer

Odds are, you have been eating GMO even if it’s organic.

call_me_scar · Answer

In fine with them after all we've been doing it forever

Anonymous · Answer

they only profit the seller.  these foods make us sick

Naimgood · Answer

If they modified it by sticking a syringe into a tomato then im not a fan at all

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

I prefer the healthy organic fruits and vegetables!

Juliette1994 · Answer

This how young girls develop early. They put steroids into chicken, Turkey, beef.

Deathraider · Answer

I have no reason to think anything negative about them.

Asad1ONE1 · Answer

Greedy corporations that care only for profit and not the health of their fellow man.

MJtheCoach · Answer

That’s old school! 2020 was the year humans were turned into GMO’s!! Under the So called C0ViD!

Dinosaursandanime65 · Answer

That’s kinda cool how food has DNA but…… chaos Theory

driven159 · Answer

don't like it loses its value in minerals and vitamins and taste

BaldAvenger · Answer

Food market finally catching up with the rest of the world

UdontNeedtoknow · Answer

I eat food. granted gmo is not as healthy for you. But i have 5 mouths to feed.

Deserter · Answer

I haven't looked into it but I don't trust it given what they already put in our food.

msc545 · Answer

They do not worry me nearly as much as pesticide use.

Razp_Sorbet · Answer

Nothing wrong with em

slatyb · Answer

Meh, I don’t have a problem with them.

exitseven · Answer

I usually cannot tell the difference.

motownplayer2000 · Answer

I think it’s the reason we have so many problems.

Shark_61695 · Answer

In general, pro. But issues :(

jahaims · Answer

Even crossbred plants are considered GMO

noohair · Answer

All corn is modified.

manfromsomewhere2 · Answer

its weird, and sometimes good, but complicated

Adam_West · Answer

Fuck genetically modified foods!

robocop666 · Answer

big pharma does not have good health interests

Better_off_here · Answer

it makes me so mad, i am not a fan.

kingykringy · Answer

95% of people are deluded about them

Jay3344 · Answer

I dislike it

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